Teachers' gifts: yes or no, buy or make, group or individual

Former_MSE_Andrea · 12 July 2016 at 11:32AM

It's almost the end of the school year already (time flies!) :j

So we thought we'd find out how your year group is handling the end-of-term dilemma.

Are you giving your kids' teachers an end-of-year gift?
Have you joined together with other parents or giving your own?
Have you made one or bought it?
Just the teacher or TAs too?
Which year group?
How much have you spent?

Plus!

If you're on Twitter vote in our twitter polls:

Parents! Do you give end-of-year gifts to your kids' teachers?

Teachers! Do you get end-of-year gifts from your classes?

If you haven’t already, join the forum to reply!
[purplesignup][/purplesignup]

onlyroz · 12 July 2016 at 12:32PM

I recently joined the facebook page for my son's yeargroup at school. There has been intense (and I mean intense) pressure to contribute towards a leaving gift for the class teacher and the two teaching assistants. They're asking for £15 from each of us.

I have absolutely no interest in contributing, or in getting any other sort of gift for teachers. I'm bewildered as to where this trend came from - it certainly wasn't the norm when I was at school.

I'll be encouraging my kids to make their teachers a card, which I think is a far more personalised way of saying thankyou than turning up on the last day of term with a box of chocs.

pinkshoes · 12 July 2016 at 12:36PM

I am a secondary school teacher, so kids don't really do the whole gift thing, but getting a card from a kid to say thank you is wonderful. Far more meaningful than any gift.

fairy_lights · 12 July 2016 at 12:39PM

I find the trend of making gifts for teachers really odd. I've seen quite a few of these projects on facebook in the last few weeks - photo frames made out of cereal boxes, elaborate artworks made out of wool etc. Which I'm sure are lovely for the kids to make - but what's the teacher going to do with all of these? They're not going to fill their homes up with artwork made by other peoples kids are they, they're going to end up in the bin!

mum2one · 12 July 2016 at 12:49PM

At primary school we got a gift foR the teacher, avoided the best teacher etc as they end up with so much, I use to get a bottle of wine or nice notepad and pen set

My dd at secondary, at the end of yr 7 she gave a couple of gifts to teachers that had helped her most, she gave pen in a box, (male teachers )

In primary school where do u draw the line, teacher, ta, class room helper, the volunteer reader....

As for Fb groups it's all gone out of proportion x

warehouse · 12 July 2016 at 12:57PM

Good luck anyone trying to bully me into giving a gift. As said above, a thank you letter is far nicer than anything money can buy.

esuhl · 12 July 2016 at 1:14PM

I have friends who are teachers -- a few in secondary schools, but mostly in adult education. I was amazed to hear that one had been given £100 in vouchers by his class, and another had a little trophy cup saying "Best teacher in the world" or something.

When I was at school/college/uni, I don't remember anyone getting teachers anything!

The teachers I know certainly don't expect anything, so no one will think less of you if you don't contribute. They take pride in their work, so a few words of appreciation or a card would make their day.

susancs · 12 July 2016 at 2:23PM

Last year a lot of DDs sixth form friends got their A level science teachers gifts. Nearly all had weekend jobs so they bought their own gifts. The science teachers were really dedicated, giving up breaks and lunchtime to help with revision and going over concepts. My DD found it difficult to revise at our house, as she said there were too many distractions (IT gadgets) so the Head of Science (also her Physics tutor) arranged a room for her in the science Dept block to revise. Her physics tutor got a physics tie, biology teacher got an unusual plant, chemistry teacher minions and chocolate themed items.

Prior to that in secondary school she did not do gifts, but a couple of popular teachers who had babies got class gifts during the year.

Primary school my children gave plants and flowers to their class teacher.

LilElvis · 12 July 2016 at 2:34PM

My 5 year old will be helping me to make jars of raspberry and lemon curd and lime and passion fruit curd. We've already made tags out of air-drying clay. She will make the thank you cards. I've bought some nice little spoons to tie to the jars. Cheap to make, but we will have fun, and I hope they will be appreciated, as we appreciate the dedication and enthusiasm her teacher and teaching assistant have shown throughout the year.

thriftyemma · 12 July 2016 at 2:40PM

When I was at school (25 years ago :eek:) only a handful of children gave the teacher gifts. It seems to have gained in popularity a LOT more now. I hear all kinds of stories, expensive bottles of wine, £100s in amazon vouchers, all sorts. I think it's totally unnecessary.

My children's teachers have been amazing, and the children have said they'd like to get something for them. I'm 'guiding' them towards something like a book token, rather than anything too personal. I don't like the idea of sending kids in with wine, and homemade 'crafts' will probably be, like a previous poster said, admired for a little while and then chucked in the bin.

They are also making cards. It's a few minutes work, it's more personal than a shop bought one, and they all genuinely want to say thank you to their teachers. They are all primary aged, so I think it's suitable for them.

AylesburyDuck · 12 July 2016 at 2:54PM

I've got 4 kids, youngest is starting year 11 this year.
Can honestly say have never contributed nor have any of my kids given gifts to teachers. The odd one may have had a card off the kids to thank them but thats been it.
Had i been asked to contribute to a group gift it would have been a no too, sorry but they get paid a wage same as other people, and on the whole not a bad wage either.
Now Nurses is a different story, quite happily buy a present for a decent nurse.

Teachers' gifts: yes or no, buy or make, group or individual

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