Gifts for Teachers

Trix

LEISURE VOUCHERS are a good option if clubbing together. The sites quote is 'Leisure Vouchers can be enjoyed at a huge number of places and in lots of different ways including: eating and drinking fine wines, exciting attractions and thrilling experiences, memorable holidays and short breaks away, relaxing and de-stressing and fun family days out.'

For my youngest daughters school it is always difficult with presents as it is a special school so there are so many people who help her like physios, OT's, speech therapists as well as teachers, support staff, lunchtimes helpers. The parents now get together and put in an agreed amount and buy either vouchers for M&S, the restaurant near the school, leisure vouchers etc and one big box of chocs. All the people working with her class then choose to either divide the vouchers up for everyone to do their own thing or organise somewhere to go as a group (if leisure or restaurant vouchers) and divide the chocs between them.

My eldest daughter usually makes something. My mum wrote a poem for her nursery teachers which included their names and had a small photograph of my daughter at the bottom with her name and dates she attended from and to and given in a frame, but I have also printed poems off the computer that seemed appropriate and had framed (some have resulted in the teachers crying saying how beautiful they are :rolleyes:) THIS site has a section called 'inspirational teachers poems', the last one we gave was 'It matters to this one'. Some are a bit OTT for me but 'Twas the night before school' is funny.

She has also made and laminated bookmarks either by making them on the computer herself in 'word' with the teachers name on the back and 'from...(name followed by dates from in to in the particular class), printed prepared ones off sites (lots around) or decorated with pressed flowers etc and finished them off with beads hanging on the bottom. The site above has 'mini messages' like 'teaching is the profession that creates all others' which are good to use.

This year she is into cross stitch (she's 11) so is busy doing a little cross stitch that she will frame. In my opinion it needs to be something the child has created or chosen and is a price you would expect them to be able to afford out of pocket money, not something the parents have chosen, paid silly amounts for and wrapped.

Polly

It appears that a primary school in Belfast sent home a note asking parents not to send in gifts for teachers at the end of term. So far so good. However, they went on to ask that instead, parents send a £10 M&S voucher (one per child) so that the schools could share these out amongst the staff. The names of children contributing will be included on a list.

As a parent of 3 school age children, I think this is outrageous. Like every other parent I know, I buy gifts for each teacher at Christmas and at the end of term. So far, I have had no problem with this as I see it as an opportunity to thank good teachers and to date, my children have been taught by excellent staff who go the extra mile to do their job well. However, such gifts should be discretionary and the amount spent is up to the family and not the school.

For a school to blatantly request a particular gift and a specific sum, is inappropriate and discriminatory to poorer families, who are going to be identified on this list. I would be interested in what others feel about this particular incident and in end of term gift giving in general.

black-saturn

I agree. Asking for £10 per child is a bit much. You don't have to give it. If your child wants to give a cheaper gift or no gift at all it is totally up to you but don't feel pressured into giving £10 each child. I bet the teachers are rubbing their hands waiting for a nice tax free bonus to their wages. Make sure you let other parents know too that they are not oblidged to pay this.

Topher

I'm a little surprised by this idea. Where is the source of information? I have googled it and can't find any articles relating to it.
I'm a teacher, and have been appreciative of gifts as they show appreciation of the work I do, which doesn't happen so often. As I teach year six, so some of the gifts are "leaving" presents, I have sometimes experienced parents spending as much as £10 on a gift, but that is beyond my expectations. I have also had to consign some fairly ugly, useless gifts to the bin, or charity shop, and have had more than a sneaking suspicion that the presents had already done a few years service being handed on as raffle prizes and spare Christmas presents, more insulting than no gift, although I do stay quiet about that.
T

black-saturn

What would you consider a reasonable leaving gift for a teacher then? I usually buy something like a box of handmade fudge or chocolates

Freebie_Hunter_2

A nice letter in to the headmaster/mistress/editor of the letter sent out may get the point across!

I think thats outrageous! What happened to a nice shiny red apple on the teachers desk?! the 'name or shame' list really puts pressure on the parents and sounds like a deliberate vice to squeeze as much as they can out of children. I also think that the more popular teachers miss out if the vouchers are to be 'shared out'.

After all, you don't tip the waitress that served the table next to you, do you?!

jay-1

I work for a local authority in Education Culture and Sport they have a code of practice on hospitality and gifts and asking for £10 vochures would definately breach this.

lynzpower

I also work for a local authority and if we got found asking for anything I know Id be up in front of a disciplinary. this is outragous, and likely to be bordering on unlawful.

I think this is outrageous. At the end of the day, being a teacher is no different to any other job in public service. Its a job, your not doing the world a favour by doing it per se , so you get your salary to recompense you.

Over the years clients have wanted to give me gifts. I have always stated most strongly to them that I am not allowed to recieve gifts, that Im paid for my job and thats all I need. If they are INSISTENT, then we recommend a tin/ packet of biscuits or chocolate so they can be shared out in the office.

Additionally, we have to report every gift recieved, and give it to the manager, then he makes a decision as to whether its acceptable for us to accept, ( if not he contacts the client and gives it back) or yes ( box of chocs usually gets a yes) and things are shared out.

Write to the head of your LEA. I would. this is so bang out of order.

philb120

As a teacher I have in the past received gifts- whilst chocolates and wine are always appreciated I place just as much value on handmade gifts and cards. Though I must admit to being very wary of some of the culinary delights brought in by some children

Having worked in some schools it really does depend on what has happened before eg: The one I am currently head of, we have yet to be thanked for taking the children to camp for the weekend by all but two of the parents. At a previous school parents were always prepared to say thank you and were appreciative of the work we did. In response to the lack of thanks from virtually all of the parents re the camp I publically thanked the teachers and other staff who gave up their weekend in the newsletter and got the children to write thank you letters to them.

Dragging myself back onto the topic I would say that you should just do what you normally do or refuse to send anything as a matter of princple. You should not be dictated to as to what to send. If it was me I would refuse and send a letter objecting to being told what to do.

master_blaster_2

i had to reply to this
the school in question is dundonald primary school ( this i know because my child goes to the school and we were one of the lucky parents to get this note)

they have asked for a monetry gift of £10 per child and they are going to buygift vouchers for the teachers & classroom assistant in question.
not all teachers have sent this note home ( i can only assume that they think it is unreasonable).
I dont even know if this has been authorised by the head or if someone connected to the class has decided to do this.
If they wanted to cut down on hassel /expence for parents they should have said either no gifts or money (£2,£5 or whatever amount of parents choice) and this would be given to charity or buy a small gift for the teacher and assistant