Spill the beans... on end-of-term gifts for teachers

thegirlintheattic

davidsimpson wrote: »

As a teacher in an international school in the Middle East, I can't believe that teachers in the UK would be happy with office supplies!

You obviously don't have the same budget problems. The vast majority of the supplies I use in my classroom I pay for myself because there isn't any money for it.

PinkLipgloss

thegirlintheattic wrote: »

You obviously don't have the same budget problems. The vast majority of the supplies I use in my classroom I pay for myself because there isn't any money for it.

Second that! (when I was working in Scotland)

That's one thing I do not miss about teaching in the UK!

gocurlygirl

I am not a teacher but used to help in class as a parent.I am sure that the nicest thing is sincere thanks.12 years after I helped a little boy read in my dd1 class,he came and told my dd how much it had helped him,he may never know how much I value that comment,but I do.

jilltoon

I know a cleaner who worked in my sons school who at the end of term always found boxes of full unopened chocs etc in the bin. When I was told this I stopped buying presents for any of the teachers as I was quite shocked . Surely if they dont like things they could recycle

wondercollie

davidsimpson wrote: »

As a teacher in an international school in the Middle East, I can't believe that teachers in the UK would be happy with office supplies!
I would suggest that the vast majority of teachers do not want boxes of chocolates, toiletries, candles, homemade gifts etc.
In my school the norm has been for the class parent to organise gift vouchers.
I always appreciate a card with a note of thanks from parents as well.

Teachers in Canada like classroom supplies as well! It's obvious you work in a private school system that doesn't rely on public taxes to support it.

geoffky

we give out itunes cards..

Englishwk

It may sound overly sentimental but as a secondary school teacher, the thing I appreciate most is a hand written letter from the child or parent just saying thank you with a few kind words. That means more than most gifts.

KateLiana27

At my old school (a private one), there was awful one-upmanship with gifts and a lot of pressure put on parents as a result. Teachers would open gifts in front of us at the end of term, and no-one wanted to be seen as el cheapo.

I'm not a teacher, but a doctor. We have strict policies on not being allowed to accept personal gifts. I actually think that's a good idea, and I wish schools would adopt the same rule. A thank-you card or letter is a wonderful idea and all the gratitude someone needs. Getting a thank-you note from a patient means much more to me than anything material anyway.

That's what my kids' teachers will be getting (well, when I have kids!)

pollypenny

I'd never expect a present at end of term. However, there are plenty of kids who expect sweets from teachers at end of term - I mean each of their teachers in a secondary school.

Bottles of wine were much appreciated, but the nicest two presents I ever had were from pupils in the same class when I left that school - a beautiful bunch of roses from his garden from one and, from another, The Penguin Book of Women's Poetry.

passatrider

I believe that this form of gift giving is nothing more than the middle classes trying to outdo each other in the wealth stakes. End of term proms are much the same.

What a sad shallow society we now live in..