about gifts for teachers?

For the few years towards the end of my working life that I taught adult literacy, what I found most touching was to receive a card with a kind and appreciative message. It meant far more than receiving a gift. I think this idea of giving presents to teachers is getting out of hand and should be ditched. (I notice that, as usual, the shops have latched onto this relatively new marketing opportunity).

My son is a Primary school teacher and always goes home at the end of the year with a car boot filled with chocolates and wine but what he likes best are cards made by the children where they have written him a message unprompted by their parents. He is gratified when parents thank him for his hard work but his job satisfaction comes from the children.

In further and adult education, the most precious thing to receive was a student's thanks. And when I told a class I was to be made redundant, one student wrote a poem for me and, after 19 years, I still have it.

That's lovely annodomini.