Chicken bald back

[stoice]

My teacher friend was well chuffed with his leaving pressies the other year from his year 6 class. Some mums were sending in their kids with an apple for the teacher. Not the fruit variety either! He got a ipod shuffle and a nano!!! (And lots of bottles of wine!! - VERY well recieved)

[ubereglu]

What about a cake mix in a decorated jar? That way the teacher can make the cake after she has been on her holidays.

 

Emma.x

 

I like that as a gift-Tesco do a similar thing, except with a BIG mug to use as a mixing bowl!!! That would go down well with my sister though as she runs Cooking club for year 6 at her school!

[chickencam]

I am toying with this idea at the moment. We have sent in mugs in the past, it all started when my ED accidentally broke her teacher's mug close to the end of term. Recently we have added a few chocolates or a homemade muffin or two.

 

My YD has made Christmas crackers 2 years running with a couple of chocolates inside.

 

I try to buy things that can either be shared out and consumed or are practical, but don't have to be taken home. I often feel sorry for teachers and the amount of toiletries and ornaments that they must get to clutter up their lives.

 

I am always a bit nervous of wine incase the teacher is tee-total. I am struggling as to what to send in this year though.

 

My ED was taught how to make gorgeous origami boxes by her maths teacher yesterday and she has shown YD how to do it so maybe we could make some cakes to go into one of these.

[Charlottechicken]

whilst I see your point, I don't feel that giving a present when your child leaves could be classed as bribery, they wouldn't be at the school anymore

 

 

I think you'll find it is not acceptable to give teachers gifts everywhere, so there must be something in it What if a teacher gives a certain report marking on the promise of an expensive gift?

 

At work (a Government department) we have been sent money, chocolates and jewellery as thank you's for awarding benefit to some folk, hardly open to misinterpretation as the award has been made, but the items have to go back, usually at more cost than the item is worth. It's the principle and it could be misinterpreted by others. We now have a minimum wage in this country which should mean that tips and freebies are no longer a necessary way of topping up salary, and it's such a shame that well meaning parents are spending money some may not have on gifts which will go straight in the bin or to the local charity shop if they are not wanted.

 

Maybe if people really really want to give a gift they could pot up a small plant from the garden and hand that over

[Cooks]

sorry Chartlotte we'll have to agree to disagree on this one

 

I will not stop giving presents to my sons teachers, I would never feel happy about not acknowledging their hard work throughout the year.

 

If a teacher gave a mark for the promise of an 'expensive gift' they should be sacked and never work in that environment again, however I know lots of teachers and that would never ever happen, teaching is a profession not a pastime, it's their careers, they wouldn't ruin it by accepting a bribe.

 

Like I said before I loved the gift I received of a bunch of flowers from the little girls garden, the present does not have to be expensive does it. Home made items are lovely and I adore them.

 

I would never expect anything, thats not me, but if they chose to buy/make me soemthing then why would I offend them and not accept it?

[Old Speckled Hen]

This all goes back to parental competition. Didn't this thread start along these lines?

Same as children's birthday parties.

I must admit I fell into this trap somewhat with my daughter's year book.

Perhaps there was an element of wanting to be original and to curry the teachers' favours.

When I was working the best Christmas gift I ever got from clients was booze.

I shared it out with my staff and a merry time was had by all.

[Sunshine]

Well this thread seems to have turned into about how some people like giving teachers presents and others don't. I think teachers should be given presents as a little extra as they must get attached to the students and vice versa.

 

I took my little sister into town today to buy her presents. We ended up in a small indepent shop that i always think has lovely items but i never know who to give them too. So the teachers have all got different presents-a pashmina, a smaller silk scarf, a lovely butterfly bookmark and a frog ornament. I'm sure they will be appreciated.

[Willow]

They sound lovely and it's nice that she chose herself.

[AJuff]

I always give my children the choice to buy or not to buy for their teachers. They usually buy something but it's their own choice not mine. Last year my daughter gave her teacher an egg skelter as she had just got hens and she loved it!! They don't usually buy things so expensive but she really wanted her to have one.

[Cooks]

those presents sound lovely Sunshine I am sure your sisters teachers will really appreciate them.

[HennyPenny]

I think the problem is that presents and cards especially made for teachers have started appearing in shops everywhere over the last few years at this time of year and now parents seem to think they have to give a gift. At a previous school, I once received a box of chocolates from a child whose mother was far from my biggest fan and I found that really hard to understand. It's like a tipping a hairdresser who's ruined your hair, just because you think you have to, rather than rewarding someone who you think has done a great job!

 

I am always overwhelmed by the generosity of parents and make sure that every child receives a Thank You card from me at the beginning of the new school year but my favourite gifts are always the home-made ones! I'd rather get a card made by a child than an expensive gift that the child hasn't even seen, let alone chosen.

 

BTW - it's really hard to ever use anything that has 'Best Teacher in the World' emblazoned on it! Wish the manufacturers of teachers' gifts knew that!

[chickencam]

My YD is making an origami box each for her 2 teachers who job share and she is giving them a jar of homemade jam each, made with fruit from our allotment, which she will decorate with a nice label and fabric top. She will also give them homemade cards.

 

I help out at school from time to time, and the loveliest thing to be given is thankyou letter signed by the children. We did a hill walk with them earlier in the week and I had a lovely letter yesterday thanking me. this was very welcome because my legs were killing me and it cheered me up no end.

[Lesley]

As it seems to be the case that parents now feel obliged to perpetuate the giving of presents and that teachers don't need, or are able to use, all the little gifts.......then perhaps it is something that would be best tackled by head teachers?

 

In these times of recession it would be far better if children just made a small card with heartfelt wording? - perhaps a letter at the start of school year to all parents outlining that although it has long been a tradition at Christmas and School Year End perhaps it would be nice if the whole school changed to just a card and then donations could be made to a local charity.....perhaps something to do with part of the curriculum?

 

It would only take one head to start the ball rolling?

[The Dogmother]

That's a very good idea Lesley

 

I'd support it - I'm sure I'm not the only one who finds it hard to find the cash for the presents, and doesn't like this competitive nonsense.

[Cooks]

ours did that last year, I donated for some farming equipment for Africa. They dont seem to be doing it this year.

[Shirl]

Eloise's class had a collection for the teacher and TA. The suggested donation was £10 (£5 each) with 23 children in the class. The teacher and TA were given £100 vouchers and some flowers each. In addition I gave them both a jar of homemade lemon curd and Eloise made them a card and the label for the jar.

[Chicken Licken]

As a secondary teacher I will be delighted to get away at 3.35pm tomorrow with my sanity and perhaps the occasional 'have a nice holiday' - that's about all though! Give a gift if you like - if not 6 weeks peace and quiet will be cherished by all

[Ygerna]

My son gave his pre-school key worker a pot of homemade blueberry jam, hand wrapped in a small piece of pretty net curtain, with a small, stuffed, cotton owl that said 'teacher' on it.

 

DD will be giving her teacher the same but she will also write a little card, which she will make herself.

 

I personally think small, homemade is nicer, however our class reps (two parents) organise a collection at Christmas and end of term for the teacher. The suggested donation is £5, £2.50 for the Teacher and the TA. The first time it happened I was a bit cross, as I wanted DD to learn to say thank you for herself, after all its the thought that counts and it shouldn't be about the parents giving money instead. Now, we do the donation and I still get DD to do something too as I still feel its important she does, but I dont want her feeling left out when the card, with the childrens names in is given out, in class, and her name is not there. So we end up doing two things.

 

(does that make sense, I'm rather tired)

[laurmurf]

I've been really interested in reading the wide range of responses to this thread. When I first read the title I read it as 'should I or shouldn't i'. I was amazed to read about the collections - I hadn't heard of that one; does it affect the kids who don't/can't contribute in any way?

 

I have to say that throughout my 4 kids time at school I've never given presents to their teachers. It never sat well with me to give someone a present for doing their job. What I have done for the last 8 years is been a school governor and offered my support to the school in that way.

 

I'm sure I'm not alone in this: i bet omleteers are in the PTA, are governors, help with reading, or bake cakes for the annual school fete. I think you've probably all done your bit to support the schools and the teachers in them.

[bluekarin]

Mine have ever given pressies when they have left year 6. So Far, just my ED has left, and she gave her teacher a small glass jewlellery box from Sainsbury. I think it was £5 and she put in a card and some lavender from our garden as it was her teachers favourite flower.

 

Actually I tell a lie A few years ago I bought a bunch of sunflowers and the kids gave each of their teachers 3 wrapped up in tissue paper.

[Karen & co.]

I'm sort of with laurmurf on this one, as a Govenor at the school for the last 7 years, on the PTA untill today for the last 13 years I haven't given presents to individual teachers, the children have made cards and I've made a cake.

 

As YD is leaving after me being at the school gate for the last 13 years between us we made a huge pavlova a Lemon drizzle cake, a bottle of elderflower cordial and a couple of bottles of cold fizzy water to drink with the cordial for the staff room. All the staff at the school have helped my 4 over the years from the cleaning staff to the head teacher so they all had something nice to eat with their lunch

 

Sarah leaves today and it's her leavers assembly this morning, I had to take the things in yesterday as I will be a teary heap on the floor once the assembly starts, and will have to find a way of calling the children's names out when presenting them with the sfe cycling certificates

 

Karen x

[laurmurf]

there are so many staff in a school who support a child's education - not just the teacher or the teaching assistant. Mid-day supervisors, caretakers, school secretaries... they get left out of the present-giving and they really do deserve thanks as much as the individual classroom teacher.

 

take some tissues with you, Karen !

[Jules.]

The head teacher nearly jumped up & down with delight today when Ethan gave her some eggs, & his class teacher is looking forward to baking another cake with her eggs.

 

I really like the idea of baking a cake for all the staff to share. I'll bear that one in mind for the future, & the elderflower cordial is a fab

[AJuff]

As a teacher myself I think all staff should take a share in the thanks. After all we do work together as a team. We are generally inundated with biscuits, chocolates and cakes to share . . on the last day!!!! YUM YUM! One week left to go . . . . . then the holidays!!!!

[gooner.girl]

My tutor group this year were year 6's and i had a wide variety of presents at the end of term (sadly no ipod or lush stuff though!!!) plants, smellies, chocolate and alcohol. Few parents stray from those staples though its always nice to get something different to!

 

Pressies are always nice to recieve but a hand written card of thanks from pupil or parent is lovely and special.