Thank You Teacher

I can remember taking my teacher a bunch of flowers plucked from my parents' garden - or an apple! The world's gone crazy

I'm a teacher and tbh it's embarrassing. Some parents see it as a competition. Who can give the largest bouquet of flowers? Who can give the most expensive gift? Of all the gifts I have recieved in my career there were two special ones. One was a banana from a little girl who giggled 'See I have listened to all your lessons on healthy eating' and the other was a fairy from the local pound shop which a child bought me with his own money because once in passing I mentioned that I have fairies at the bottom of my garden and so he bought me one to keep in my house.

The Polish children I teach brought their tradition which is to give each person who teaches you one single rose often from their garden. So at the end of the day you have a lovely bunch of roses that hasn't crippled anyone financially.

My most embarassing present was a litre bottle of gin!! Vey acceptable but so NOT obviously chosed by child. The best ones were the grotty ornaments chosen by the little rogues but which showed they'd thought about what to get you. Or the little note I got from one rascal which said : It has been a hard year !
I do agree that presents for the teachers does seem to be getting out of hand.

My daughter teaches in a private school but has never had more than chocolates, flowers/plants, bath accessories, scarves and tokens. She would be horrified to get anything more expensive. Presents and cards made by the children are much more acceptable I feel.

JessM My daughter has a good salary and her teaching conditions are very good she loves her job. She had a year off after having twins and has now gone back to the same job she adores being a teacher.

When I taught in what were then Direct Grant schools we were not allowed to accept presents. A good thing too.

My first job was in a direct grant school - since privatised - and some naughty boys in one of my classes brought me a Christmas present: a gift-wrapped strap; this was Scotland after all. They knew I didn't have one and they also knew I didn't like corporal punishment. They did their very best to make me use it but however much I might have been tempted, I never did.