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Original poster

An Apple For The Teacher???

30 replies

Raalix · 15/12/2008 23:32

There was a news report on the Scottish news earlier this evening on the presents that teachers receive at this time of year from pupils. When I was a pupil, I don't remember buying a present for any of my teachers but now that I am a teacher, I do get the occasional bottle of wine/box of chocs etc.

The news report indicated that in some circumstances, the presents teachers are receiving are growing more expensive and inappropriate. Suggestions given were jewellery and in one example - lingerie!

What are your thoughts on presents for teachers - should this practice continue and if so, what constitutes a reasonable present? If you are a teacher, do you object to presents from pupils? What is the most unusual present you have ever been given?

OP posts:
Lockets · 15/12/2008 23:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

cece · 15/12/2008 23:36

I did get a very slinky lacey nightie/slip thing from one child/parent
Innocently I opened it in front of my Year 6 class. I am not sure who blushed the most me or the boys

I like bottles of wine. Chocolate tends to get eaten by DH. I have also had some lovely scented candles recently which have gone down well.

wrinklytum · 15/12/2008 23:37

I have bought ds's teacher a decent bottle of wine.For dd Portage worker and physio I have bought them both a mug and hot chocolate gift set thingummy.Not very inspired but we are a bit skint!!!

Original poster
Raalix · 15/12/2008 23:40

Do you ever think you receive too much from your pupils?

I am a perpatetic music/drama teacher and because I teach the "fun" lessons which the children really enjoy, I find a lot of pupils get me a prezzie - but since I teach almost 600 pupils in a week, I often find that I am overloaded with chocolate and wine - more so than I would have received had I just been an ordinary class teacher.

Being overweight and a non-drinker, I do give these presents on to other people where possible. I do really appreciate the gesture though!

OP posts:
Coldtits · 15/12/2008 23:44

Funny, you don't type like a teacher. You come across as more of a journalist - did you miss your niche?

The title of this thread would make a cracking headline too.

Original poster
Raalix · 15/12/2008 23:50

Coldtits - there was a time when I wanted to be a jounalist but after a week with a local newpaper I couldn't change my mind fast enough!

What is a teacher supposed to type like?

OP posts:
Coldtits · 16/12/2008 00:02

I dunno, not so ... headliney.

How many "Man kicks cat in goldfish fracas" stories did you have to write?

Original poster
Raalix · 16/12/2008 06:13

None!

I was on tea/coffee duty. It was a work experience placement so I suppose I shouldn't have expected much!

Loving being a teacher though.

OP posts:
twentypence · 16/12/2008 06:57

I currently have 6 Ferrero Rocher, one box of Belgian Chocolates, 2 boxes of scorched Almonds, a broken Christmas tree ornament (could tell it had got broken and so tactfully said I would like to open it on Christmas day as I didn't get much), a couple of other non broken ornaments and some quite expensive essential oil stick things that I am reasonably sure are recycled as the giver is also a teacher.

I am down on the heartfelt messages of thanks and homemade cards which is a shame as I keep these and look at them when I doubt myself/get abuse from a parent.

Tommy · 16/12/2008 08:04

as a child we used to give presents to the teachers. My Mum used to make chutney and jam and all our teachers would get a jar Pretty sure that was only primary school though.

When I was a teacher in secondary school, I got the usual chocs, candles, mugs etc - all mostly very nice. One girl gave me two goldfish at the end of the sumer term

I think, if the children want to give their teacher a present, then it's a nice thing to do. When I last taught, it was in a sith form college and I would have bene lucky to get a grunted happy christmas out of them

LittleMonkeysMummysAXmasFairy · 16/12/2008 08:43

Hee hee...my best one was a half eaten Terry's chocolate snowball (the white choccy one) Wee lad said he wanted to see what it tasted like

stillenacht · 16/12/2008 09:47

We secondary teachers get bugger all unless you are a year 7 form tutor - so its not all teachers!

Smithagain · 16/12/2008 12:09

"I am down on the heartfelt messages of thanks and homemade cards which is a shame as I keep these and look at them when I doubt myself/get abuse from a parent."

Aw - sorry to hear that. Although I am now feeling reassured about the dodgy, glitter-infested creations that DD was clutching as she went into school today. I only hope her teachers think like you!

And bless the lad who couldn't resist the chocolate snowball.

CharleeInPantoPaperChains · 16/12/2008 12:21

Posting from a parents p.o.v here.

I would happily get all ds's nursery school teacers a pressie but there are 4 of them and it can add up at christmas time to buy 4 bottles of wine/boxes of chocolates.

The problem is thought when all the other children are running up tp the teacher with beautifully wrapped gifts the ds's start asking if they can give something to the teacher and peer pressure sets in.

I try to go for a homemade something i.e Jams/pickels/cakes to keep the cost down.

I don't remeber giving a teacher anything as a child at xmas time except a card but i do remember my primary school teacher is a lovely lady and she used to hand make all the class a card but it was always a paper puzzle that you had to work out how to open to read the message it was ace!

twentypence · 16/12/2008 18:59

I give all my private pupils a Christmas tree ornament with the instrument they learnt and the year written neatly on the bottom. One family now have 8 matching ornaments and have bought the children a small tree to put them on to celebrate their music.

Gorionine · 16/12/2008 19:03

I do not give anything to the teachers for christmas, I give something when the school year finishes. It is usually something homemade as well.

cory · 16/12/2008 19:12

Ds has made some biscuits for his teacher.

MrsMattie · 16/12/2008 19:15

We gave a couple of bottles of wine and a big box of chocs for the teacher and TAs to share. Individual presents - excessive imo.

stillenacht · 16/12/2008 19:26

DS's teachers get a bottle of wine for main teacher and choccies to share for TA's - thats fine and dandy

Not wrapped up - don't have time and am crap at wrapping anyway

So far i have had 2 bottles of wine and box of choccies (due to christmas concert)

Fleurlechaunte · 16/12/2008 19:52

I was wondering about this. At the end of last year when ds moved up I got some gifts for his teachers, some Cath Kidston stuff. I would quite like to give his teachers a little Christmas gift from him. I was thinking chocs and a scented candle and holder.

TheRedQueen · 16/12/2008 19:57

I am not a teacher, but a parent with one DD, who is currently at Kindergarten (as opposed to school), where she has three carers/teachers, two women and one man.

DH and I have long debated whether/what to buy for them at Christmas, but given that DD spends as much time with them during the week as with us and they do a fabulous job looking after her, we have decided to give each of them a more substantial gift in addition to a homemade something from DD. I agree wholeheartedly, however, with Charlee's point about peer pressure so we have decided to go for "voucher"-type things that can be put in an unassuming envelope. Both of the women are customers of the local beautician so, to support her as well, they are getting vouchers for a manicure or pedicure. The chap, who is newly qualified, on a very low salary, and whose family lives miles away, is getting a petrol voucher to help cover the cost of getting home for Christmas and free up some of his other cash so he has a bit extra to splash around.

I don't know whether we are doing the right thing, but (this year at least!) we are in the fortunate position of being able to afford it and we want to show our appreciation.

JustKeepSingingCarols · 16/12/2008 19:58

When i was a teacher the best gifts were wine and/or chocolates. In fact i used to use wine or chocs in any examples of questions leading up to Christmas
Some choice gifts:
a vaporiser (think that's what it's caled, a little bottle thing with a 'puffer' to spray out perfume?)
various 'delightful' ornaments

And my absolute best:
a free calendar from a Chinese takeaway
(and the family were vvvv well off and the child had bugged me about whether i would be in on the last day as he had a present to give me, built it up somewhat!).

Hulababy · 16/12/2008 20:02

I always buy gifts for DD's teachers. So far they have been great and I have been more than happy for DD to send them a present at Christmas and end of year.

I was a teacher for 10 years, until a few year ago. I started teaching in 1996 and got presents for Christmas and end of year back then, and that was at secondary too.

I can't reember whether I bought gifts for teachers but I do remember my sister buying them presents. She is now about 26y, so it isn't that new an idea.

I spend around £10 for a present, sometimes a bit more. This year we got DD's teacher a Radley purse, reduced in the sale to just over £11. She was very happy with it.

I have also bought wine, chocolates, smellies, etc.

When I taught I had alsorts of presents from homemade to bought. I have had wine, chocolates, flowers, jewellry, plants, books, etc.

stillenacht · 16/12/2008 21:02

Can't go wrong with wine and choccies -

Agree about the ahem 'lovely' ornaments (tacky tacky tacky) - all about personal taste really eh? and i have none!

OhLITTLEFISHofBethlehem · 16/12/2008 21:13

Most inappropriate present I was ever given was when I was in my first year of teaching. A parent gave me a belly button ring because she'd been told by a friend of a friend that I had my belly button pierced.

I had always been really really careful to make sure that no-one knew about my piercing because it was a fairly upmarket private school and I wasn't sure what the reaction from parents would be (this was about 15 years ago).

The gift just seemed far too personal.

Worst present: Large ceramic flowery cat ornament. I hate cats, and lived in a rented room at the time, so had no-where to put ornaments .

Best present: A group of parents got together and bought me theatre vouchers. Wonderful!