TEACHERS’ WISH LISTS REVEALED
AS THE school year draws to a close parents face that tricky question – do you buy your child’s teacher a gift? And if you do, what do you get them?
One in 10 parents spend £25 on Christmas gifts for their child’s school teacher, according to research.
Last year Mumsnet said 45% of parents believe there is a culture of one-upmanship and 8% buy presents just because they don’t want to look mean.
While the thought certainly counts, are teachers even that bothered?
Is a bottle of booze an appropriate show of gratitude?
How many “world’s best teacher” mugs does one person really need?
We asked teachers what were their best and worst presents received from pupils during their teaching careers.
While they wanted to remain anonymous, this is what they said:
The best presents I have received have been the ones that show the students listen to me when I babble on about things I like, particularly a favourite box of chocolates or a mug with my favourite animals on.
The worst presents I’ve received have been bottles of wine, as I don’t drink wine at all. They have been appreciated by family members who end up getting them!
The best present I received was a personalised signed photo of Rachel Riley.
The fact a student listened to me say I admired her and envied her maths ability and then went through a lengthy email conversation with the TV show Countdown showed the lengths a student will go through to show how much they value what we do.
Saying that, I’ve had the same feeling from a handwritten letter from a student.
The worst I received was a box of super-posh chocolates – none of which I liked!
I was presented with a Hannah Montana balloon by my form one year. I didn’t quite get the joke, but I loved it.
Also receiving flowers from the year group this year was just wonderful.
Worst must have been the Celebrations box full of wrappers given to me by a group of girls, but a year later they gave me some of the best and most personal gifts I have ever received from students.
Every year I do a secret Santa with my form for £1. One year I received anti-wrinkle cream.
For Christmas I had 24 cards from one pupil. One had a crisp inside.
The best gift I have received was a pack of crayons. It might not seem much to anyone else but I was given these crayons because the pupil had used some I brought from home.
It’s the thought that goes into it that means the most.
You get all sorts, but the worst stuff really is anything that says “world’s best teacher” on it.
One mug is OK but I could open a cafe with the amount I’ve had. I’m sorry, but most of that stuff does, sadly, end up in the bin – otherwise my house would look like a shrine dedicated to how good I am at my job!
I’ve had some weird stuff. Someone gave me a keyring with a picture of the child in it.
Another parent wrote me a poem. I suppose it’s the thought that counts.
The best gifts I’ve had have been when parents pooled together to get me one thing.
A spa day, a £50 restaurant voucher and an afternoon tea are all amazing gifts that I’ve had.
If you’re not sure what to get – a bottle of wine is always welcome!
You can’t have too many and it’s good to have a stocked cupboard over the summer holidays.