Leaving School - Teachers Thank You Cards/gifts

[Baby_Sham]

My son is about to leave primary school to go to secondary, and I don't really know what I should get for his teacher.

My daughter will be giving her teacher a thank you card and a bunch of flowers, but I don't really know what to do for the boy's teacher as he has had her for the last three years and will be leaving, so it's a bit different.

Any ideas would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

[Mamyalynne]

Disagree with you there Triggs, I am not suggesting a thank you is not nice, but as B00 said previously it has developed into a great amount of oneupmanship on the part of the parents...the true simple meaning of thank you being lost.

[Baby_Sham]

A book is a great idea. Thank you.
For every year we have taken in a card and gift on the last day of term, I have never once noticed a child standing in the line empty handed. It's usually flowers or chocolates, but we've bought mugs, photo frames and all sorts in the past. It's not a case of oneupmanship, but I think the majority of the kids would feel singled out if they came to school on the last day without anything for the teacher.
It's certainly not something that would continue on into secondary school... I hope! :-)

My sisters child goes to private school and she was saying that all the parents have clubbed together for a weekend away for the teacher! Makes our flowers and chocolates look a bit pathetic.

Thanks for the suggestions though, all one/two of them. I will go with the book idea.

[anneasquith]

what, the parents clubbed together for a weekend away for the teacher? I obviously chose the wrong profession, ):

[Baby_Sham]

Yes, they all chipped in a sent her to Paris for the weekend with her husband. My sister didn't seem to think it was outlandish or anything. Crazy!

I've been into town this morning and got the kids some cards, a book and a mug. Will get them a small bunch of flowers to go with it I think. Pad it out a bit!

[Canary42]

But did they get her a return ticket ?

[Baby_Sham]

Haha maybe not!

[cupotee]

I know 2 teachers who dread the present giving. They really don't want presents as most isn't anything they would want or need.

I would give a thankyou card written by the child.

[elliemay1]

Why would chocolates be binned, methyl?

[sandyRoe]

When my class left secondary school we were all escorted of the premises by a group on the burlier teachers.
Happy days.

[sandyRoe]

Are they worried the kids might have been watching Snow White and have doctored the apple?

[elliemay1]

Health and safety gone mad, methyl! I think I would risk eating the chocs.

[Caran]

I read somewhere that a teacher took a big bag of gifts into a charity shop saying, I don't need these!!

[fairycakes69]

I disagree with the present ideas, a card is enough, but have to say my daughter made a fortune this year, she has started up a cake business and she made thank you cupcakes for the teachers. Very popular.

[elliemay1]

Caran, I have given lots of unwanted presents to a charity shop. It's better than them not being used and at least they make some money for the charity.

[boxtops]

I'd hate to be a teacher and receive all these bits and pieces I don't want - I'm only doing my job, it seems to be such a ritual these days and I don't know who started it. My neighbour even made up a thank-you hamper for the staff room, I am staggered.

[MissNerd]

As a teacher I would say my favourite thing is a card where the parents/child have written a heartfelt message. I always keep these and read back through them after a tough day at school! Please don't feel you need to buy anything!

Personal gifts are lovely but I often end up with several mugs/photo frames which although I appreciate, I have no use for! I've had a few mugs with children's photos on or photo books of the class but to be honest, after teaching for a few years I'm not keen on getting anymore! Over the last few years I've been given vouchers from the whole class, which sound impersonal but I used them towards something that I could always remember the class with. My class last year bought me amazon vouchers which I used towards a bike to ride to school on - topped up with my own money before you moan!

Secondary teachers don't usually get anything unless they teach an A level subject!

To the parents stating that I'm 'just doing my job' please realise that I work double my paid hours in a normal week, spend my weekend buying/planning things to make learning fun, deal with you when you've had a bad day and you end up snapping at me, keep my cool when your child does something they shouldn't (despite not sleeping because of my workload) and millions of other things which aren't in my job description.

Even if you still think I'm just doing my job, appreciation for what I do is always welcome. Do you like being praised for doing your job well? Especially by someone you have worked for, for at least a year! It's not about the money or gifts it's knowing someone is grateful for the hard work you've done!

Svejk- How does the above result in children entering uni at a lower level (which is incorrect in itself)? Standards of education are continually improving. There are children who are lower levels (not because of additional needs) but often these are children who are monitored closely, because there is often little support at home. There are exceptions to this rule but the lowest children in my class aren't children who speak English as a second language, but children with no support at home.