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Primary education

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Original poster

Anyone else think DD's teacher is a Scrooge?

58 replies

katied73 · 21/12/2012 23:20

DD is in Year 6 and her teacher is quite a strict, rarely cracks a smile, takes things very seriously type. Year 6 did A Christmas Carol as an afternoon performance on the last day of term and the ironic thing is that DD's teacher then sent her class home a) with homework over the holidays, b) without a card to any of the children and c) without even a little sweet each!

I'm not saying for a second that teacher's are obliged to give the children anything at Christmas (my Mum was a Year 3 teacher so I know the score) but not even a card? My two DS's (Year 3 and Reception) had cards from their teacher and the TAs, as well as a little present. DD sent the teacher a card (as did most of the class) but nothing back!

As for the homework, what a fiasco. Handed out literally as they were leaving at the end of the day (no homework in the rest of the school) and told to 'interview your parents about their childhood Christmases, like the Christmas interviews we've been doing in guided reading'. Great idea, except DD's guided reading group haven't been doing that so they had no idea what that meant and there was no time to ask the teacher as they were being shooed out of the door (presumably so Ms Scrooge could turn down the heating and save money).

Anyone else think this is all a bit mean over Christmas?

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TheNebulousBoojum · 22/12/2012 11:41

'I know of one situation when a teacher got a bollocking from a depute head for giving 20 kids a cream egg each at Easter.'

Me, me I did!
Except it was the head and the deputy in tandem. And 32 children.

noblegiraffe · 22/12/2012 11:46

I gave out sweets to my classes at secondary. I then spent the end of each lesson picking the wrappers off the floors (and they were told to put them in the bin). Honestly, does no one teach their kids not to drop litter any more? It puts me off doing it in the future.

EcoLady · 22/12/2012 11:55

I wrote cards for my class (I'm not starting there until Jan but have had 3 days in school with them). I asked about giving them chocs but cannot as there are two with significant allergy/dietary issues in the class.

DS came home with cards from class teacher and TA, and there were Haribos given out.

TheNebulousBoojum · 22/12/2012 11:59

The thing is, back in the day I used to give small gifts which were appreciated.
But the last decade or so, most children can't be bothered and don't appreciate them, they get left behind or destroyed or dismissed as crap.
Never seen any child do that with chocolate, and it works out cheaper. I also provide alternative treats if chocolate isn't acceptable for whatever reason.

TheApprentice · 22/12/2012 12:02

What you don't know is how much of her own money she may have spent on teaching books, resources etc for her class. I have spent loads of my money on such things over my years of teaching. I don;t begrudge it at all as schools are desperately short of stuff, but I would resent anyone suggesting I was a skinflint for not spending much on them at Christmas.

TheNebulousBoojum · 22/12/2012 12:14

That too.

enjolraslove · 22/12/2012 14:17

Year 6 definitely not too old. I bOught enough cards (pound land - whole thing cost £12) for every pupil in our whole school (450) to get at least one. I then checked every single pupil did (we had lists) and I personally wrote to one to all 196 year 10/11 pupils ( I lead ks4). Each one had a personal message- just short but 'well done in Maths this term' 'great to see you playing football for the school' but something that shows I know who they are and their achievements/efforts/progress are recognised. (even if it is literally - I really do appreciate that you have been trying not to argue with quite as many teachers).
This wasn't some sense of martyrdom or massive Xmas thing but about recognising that personal messages and relationships make for better/happier schools.
We did the same last year and I know the pupils all really appreciate it so I do think the year 6 teacher was a bit of a Scrooge to be honest but also very short sighted in terms of missing a chance to give every kid a personal/private message.

IslaValargeone · 22/12/2012 14:22

She's your child's teacher, not father christmas

mrz · 22/12/2012 14:22

Well I wrote out cards to all my class and bought them a book each as a gift. One child said thank you and most of the cards were left in the cloakroom The one to one support assistant who works with a child in my class bought every child a selection box and a card and didn't get one thank you!

IslaValargeone · 22/12/2012 14:25

That was lovely of you mrz and shockingly rude of most of the kids.

alcofrolic · 22/12/2012 14:43

Christmas is an expensive time for teachers, as most buy TAs / support workers presents. As a KS manager, I bought little things for all KS teachers and TAs, which came to nearly £80. I'm not sure I'll do it next year.

Our PTA funds the Santa present, and I do write each child in my class a card.

Personally, I loathe giving out cards in class as it generally becomes a popularity contest, with some children obviously getting more/less than others, and those getting more making a loud and very big deal of it. This year, we hid all the cards and then, on the last day, put them in book bags to take home to save any children getting upset.

insancerre · 22/12/2012 14:47

Just a thought but for a few years after my mum died I really struggled with the whole Christmas thing.
Maybe she is not celebrating it this year because of a bereavement?

kilmuir · 22/12/2012 14:49

nonsense.
they are year 6. My DD would not be bothered about not getting a sweet.

Mrsrudolphduvall · 22/12/2012 14:53

Dd's form tutor yr 11 is amazing.
She's had them snce yr 7, organises Secret Santa at Christmas for them, and has a party in the tutor room. She provides food for them...does the same at Easter and end of term.
An absolute gem.

ByTheWay1 · 22/12/2012 14:55

kids get enough sweets or tat at Christmas -I'm glad my Y6 didn't get any from her teacher, she did wish them merry Christmas on their way out, and they wished her a merry Christmas back.......

and the homework will prepare them for Y7 - my Y7 dd has 2 projects - one on Norman castles another on preparing a mood board... each will probably take 3 or 4 hours knowing her...

Original poster

katied73 · 23/12/2012 11:48

Wow, lot's of responses to my original message which I've been stewing over since I wrote it and came to the conclusion that I wish I hadn't posted. All that bothered me was DD was a little upset about not getting a card (she's a typical girl who loves all that). I don't care that the teacher didn't give them sweets or anything (they get enough of that from friends and family and it's not cheap to give to 30 kids). I do feel mean for what I wrote as I think the teacher is an exceptionally good one and DD loves her to bits so my feelings are irrelevant really. Can't believe that some staff get into trouble for giving out sweets though - now that's mean!

OP posts:

Whistlingwaves · 23/12/2012 11:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ChristmasJubilee · 23/12/2012 12:24

Ds3 (6) got a little note book, pencil and rubber from the teacher and a sweetie from one of the T/A. The other T/A was off sick but ds said they had a Santa sack to put all her presents in and someone would take it to her. They must have done ok!

cumbrialass · 23/12/2012 13:38

I assume the parents/children who don't send me Xmas cards aren't Scrooges, so why would a teacher who doesn't send a card be one? ( Actually I send every child in the school a card, give every child in my class a present and have a tin of chocolates to hand out during the last week, but that's because I want to!)

mrz · 23/12/2012 13:41

Does anyone expect cards and gifts from their doctor, dentists, postman, ....

GoodKingWenSOLOslas · 23/12/2012 13:48

Dd, year 1 = homework. Not sure it'll get done though.

Startail · 23/12/2012 13:52

Any teacher who sets HW over holidays gets - several 1000% of me.

DD1 will have to do some revision because she had GCSE science exams after the holidays.

So much for returning to proper end of year 11 exams

I really disapprove of bitty lets take bits of vital life effecting public exams randomly scattered when we are liable to forget them.

What ever is wrong with letting children, whether 5 or 15 be children as we were allowed to be.

I didn't feel exams looming over me until our year 11 mocks and they were done and dusted before Xmas of Y11 and then we really only panicked from the start of our last Easter holidays.

Way better for us, our parents and our younger siblings than this drawn out rubbish.

GoodKingWenSOLOslas · 23/12/2012 13:54

I agree Startail

ljny · 23/12/2012 14:01

It's possible that some parents did not have "childhood Christmases". If they're different religions or grew up in different countries.

Seems wrong to hand out a sensitive assignment at the last possible minute, with no chance for guidance if a child's family doesn't fit the mould.

That bothers me more than giving cards to year 6 - nice but no biggie if she didn't.

littlemiss06 · 23/12/2012 14:04

Our year 6 teacher spoils our kids, my daughter got chocolates, card and a new bag which was really nice. She didn't get homework either :-D

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