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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Am I the only person who doesn't buy teacher a present??

77 replies

nurseneedshelp · 14/07/2013 20:53

I'm shocked by all the threads about buying the teachers a present, I'm very grateful for their input but its their job and they get paid!

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carolthesecretary · 14/07/2013 20:55

It's ridiculous.

I'm very glad I don't have kids to be honest!

lljkk · 14/07/2013 20:57

Me neither, I feel overwhelmed by the thought of it. So hard to find something I could be sure they'd like. Right now we're skint anyway, but even before, for yrs, it just felt like I was sure to get it wrong and it was a kind of pantomime.

Friend who worked as a TA said the teachers never share, not even their unwanted leftovers, that seemed wrong too.

Caboodle · 14/07/2013 21:00

As a teacher I can say present absolutely not needed or expected (but a thank-you card is always received with a smile and kept forever).

morethanpotatoprints · 14/07/2013 21:00

I didn't send dc with presents because where do you draw the line? Teacher academic and extracurricular activities, TA, more than one teacher?

stargirl1701 · 14/07/2013 21:01

We don't want them. A lovely hand made card means so much more.

Rowanred · 14/07/2013 21:01

We do xmas presents but not in the summer.

peteypiranha · 14/07/2013 21:05

I have 6 bottles of wine for the teacher, stand in teacher, and all the tas. Dd has wrote a card each for them. I think its a nice thing to do.

Periwinkle007 · 14/07/2013 21:23

I think it is a nice thing to do - It isn't the monetary value and to be honest if the teacher gives it away or whatever doesn't bother me, it teaches my children to say thank you by having written a card and made a small present and then a small present from us as parents.
HOWEVER I am not saying I will do it every year, I have been particularly impressed with the teacher and TAs in reception and I want to thank them for the way they have handled my daughter this year. Yes it is their job, yes they get paid for it but I feel they were even better than I could have hoped and I want to say thank you.

Morebiscuitsplease · 14/07/2013 21:33

My girls have loved their teachers, they have both had great years and one has made excellent progress. I am full of respect and admiration for their teachers. It is a tough job so I want to thank them. I will make book covers for a chunky exercise book. Girls will help design it. Hopefully a bit personal and useful. I will make cakes for support staff and give little flower pots to one TA who is always helpful. OTT, everybody likes to know they are appreciated. I and the girls will write a thank you note too.

AlienAttack · 14/07/2013 21:37

I do a handwritten thank you card, as does my DD, for the teacher. I also contribute to any class collection for Vouchers. Hopefully they appreciate both but in different ways!

pollywollydoodle · 14/07/2013 21:39

dd will usually make a card
we usually say our thanks at parents evening

TravelinColour · 14/07/2013 21:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NaturalBaby · 14/07/2013 21:42

I didn't, but did put money in for the collection to buy them vouchers as a thank you present.

tanfastic · 14/07/2013 21:45

No. I won't be buying a present. I may get ds to make a card but that's about it.

The only thing I'm bothered about is him feeling the odd one out if all his classmates turn up with armfuls of chocolates flowers and gifts.

Violetroses · 14/07/2013 21:58

I wasn't going to give in to this last year, but at the last moment made a gorgeous big chocolate cake with DS a few days before the end of term, for all the lovely reception staff to enjoy. (I've done some professional cheffing so it was pretty respectable-looking)

I was a bit shocked to see the disappointed, slightly miserable expression on his teacher's face as she made herself say thank you to DS - she looked utterly fed up of unwanted bloody chocolate cakes! Think she may have been on a diet.

Will be getting DS to make a card this year...

Periwinkle007 · 14/07/2013 21:58

I don't think he will be alone Tanfastic - I have organised the collection from parents and there are enough little things for every child to give the teachers something whether or not their parents contributed. although now I think about it some parents might not like that as they may not have given because they don't agree with it.

oh I wish I hadn't bothered now.

exoticfruits · 14/07/2013 22:10

Of course you don't have to get one and not everyone does. I sent mine with presents because we wanted to give one- I am never keen on the attitude 'they get paid'.
Everyone should just do as they wish and not try and get everyone to do the same.

HumphreyCobbler · 14/07/2013 22:19

Teachers do not expect presents. It is fine not to give one.

Mintyy · 14/07/2013 22:20

No, I've never bought one. I am so surprised this has become the norm!

Flojobunny · 14/07/2013 22:24

I have spent over 100 pounds on thankyous this year. Totally ridiculous, but I got so stressed about what to buy and who to buy for, I thought sod it I'll get everyone something then its done and I can relax.

mikkii · 14/07/2013 22:28

Last year DS did not like his teacher and did not want to give her anything. DD's class did a collection which I prefer.

This year both DC love their teachers and I have bought a small personalised gift for each of them, total cost (for the two teachers) £26.

CircassianLeyla · 14/07/2013 22:29

I write them a note and this year one teacher will also get a letter to the Head as I have been hugely impressed.

Jinsei · 14/07/2013 23:24

I think it's nice to give a present if you are that way inclined, but fine if you don't want to/don't agree with it. My own dd gets a lot of pleasure from giving something to her beloved teachers, and I think it's important for her to learn to thank people who have helped her.

I am sure that a nice "thank you" card or letter is more important than a present. I am a bit about people who think that teachers don't deserve thanks because they get paid. No need to buy a gift if you don't want to, but surely you should be teaching your kids to say thank you!

timtam23 · 14/07/2013 23:29

We will not be buying a present but will give thank you cards to the 2 reception class teachers and the TA - I had hoped DS1 would do a drawing or a hand made card but he is balking at the suggestion, although he's agreed to write in shop-bought cards

BackforGood · 14/07/2013 23:44

I've generally put a tin of chocs or biscuits or something in the staffroom with a nice homemade (by dc) card. There are just too many staff who go the extra mile to make it such a fab school - my dd has a class teacher, and they set for maths and English so that's two more, then there's the people who go above and beyond what they need to do, in that they give a lot of time to running the sports teams she plays in, then there's the lovely Receptionist, and of course the PPA teacher. Then there's the teacher that runs the choir and the one that runs the chess club. that's before you get on to the 5 lovely ladies that run the excellent breakfast club.

Then there are people like her Scout Leaders - all volunteers and all wonderful people, and the chap that runs the football team she plays with on a Saturday, oh, and her piano teacher, and what about her Sunday school teachers....... you could just go on and on if you felt compelled to give to all staff who 'go the extra mile' just for that one dd alone...... and I've got 3 dc!

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