When did this trend of giving parents of new reception starters tea bags and biscuits with a poem start?

[Thisisa]

I’ve seen it around for a good few years - when and how did it start? Any reception teachers around?

😂

there is something about that poem that makes me want to vomit indeed.

I agree. There seems to be a cultural movement towards the excessive celebration of out pouring of emotions. I don't think full repression is the way to go either, but sometimes giving your head a wobble and carrying on is a better way to deal with a bit of sadness than wallowing in it.

Plus, on a purely practical level, primary teachers are often working 55+ hour weeks. Shit like this takes time, and I would much rather teachers spent their time on something useful for their pupils, or frankly, fucked off home fifteen minutes sooner.

I'd need a sick bag as part of the package if anyone gave me that!
Yes, "firsts" and "lasts" can be a bit emotional but I don't think there's any need to go over the top, and a cheap tea bag with a side order of doggerel surely helps no-one anyway?
Fortunately I've never heard of any schools in our area doing this kind of thing.

I got one in 2011 when my youngest started.

I thought it was rather nice.

Exactly! We need more ‘spit, spot’ resilience and less indulgence of wallowing sentimentality at perfectly mundane life events.

I know some PTAs do this - mine doesn't, but it's just meant to be a nice welcome gesture.
If you object to the use of funds on it, join the PTA & change from within.
Our PTA buy the Reception childrens' book bags as a welcome to the school & I put in a letter about the PTA.

I don’t think it is from the PTA. It’s from the class teacher in the ones I’ve seen.

It’s this sort of bossy ‘If you object to the use of funds on it, join the PTA & change from within’ that puts people off joining the PTA. I don’t have to be part of something to recognise when funds and time aren’t being spent wisely.

But equally its attitudes that complaining about how PTA funds are spent but not doing anything about it, is infuriating to parents/members of the PTA.
I'm a PTA Chair - a lot of thought, time & discussion goes into how & on what we spend money on - time which we give up freely to improve the lives of our children & the other pupils at the school. The more people who actually get involved, the less time any one person has to spend on it - but it's much easier to complain from the sidelines & not bother to pitch in.

Anyway, that's detailing the thread, so back to your original OP - if it's the teacher who has organised it, they have probably paid out from their own money for this & through experience maybe feel they want to acknowledge that for some parents it is hard & it's a gesture of welcome.

Haha I wasn't being dramatic, I'm coeliac and I just meant I would be borrowing the previous poster's turn of phrase in future in a lighthearted way. I'd just give the biscuit to DH if I was given one but nobody did so 🤷🏼‍♀️

DP would probably concur with your DH on the minor perks of having a coeliac partner. Disposal of any unsolicited baked goods is in their job description — I think his favourite is double Lotus biscuits in a coffee shop

I got a Terry's Chocolate Orange (no poem) - I was delighted! And yes, from the PTA.

It's nothing to do with trying to get parents on PTA 😂. These things spread around teacher groups on Facebook so then more and more teachers feel they should do the same in case they look bad when a parent from down the road got something from their school.
I hate cringy things like this.

I agree! I can't believe a school would dish out such an awful piece of doggerel.