An apple for the teacher.

Actually terribly sad that those precious little handmade gifts ( some of which I still have) have been superseded by the expectations of a class collection and a trip to the spa!

Isn't there some sort of tax liability with expensive gifts. My DH would have had to declare any gifts he was given. He always refused them more on moral grounds though.

It's not turning into a bash the teacher thread and it would be great if people could have discussions on education, safeguarding without that being thrown at people.
I work in education now by the way.

I think it should be stopped, it must be worrying for the children of families that cannot afford anything.

There are so many items with ‘favourite teacher’ or ‘thank you teacher’ printed on them, imagine getting 30 of those every year, probably why there are always some in every charity shop.

Certainly not abadh the teacher

Not a bash the teacher thread ! I have never liked the idea - I was a teacher!!

Banning parents from doing something even where the ban would benefit others?😱
Have you ever successfully tried that without receiving a lot of abuse in the media. Can you imagine
My child desperately wanted to give Mrs Go a present but the school banned it. She’s distraught! I had to promise her a McD milkshake to soothe her.
Some parents would be really grateful for the ban. It’s expensive with more than one child, and do they get a gift for the TAs and the PPA teachers?
Most teachers wouldn’t mind. I love getting a card or a note or a picture saying thank you.
I’m a bit more sceptical about the ones that say, I’ll miss you. You’re the best teacher ever! I know full well that most children, two weeks into next term will think the same about their new teacher.😁😁

I was a teacher and I never expected or wanted any gifts. That said if a child gives you something what can you do except thank them graciously? I always tried to make it as quick and quiet as possible, so that the children who couldn't bring anything didn't feel let out. But I know some teachers made huge ceremonies of it and one even dropped the name of her favourite products into talks, as end of term approached.
I'd like to see a proper policy and guidelines about this in every school, preferably banning the gifts but allowing thank you cards

IMO it should be banned in all schools - state and private.

Did any watch Motherland?

Brilliantly observed and parodied portrait of the self important and coercive Playground mafia😬

As a retired teacher I remember children giving hand picked flowers from their gardens. I loved the roses - greenfly and all!

One of my DiL’s regularly bakes extra cakes/cake to take into GC school for the staff.

The Mums have a collection for their children’s class teacher and TA’s at the end of the school year at both local primaries near me (I have GC at both)

I loved motherland Lathyrus, brilliantly done.

My favourite is the cards with all their little finger prints on, especially when there are little messages inside and I know I taught that child to do that. It's so nice to have that memory

As a secondary teacher I was sometimes given a gift at Christmas or at the end of the summer term, mostly chocolates or flowers, once a delicious home made fruit cake.

When I retired there was a gift from the school, but I can’t even recall what it was. Several pupils gave individual gifts and I am still using a lovely mug and a tray I received from a very special pupil who lived near me. Best of all were the cards and letters of appreciation. It was all voluntary. Nothing very costly.

My husband, also a teacher, died recently and many former pupils sent messages and tributes- quite incredible, 16 years after he retired.

It is the parents who organise class reps and collective present giving, not the school. I have never encountered a class rep, but talk to the mummies rather than insisting loudly that any form of gift should be banned. If you don't want to give a present or contribute, then don't.

We used to have a silly secret santa at school until the Deputy Head decided of his own volition that we would all give £5 and it would be sent, in his name, to Oxfam. He also banned the children from sending Christmas cards to each other because it wasted paper, but asked parents for a donation instead. They ignored him.
It all caused bad feeling, particularly the next year when a different charity was suggested and he refused to allow it. Plus the Head was discovered to have claimed his donation back from school fund.

Things within education shouldnt just happen because parents like them.

I’m not a teacher. I work as a counsellor in an independent school. I have occasionally been given a token gift but our school stated nobody can receive a gift worth more than £20 . If that ever happens it has to be declared to our finance department and is registered with them so everything is transparent

Galaxy

Things within education shouldnt just happen because parents like them.

True, but where should the “because parents like them” stop?
Parents during my time teaching, have liked;
end of term gifts,
term time out of school,
fruit juice in water bottles,
trainers,
huge school bags,
oversized hair bows,
strange hairstyles etc.
Who makes the decision about what things are allowed and what are not allowed because parents like them?

It’s over 30 years since my children left school.

Thank goodness this practice hadn’t caught on back then, well, not at our schools anyhow.

Galaxy

Things within education shouldnt just happen because parents like them.

An experienced HT along with efficient School Governors should have good and clear lines of communication with parents.

It should never become a them and us situation. Parents aren’t the enemy, they should have the same respect as teachers expect.

Actually I can’t believe that anyone in any situation likes being put under pressure to give a “gift”.

I can only assume that people who think the class collection is a good idea have

a) never experienced the disapproval of the parental Playground and how parental opinion can translate into child bullying

b) never been so poor that even 50p given means going without something and a fiver for each child would mean no food on the table.

c) never felt the shame of it

I think it's mostly in primary /junior schools and perhaps a little bit in year 7.
I have several things that were gifted and they mean a lot to me , as do the cards and letters I received.

Surely, in the current economic climate, Head Teachers should be contacting parents and advising that a home made card from pupils is sufficient to show their appreciation to their teachers. Why should parents be put under pressure to spend cash they can ill afford - and I know there's parents who can afford it who take great delight in showing off or even organising a whip round by delegating how much each parents should donate to a collection!
My AC never. took gifts to school for their teachers, it simply wasn't a thing then so why now?

At one point I had 4 children in primary. The donations for everything was hugely draining.

I do think it's better to scale it down. We remember the personal things so much more than vouchers etc.

The WhatsApp groups for parents can be very intense. I try to avoid it ( thankfully only one in primary now)

Especially due to things like "X has lost his jumper, has anyone taken it home by accident". Instead of maybe one reply saying "yes, sorry, will pop it in tomorrow" you get 29 replies saying "we don't have it, sorry, hope it turns up!". I never answer those, people probably think I steal all the missing uniform lol