Is anyone bouycotting this present buying hysteria?

[DrNortherner]

???

I'm nbot buying a prezzie this time.. feel a bit bad but skint

ooops don't know what happened then

As I've said on another thread, I hadn't yet decided what to do about presents and today an alpha PTA woman extorted £10 out of me by harrassing me with her clipboard. She TOLD me everyone in the class was donating and it HAD to be a tenner because they were buying the teachers a day at a spa or something.

I've been seething about this at home. Bloody cow! I may have bought something meaningful, or given a heartfelt thanks face to face or with card, but this bossy bloody woman has fleeced me into a state of fury.

Also I have four children with more than one teacher each. No other fucker is getting a single penny from me this year.

I have 2 kids. One has 2 teachers plus 2 clasroom assistants. the other has 1 teacher and 3 teaching assistants. That's 8 presents! We are skint.

What's wrong with a thank you gift?

Or how about a voucher for them to buy things for their class? Or things for their class?

I got 2 nice bottles of bubble bath for ds to give his reception teachers - to soak away all their stresses and strains - they're big bottles!

LOL - 1986 - although some days I do feel far older!

Maybe PTA woman is hoping for a pressie too Spidey. A new clipboard inserted where the the sun don't shine perhaps?

Actually that would have annoyed me hugely too. And isn't it always the way that you can think of a million cutting replies after you get home and have paid up .

Don't think this is a new invention - distinctly remember giving small token to primary school teachers... and that was centuries ago.

DD has decorated a plain white cushion with fabric markers for each of her 3 nursery teachers. Heatfelt, cheap, and they can bin in 6 months when they have forgotton who DD is if they want to.

That's the downside to the class rep idea.

We only ever done a joint gift in yr 6 - and it's cost £3 each this year (which still raises £51 if all the children parents put in).

(sorry, that was in response to spider).

mine always want to, there is no getting away with it... chocs, biscuits.. no harm in it imo - they can share with other staff.

I got presents for my teachers in the (19)70s so it isn't that new!

I don't get hysterical about it but I do like to reward the staff at dc's school for all the amazing work they do with my children and don't begrudge it at all.

We get given chocolates off offenders occasionally.

My mother tipped the bin man, window cleaner and paperboy 30+ years ago. I can't remember whether I took presents to school or not. Some folk tip the hairdresser, etc etc etc. DH bought presents in for the midwives when I had babies. We took presents in for the nurses after my mum died.

If you want to send a present, do so. If you don't, don't.

I don't like the competitiveness of some parents and I really don't like the situation Spider was subjected to, neither of which I've witnessed at our school (or maybe I'm just oblivious).

As a teacher all this present hysteria makes me feel very greedy! Teachers don't get thanked very often and a small homemade gift or card is always appreciated. We do work very hard and good teachers do more for children than their job description dictates!