End of year teacher gifts

[Rojak]

There was a thread ages ago (maybe even a couple of years ago) about end of year presents for teachers.

I can't find it but would welcome suggestions from other parents or teachers about what they like receiving, otherwise it's going to be that ubiquitous box of chocolates (green and black's of course! )

We've had lots of written thank yous over the years, and I'm sure the boys get loads of verbal ones at school too. But I'm not fussed whether the teachers/TAs/whatever do a formal thank you too.

Btw we have a non-teaching Head, and always buy her something: as she does a FANTASTIC job. But I'm sure she doesn't get many gifts/thank yous.

That's true about the small business (I sjhould know Dh is trying to run one and a full time job alongside each toehr whilst I study.... erm to teach ), but it shouldn't be a competition, and just because you want to do something (teaching nursing caring) doesn't excuse shite wages.

I think the presents are often as not non existent- for ever MN school with fancy wine, there's a dozen schools where they're lucky not to get an attack of nits and half drunken bottle of white lightening.

Don't get me wrong, I admire teachers greatly - I know I could never teach (something about large groups of children terrifies me). Yes, they could do with better pay, but then so could an awful lot of people. Just because jobs are not socially admirable doesn't mean they are not necessary. It's like some kids getting the "good" errands to run and getting praised more than kids who just happen to get given the boring/less noticeable ones. Probably not a good analogy but I can't think of a better one at the moment.

no, I know what you mean- Dh gets low pay for his job (new business can't turn a profit atm, coz of tax credits and EU licences and all sorts of stuff) and though his job is essential, its not generally considerd important. Mind you- he doesn't have the £14K of student loans I will ahve when I graduate!

Money is so scary. Or lack of it.
I'd have gone to uni like a shot if it wasn't for the fear of debt. I dream of a study-at-home creative writing course but it's all so damn expensive!

Like I've got so much spare time...

Finbar, we have got wriiten thanks from our kids' teachers for the gifts! Which blew me away.

I have only one got a gift (! being a scary secondary teacher) but I did thank the child, and I also gave the whole form a gift each. many of them didn't bother to say thank you, just statched it from me and in one case coplained that it was 'just a pen and pencil set'

So there are rude and polite people everywhere I suppose