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Original poster

TEACHERS! What do you want (or expect) for Christmas?

52 replies

PerArduaAdSolInvictus · 02/12/2009 21:41

Following on from another thread - are you happy to get 30-odd bottles of wine? As a primary teacher or TA - what would you actually like?

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Original poster
PerArduaAdSolInvictus · 02/12/2009 21:49

Quick bump?

OP posts:
GrumpyYoungFogey · 02/12/2009 21:52

To my mind there is something terribly common about buying your child's teacher a Christmas present.

I really don't get it.

Ceolas · 02/12/2009 21:54

grumpy! Why common?

EnolaAlone · 02/12/2009 21:57

My DH is a reception teacher and loves getting alcohol! Followed by chocolates. Then little handwritten cards etc by the kids. He's a sucker for the sentimental stuff. Not sure what female teachers want though.

Original poster
PerArduaAdSolInvictus · 02/12/2009 21:59

I just read the threads about what people are doing and picture some poor woman surrounded by cheap smellies and wine, wishing she'd told the class she was pregnant/allergic to perfumes/on a diet...

OP posts:
woahwoah · 02/12/2009 21:59

I expect nothing! Honestly.
I would like.... a few genuine words of thanks, maybe a Christmas card if you want to send one.
I would be really pleased with chocolate (not to share with whole staffroom!), wine, biscuits etc.
I would prefer not to get (but will be grateful anyway iyswim) candles, ornaments or anything with 'a present for my teacher' on it. But if that's what I get, I'll probably keep it forever anyway!

There is nothing common about expressing thanks to someone who spends hours thinking about your child (and all the others) and probably works 60+ hours a week. But the thanks is the important bit, not the present.

jennifersofia · 02/12/2009 22:00

Please, please, not cheap milk chocolates. Dark chocolate (though that is entirely personal preference, obv.), a bottle of red (though check that the T. or TA isn't teetotal), a voucher to HMV (£5) or M&S (nice food) or Amazon all go down well.
If you don't want to or can't afford to buy anything, a homemade (by child) is just as lovely!

golgi · 02/12/2009 22:04

I'm a secondary teacher. I like to get cards from my students, especially if they say nice things inside. I do not expect presents.
But....if presents were an option then wine or chocolates are fine with me.

mrz · 03/12/2009 07:45

A smile and to be wished a Merry Christmas

TheFoosa · 03/12/2009 08:18

I am rebelling this year, the teachers are fab but I'm not buying any gifts

dd is drawing a lovely picture for them instead

FreeGeorgeJackson · 03/12/2009 08:39

am secondary
dont expect anything.
would like ( if given) anything that was somethign the pupil and I had talked about, said we both liked - ie was thoughtful and from him/her ( like a crunchie bar or whatever)

FreeGeorgeJackson · 03/12/2009 08:41

i sent my childs secondary teachers a presnt this week with a note saying that htis might "get them through" to xmas. I sent a tin ( that was blardy £££) of green and blacks shortbread

she was pleased! ( or so she said)

primarymum · 03/12/2009 18:54

I too don't expect anything but I usually get a few well chosen items ( although I've now moved into teaching yr 6's and have noticed the number of pressies seems to decrease as the children get older, but the quality increases!) However chocolates are always welcome, as are cards, candles, alcohol, in fact anything it really is the thought that counts. I live in a rural horticultural area and have received a large sack of potatoes before now!
However I do buy ALL my children a Christmas present and send every child in school a Christmas card, so it's not all one sided!

aJumpedUpPantryBoy · 03/12/2009 18:58

A smile and a thank you.

I never expect anything. The best gift I ever had was when 2 of the boys n my class bought me a 5 pack of flakes as they knew they were my favourite

chocolateshoes · 03/12/2009 19:00

Am a secondary school teacher & we rarely get anything at our place. Sometimes a parent will send a tin of biscuits for the staff room which is always appreciated. So that's what my DS will take to school. Was going to send it with him tomorrow so the staff would be able to enjoy them over the last week or so. I like the idea of something to share as there are so many staff involved not just the one teacher

rosieroseanna · 03/12/2009 22:04

Lol! At my school we're lucky if we get a card! I'm in a really deprived school and generally out of 26 children only about 5 will bring anything. I agree that the mass produced 'Teacher' things aren't very nice but it's the thought that counts. I am pleased with anything, things the children have made are lovely.

I used to work in a village school (outstanding ofsteds, very different!) and got lovely presents, toiletries, wine, chocolates, candles etc. Anything is nice but christmas decorations are really nice.

bramblebooks · 03/12/2009 22:18

I love a smile too and to know that my little dearies are going to be safe and loved this Christmas. Sorry if that makes anyone pass a bucket! The best is a little squiggle from them on a card - particularly if they've drawn it themself, particularly if it's from one of the 'loveable rogues'.

Insider333 · 03/12/2009 23:30

Do not send teachers presents! If they consider it to be sub-standard you will be a figure of fun in the staff room. Teachers get paid loads so are more than capable of buying all the alcohol and food they could ever need - have you not seen all the new or nearly new cars in the staff car park? I say this as a teacher.

golgi · 04/12/2009 07:31

Insider333 - you haven't seen my car!

primarymum · 04/12/2009 07:35

Insider333, sorry but no gifts are ever considered "sub-standard" what a horrid thought! Of course we can afford to buy food ( and even alcohol should we wish) but I didn't think that was the point of giving token gifts, it was a way of showing appreciation for a hard job, well done! I appreciate all my children and give them a small gift to say thank you for all the hard work they do over the term, some parents want to do the same.

bramblebooks · 04/12/2009 09:30

insider

OooohWhatAFuss · 04/12/2009 11:19

Insider, I really hope that you
a) Are not actually a teacher,
or
b) That you have informed your class not to get you presents this year as they have been too crap for you to even consider accepting in the past and have only been used as a source of entertainment for all the other mean spirited people you work with!
Teachers do not expect gifts. Teachers though, like many others, often like getting gifts! Personally would love to get wine or chocs, also still have every decoration ever bought for me hanging on my tree every year!
I always buy something for my milkman, postman, dustmen etc even though they do a job and get paid for it, kind of like tipping when you have good service.
As a direct reply, PerArdua, would love 30 bottles of wine, thank you! Hope you are one of my parents

DooBeDooBe · 04/12/2009 11:52

The best present I ever had was a hand made "Book of Memories" (a July gift) by a small group of children. It was decoracted with pom-poms and feathers etc and had "my favourite moment" comments and photos of themselves that they'd taken. I still have it to this day. Really really lovely. As for Christmas, a card or note is lovely.

trickerg · 05/12/2009 00:54

As oohwhatafuss - would love 26 bottles of wine, but couldn't care less if I get nothing.

Would really prefer people not to be tempted by 'best teacher' merchandise - it's there to rob you!

Really appreciate thanks from parents (particularly at end of year).

Do NOT like cards from children that are not coloured or drawn to the standards I expect of them!! This really annoys me!

MadamDeathstare · 05/12/2009 01:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.