Buying Teachers Christmas Presents
I am not a killjoy, but I have difficulty understanding the ever growing year on year tradition of buying your children’s teachers Christmas presents.
This morning I was approached by one of the mother’s at the nursery that R & M attend and I was asked if we had bought the teachers a present for Christmas yet.
To be quite honest I had not even thought about it and I am actually against it. It seems that over the last 10 years the need to buy teachers a Christmas present has become a given.
Why I ask myself. They are after all just doing their job, which I might add they get very well paid for. Nobody buys me a Christmas present for doing my job.
There is of course a certain amount of pressure to give especially if everybody else is although it is apparently a voluntary decision. What if you don’t give? Does that mean that your child’s name doesn’t go on the card so they’d be left out? That would be terrible alienating your child from the class.
It seems we have moved on from presents now though. The mother that approached me said they were giving money to buy vouchers. So I did a quick calculation 40 children which makes £200 if everybody gives shared between four teachers, that is then doubled because there are two sessions of nursery, so in total a possible £400 and of course £10 for us as we have twins.
When my older children were in primary school they used to give their teachers chocolate, alcohol or similar. Again 30 children in a class, my goodness they had enough chocolate and alcohol to have a great Christmas and a very good new year!
The shops don’t help either as about this time of year the stands start appearing with gifts for teachers and cards. Encouraging children to nag parents to buy something.
Not everybody can afford to do this and if they don’t then their children will feel very left out, this custom needs to stop! Teachers don’t need it because it’s their job and amazingly they are paid. Most likely they are better paid than most parents with children attending nursery/school.
If we are to buy a present I would like the girls to pick something within a budget we set and if we get a card it would nice for them to write it themselves making the whole experience personal for them and their teachers.
What do you think?
16 Comments
recoverymummycardiff
December 9, 2015 at 7:53 am
I actually cant believe that they would ask for money for vouchers! its degusting I defiantly won't be taking part in that if my sons school think of doing something similar. Teachers can have a card and a box of chocs to share lol.
Something Crunchy Mummy
December 9, 2015 at 8:20 am
I think that is extortionate!! £400 for 4 teachers, they will get more spent on them than I do by my parents haha. Finley took in a box of biscuits for his key worker, that's as far as I'm going #bestandworst xx
Mary Smith
December 9, 2015 at 10:48 am
My husband says THE EXACT SAME THING about "but its their job"! lol I know what you mean too, if were the only ones not joining in?! hmmmm such a tricky situation!
#bestandworst
Helen Gandy – Beautiful Things
December 9, 2015 at 11:29 am
Interesting post Nigel. My Mum was a primary school teacher (she's retired now) and loved her job, every Christmas she would get a massive amount of gifts and I've never seen her more appreciative, she would often give the chocolates away to family and friends as a nice gesture. She loved the personal, handmade gifts too. I think it's nice to get a gift for a teacher, but then I like to buy gifts for people….I think it should only ever be a token though. It's personal choice at the end of the day! We get lots of gifts at Christmas usually from patients, just as a token and I think it just makes everyone feel appreciated.Great post and thanks for getting me thinking 🙂 thanks for linking up #bestandworst x
Martyn Kitney
December 9, 2015 at 1:32 pm
I'm in three minds with it.
1. Am with you to why you shouldn't do it. You raise some great points.
2. As a teacher, despite not expecting it, it should that the parent bought you something in appreciation of the hard work you do. And it's extensive work beyond a 9-5 job. You didn't get it from everyone mind and that didn't matter the ones that did made you feel like it's worth it.
3. As a home schooler it annoys me a tad but because it doesn't work when we're the ones putting the effort in. Maybe I should buy myself something? #bestandworst
AliceMegan
December 9, 2015 at 1:53 pm
Working within a school I can reassure you it is not necessary nor expected from most! Parents seem to get into a bit of a competition about it all, personally a card that the child has written themself is all I could ask for as it shows me they're practicing skills like handwriting and pen control at home too!
AliceMegan
Cardiff Mummy Says
December 9, 2015 at 7:37 pm
I actually like to put in a fiver to get the teachers a voucher. I have two children in two different classes (in a couple of years make that three children in three different classes). They each have a main teacher and various learning support workers. It would cost me an absolute fortune to get gifts for all of them, whereas a fiver per child is much cheaper. My children will give them a hand-made card, and then the vouchers from the class (most of the class, a couple don't want to do it, which is absolutely fine). I also know several teacher friends who get inundated with chocolates/wine/mugs/flowers/plants. Sadly, a lot of it gets given away/binned because they just can't possibly keep all of it. We buy vouchers for St David's shopping centre. Last year, a teacher bought a pair of shoes from Clarks with hers – she has a problem with her feet and these were particularly supportive shoes she could wear to work but that she would not usually be able to afford to buy herself. Another bought an ornament for her house, which is a lovely reminder of the children that will last a long time.
As for whether they deserve it, yes, I think a lot of them do. My children have had teachers go above and beyond for them and as a parent it's nice to be able to say thank you.
Obviously that's just my opinion though – I know other parents think differently. You just have to do what feels best for you and your family. The teachers definitely don't expect it, but they are definitely grateful.
yummymummystyle blog
December 10, 2015 at 6:38 am
I'm totally agree with your opinion, some years I forget all about it, I have enough pressure buying gifts for people that I know personally never mind a random teacher, who is already getting paid for their job. And sometimes they have 3-4 different teachers and that's where I draw the line. I've bought gifts for a few years but now I just don't even bother. If it was just one teacher, I would maybe go out my way if my son really liked her and I did too. As for people collecting money for vouchers- it would be a no from me. Everyone has different incomes and I would rather just do my own thing. My friend used to be a nursery teacher and the amount of stuff she used to receive at Christmas was ridiculous, I'm not a Scrooge id rather just spend what money I do have and it's not much- on my children instead of people I don't even know. Great post!
Pauline
All About The Child
December 11, 2015 at 12:21 pm
This is an interesting perspective. I guess I was one of those drones who just did what was the social norm. Having said that, I think anyone dealing with young kids (daycare, nursery school, grade school) I bow down to as you couldn't pay me enough to do it! I think some type of appreciation is valid but putting a hefty price tag on it is a bit much.
Jessica Powell
December 11, 2015 at 5:56 pm
I think at primary level it is pretty much expected that you give a token present these days, but I'd encourage the kids to make them something rather than buying – it's more personal and cheaper! #binkylinkg
Sarah Howe
December 11, 2015 at 6:33 pm
Think i said on FB..think this is nuts. I bought my teacher a gift at the end of the year but never at Christmas. I just sent a card with lots of kisses!! xx Thanks for hosting xx #binkylinky
Emily
December 11, 2015 at 8:06 pm
I think £5 per child is a lot. I think teachers earn quite good money as it! I don't understand why the parents don't all contribute £1 each as that would total £40 and would mean £10 per teacher for some chocolates each. Thanks for linking up to the #BinkyLinky
Mum in Brum
December 12, 2015 at 2:22 pm
I totally agree with you on this – my daughter isn't school age yet so I don't have this to worry about yet, but to be honest I think a box of chocolate to say thank you would be more than sufficient. Giving vouchers is so impersonal and just defeats the object making it all about the money. #Brilliantblogposts
Reimer Ruby
December 12, 2015 at 6:08 pm
I know how ridiculous it is… I'm also in such situation whether to buy one or not, considering the pressures everywhere. Will probably give her a card and a box of chocs! Lovely post! #binkylinky
Mrs Tubbs
December 12, 2015 at 8:22 pm
I prefer to put money in for a voucher that's more likely to be spent on something they need than everyone buy a load of little things that they might not need / want. I think we only did a big present at the end of the school year. At Christmas they just got a token and a card.
Its Adam Again
December 12, 2015 at 8:31 pm
I think I will encourage the homemade handmade gifts to be our gift of choice. It very quickly ends up getting out of hand, with teachers leaving, end of year and Christmas breaks.