An apple for the teacher.

LRavenscroft

What is wrong with a thank you card written by the child? With the cost of living rising, I imagine a lot of families will be struggling to pay bills and don't need extra unnecessary costs.

Does anyone disagree with that? I don’t. Endless accounts on here about being happy with a card, a note, or a small gift.
Has anyone mentioned being offended by parents/children not offering anything? Of course not. It’s not an expectation.
I do think the sums quoted in the OP were ridiculous.
Do you agree with parents / people being told what they must/must not do, especially for the benefit of others?
Does that apply to every thing and everyone?
It worked well with mask wearing during Covid. Even GNs were adamant that they weren’t going to wear masks just because they were told to do so, even if it was thought to benefit others.

I think the OP needs to look at who is generating the ridiculous ideas of afternoon tea and spa experience. It’s hotel group looking for customers.

Don’t be so gullible and ready to come out all guns blazing.

Please don’t insult me.
I know very well it is a hotel group.
I don’t expect people to be taken in by it.
Just asking for opinions on it and I did ask if we are in a fantasy world.

Don’t be disingenuous.

annsixty

This old adage came to mind this morning when an email popped up my inbox from Hand picked Hotels.
It was suggesting ideal gifts to reward your child’s teacher at the end of the academic year.
Gifts ranged from afternoon tea starting at £50 to spa experiences at £212 .
Do your AC spend this sort of money for their child’s teacher or have we strayed into a fantasy world?

Exactly what you put.
Good marketing strategy by the hotel.
No my AC don’t spend that sort of money for their child’s teacher.
Yes we have strayed into a fantasy world for a lot of things at the moment.

Good marketing strategy by the hotel.

I agree. Not just hotels, but several "experience" type companies suggest expensive presents for teachers ... cookery day courses, flower arranging workshops, spa treatments etc. They must think teachers deserve to be pampered after keeping a classful of children in order on a daily basis for a year!! Too right!

My DH and I have worked in several independent schools over the years and seen a range of expensive gifts like Harrods hampers, cases of wine, jewellery, artworks etc. It's another world, and we wouldn't dream of spending that much on a family member's birthday present, let alone a teacher. The Independent Schools produce a magazine for parents and it's like a competition for businesses to get their adverts in to a receptive readership market.

But of course, this is just a smallish percentage of society in general.

Mollygo

LRavenscroft

What is wrong with a thank you card written by the child? With the cost of living rising, I imagine a lot of families will be struggling to pay bills and don't need extra unnecessary costs.

Does anyone disagree with that? I don’t. Endless accounts on here about being happy with a card, a note, or a small gift.
Has anyone mentioned being offended by parents/children not offering anything? Of course not. It’s not an expectation.
I do think the sums quoted in the OP were ridiculous.
Do you agree with parents / people being told what they must/must not do, especially for the benefit of others?
Does that apply to every thing and everyone?
It worked well with mask wearing during Covid. Even GNs were adamant that they weren’t going to wear masks just because they were told to do so, even if it was thought to benefit others.

Your post reminded me of an incident I read about a couple of weeks ago of a group of pupils being taken away for a residential, by several teachers. Not one of them got a verbal thank you from a parent or child, much less a card.

(For the uninitiated, taking pupils away usually means the last kid settles after midnight, and the early risers are up just after 5am!)

Yes, this has turned into a nasty and personal thread.

Where my kids went to school it was less common with individual teacher gifts and parents clubbed together - usually £2-3 per child

I know of someone who works in medical insurance and regularly gets large gifts, (restaurant vouchers, gym passes, hampers etc.) from satisfied customers. I wonder why?

My teaching days were all in special schools. Children all came by Council transport, from all over the borough, and we rarely if ever met their parents, some of whom had been pupils of the school a decade before. . Many of our children were non-verbal and few would be aware that it was the end of term, let alone their last day with that teacher or that school. End of term presents were unknown. Into my 80s now I absolutely treasure the few cards made for me by leavers and they will be the last thing I dispose of when I finally de-clutter my home.

This was a topic of conversation with some friends last week. I have friends who are school teachers .I know that some of them have made suggestions in the past instead of gifts choose a charity and a small donation is made by each child to that charity. This saves receiving some unwanted gifts ( however well meant.?) it also helps to save competition for the best gift. It would release pressure on some parents who are already struggling in these difficult times.

When a teacher is leaving a gift may be in order but even in volunteering you are not allowed to accept gifts.

So, pressure put on parents and children to contribute money, (someone will have to co ordinate it) which won't resolve the issue of those who can't /don't want to, contribute.

Anything rather than let teachers receive gifts.

At one time my daughters school used to raffle the teachers gifts. The school funds benefited . Best way

Ethelwashere1

At one time my daughters school used to raffle the teachers gifts. The school funds benefited . Best way

I don’t understand your post. Sorry.