is it " virtue signalling" or just a good thing?

There's a world of difference between taking in something small like a card, some flowers or a small box of chocolates which can be shared in the staff room with all members of staff to expecting parents to find £25 per child!

Well, I don't think the way they go about it at your DGC's school is at all right silverlining, but,m as you say, you can't get involved. It's up to the parents to make a stand if they object to it.

The food bank idea is a worthy one and I do in fact think most teachers would like a card (home-made is lovely) to say thank you and perhaps a home-made gift or a drawing just as a token of appreciation for all their hard work as well.

It gets worse, I have just found out that there is another charge of £20 per child on top of the teachers present money and this is for school fund. Surprises me as any short trips the children may go on cost, yes you have guessed , £20 or £25 per child. Even if it’s only a short trip somewhere local, and no, lunch is not included. So no subsiding with school fund, indeed plenty of profit. Dd paid £80 at the start of this term.
Trouble is, many parents at the school are pretty wealthy and are happy to go along with it, it’s just the few who struggle and who I feel for.
As much as i would like to, i can’t get involved. I just needed to vent. Thankyou. Oh and if I find this extortion is repeated for a summer present for teacher, which i think it is, I will try to keep quiet.

it’s good for the children to express thanks

Exactly gonegirl.

annodomini I had forgotten how we used to take the odd bunch of flowers into school. Sweet memories. ?

It doesn't matter whether the teacher is comfortable off, or hard up and struggling. They all work jolly hard and it's good for the children to express thanks.

I'm talking about the odd box of chocolates btw. Not spa weekends! ?

Teachers earn the odd present or two they might get at the end of term. Let the school put some effort themselves into raising money for local charities. Don't rob the staff of a bit of appreciation from the kids.

I am not one to defend teachers pay/holidays etc usually! I think that they work hard as very many other people do & not any more 'special' in that respect. However they are not that well paid any more than nurses, police, firefighters etc. are.
Yes they do get secure pension but that is taken from their wage..it is not a gift. So you make ends meet when working knowing you are paying for a more secure future via your pension contribution.

Life is miserably unfair Gilly in all kinds of ways. Some people earn mega bucks for minimum effort or contribution to society and others work mega hard for minimum reward. If you are going to have a 'dig' at the unfairness of income there are better targets than public workers! I do know how tough life can be on benefits and the impact of poverty.
Most teachers I have known and do know do not expect gifts.. especially not the grand gestures mentioned on this thread!
Just to say I was given gifts when I was teaching in Inner London in 70s/80s right through until I retired. Taught in pretty tough and deprived areas.

Final word then I’m gone .

I have a great deal of respect for teachers . I don’t know why anywone would suggest otherwise . What I do not have is any respect for anyone who thinks it’s right and proper to expect money or gifts from those who have almost nothing to give but feel guilt tripped into doing so . What I would like to see is responsible schools sending letters out forbidding gifts, but reading some of these posts that will never happen. Maybe some of “your” DGC go to school in more affluent areas where mummy pays for teacher a spa weekend ? I don’t know and don’t even care .

I have already approached the school regarding the food bank idea. What any of this has to do with my own personal circumstances I have no bloomin’ idea ????

That really is the end of my taking part on this thread AND ANY OTHER where the T word is even hinted at !

gilly although I understand what you're saying and why you're saying it, I 'd ask you please to stop presenting such an embittered view of teachers as wealthy and grasping.
I have followed with interest and sympathy the tribulations that you and your family have had to put up with recently but I can assure you that the picture you're now presenting is so far removed from my experience. On one hand we have the image of greedy people who would resent the suggested lack of presents, while on the other hand, others are playing on the overworked, underpaid staff who pay for virtually everything in their classroom.
Neither image is really correct but we could do with a bit less sterotyping.I
I think your suggestions on how to deal with this are excellent and wish you success.

I could have guaranteed this thread would end up here

Well gilly if by ‘here’ you mean a discussion about teachers’ low pay, it was you who steered the thread in that direction by comparing teachers’ salaries with benefit claimants’ incomes and saying that teachers were virtual millionaires.

70 years ago, when I was in primary school, we would never have dreamt of taking presents to teachers. If we took a bunch of flowers into class they would come from our own garden or wild flowers from the surrounding countryside. 30 years later, my kids and their classmates didn't take presents either.

Oh hear we go .

Poor poor poor teachers . Do they pay the heating bills for the school too ? Provide the school meals out of their own pockets?

They probably use food banks too !

I could have guaranteed this thread would end up here .
Won’t be posting on this thread again that’s for sure.

I gave presents to my teachers at primary school, as did other children, and I started school in 1951; secondary school I cannot remember; I think we may have given a class present. I never felt pressurised to give presents; I always gave presents from my own children when they were at school because I was grateful for the help they received, and because they wanted to.
Many teachers, TAs and dinnerladies, give cards and gifts to the children they work with, paid for out of their own money; certainly all the people I worked with, in seven different schools and widely differing areas, did so.
No one is obliged to give a present, some families don't and no-one thinks the worse of them.
It is a matter of choice.
Oh yes,janeainsworth so true.

I did say ( virtual ) janea and I’m sure you know this was not meant literally ! When Comparing a life on benefits to a teachers salary . But I’m sure you knew that was what I meant anyway.

Maybe I should volunteer to stand at the school gate on Monday morning and start a collection for the poor teachers Christmas.

the teachers are ( virtual) millionaires when compared with the vast amount of the children’s parents living on benefit

Most teachers earn less than minimum wage per hour when you account for all the unpaid overtime they are required to do. Plus all the supplies they supply out of their own pockets

When did the "presents for teachers" thing start?.

It didn't happen round here when my children were at school in the 1970s and 1980s.

the teachers are ( virtual) millionaires when compared with the vast amount of the children’s parents living on benefit
Have you any idea what a teacher’s starting salary is, Gilly?

I don’t think it was a stupid comment at all mumofnadboys I just don’t happen to agree with presents for teachers . Big difference . I have said many times on GN that my DGC’s school is in a deprived area and the teachers are ( virtual) millionaires when compared with the vast amount of the children’s parents living on benefits. They shouldn’t feel guilt tripped into buying presents for teachers . A nice card with “thank you for being my teacher “ should be enough .

Sorry Gilly if you think that was a stupid comment. I mean that I am very happy to have an Oxfam goat or similar as a present. So many of us don't NEED anything. However if you really want to thank someone say for being a good teacher a little gift may feel more appropriate than a foodbank donation.

its a great idea. as many teachers gifts end up at the charity shops .i know because i volunteer in one.

I doubt if many teachers would feel deprived if gifts went to foodbanks! There shouldn't be isn't an expectation of presents and no mention in employment contracts!

Why should teachers lose their gifts any more than grandparents or brothers?

I really can’t believe I’m reading this ?

The practice I have seen grow in recent times is that a PTA class rep is in the playgound a week or 2 before the end of term & has an envelope for parents to put in a voluntary donation

Is it just me who thinks this is disgusting ? Many of the parents at my DGC’s school don’t have 2 pennies to rub together ! I know where I would tell them to shove their envelope if anyone handed me one in the playground !