Well, tomorrow is the last day of the academic year for my two little urchins. I can't believe that daughter number one will be heading into 'juniors' year 3 in September and son number one will be in year 1! Honestly, this last year has whizzed by in a blur! Anyhow, bad mother, what with new job, allotment, house, etc, I have neglected to get the teachers a thank you gift. We don't normally doooo those sorts of gifts - don't tend to follow trends, but the children are bigger, and they have asked if they could give something to their teachers. What do you reakon to a veg box? I am going to the plot tomoz, there will be beans, cucumbers, lettuce, courgettes and other bits and bobs. I have some nice boxes which I could get the kids to decorate later when they are playing before bed, then I could stick a little jar of jam in, and the veg. Good idea?? or a little sad?? Would they prefer a bottle of cheap red??
Wine or beer anyday ;D
Nearly always get a mug or socks though :(
Well I suppose I could do 4 little bottles of sloe gin to go with....
EJ I think your veg box is a wonderful idea.
I help in school and have never seen that given. One of the best things I have received was a bunch of flowers from someone's garden, they were lovely. Mugs are the most popular present - I hadn't realised and have been guilty of adding to a few teachers' collections! My son's last teacher has a couple of mug trees sitting on top of her cupboard to display them, I imagine in the hope that people will realise she has enough - mine is on there!
And your children will enjoy decorating the boxes, yes I think it would be great, and different from the usual gifts.
T.
PS He He yes, they would enjoy that...
Sorry EJ - my reply was a general tongue in cheek one from experience and I am sure that a veg box would be an excellent personal gift.
I know RC - but as you are in the trade, you would be a good indication of whats what. ;D So far, a little jar of jam in each - well, mint jelly in one, and a little bottle of sloe gin in each. ;D
Nobody has ever bought me a box of home grown veg but the bits and bobs I get from fellow members of staff chuff me to bits. I think a box of veg would give me a huge grin ;D like that.
My wife works in a school, last day of the term today and as I look at all the chocolates and wine she has brought back all I can say is .... what a marvelous tradition!
snap EJ, my two boys are about to go up to year 3 and year 1 aswell . youre right about time flying etc etc.
i have to admit i dont like the tinge of competition that surrounds these end of year/easter/christmas gifts. my kids finished today and they both took a small card and a bunch of allotment flowers and thats that. i think your idea of homemade produce is lovely but i would be more inclined to go with just one small thing, bottle of sloe gin or some preserve perhaps with pretty ribbon. my only real reason for saying that is that if you go the whole hog now you are going to have to do it every time. ;D thats just my opinion though, i wouldnt dream of telling you what to do - i am sure the teachers will love a veg box. :)
Poooh! I have avoided this pressie giving lark like the plague,no way are that lot getting owt off me,they get paid dont they?! And... they get the pleasure of teaching my sprog,what more do they need ?!! :D Year 4 for him next term and The Toot starts nursery. Boo hoo I don't want her to go,they can't have her!!!
Think your pressie is just way TOO good EJ! A lovely pot of jam or your sloe gin would be a treat enough in my opinion. It would have to be minature if I was giving it away an all,or maybe just a whiff of it in an envelope,yep that'd do,heehee!
Teachers...huh! What are they like! (My dad was one haha!)
Hey Ady what year do you teach?
What's happened to the good old fashioned "Apple"? ;D We were teaching them to eat healthily in those days, needed to as well, as they leaned over you smelling of nicotine, snuff and ‘B’ ‘O’ :P ;D
Heldi, I couldn't agree more. You are already paying teachers out of your taxes, so why this stupidity of 'paying twice'.
I was educated in the 'good old bad old days', when some teachers were nothing more than sadists. The thought of thanking them is an anathema.
I presume this is another of the stupid American imports.
Teachers are more than adequately paid for their few weeks work, are probably in a better, more protected pension scheme than most parents (especially after Gordon Brown raided their schemes).
Oh dear, I think I shall have to go and lie down in a darkened room!!!
valmarg
Aargh! Why all this venom against us teachers? Sure, some were sadists, and I could name a few (Homo and Smoke for starters), but that sort wouldn't last five minutes in the profession now. Those who think we have an easy time should try teaching 30 resentful, bottom-ability Year 11's for an hour!
Quote from: valmarg on July 20, 2006, 22:37:22
Heldi, I couldn't agree more. You are already paying teachers out of your taxes, so why this stupidity of 'paying twice'.
I was educated in the 'good old bad old days', when some teachers were nothing more than sadists. The thought of thanking them is an anathema.
I presume this is another of the stupid American imports.
Teachers are more than adequately paid for their few weeks work, are probably in a better, more protected pension scheme than most parents (especially after Gordon Brown raided their schemes).
Oh dear, I think I shall have to go and lie down in a darkened room!!!
valmarg
No comment. Any other teachers want to comment on what a load of old rubbish this is. >:( Do you vote Tory and read the Daily Hate (sorry Mail) by any chance?
Year 3-4 Heldi but planning on moving during the next year. Everybody tells my my current boss is very bad for my health.
Would also like to know what your and your partner's (if you have one) jobs and work coinditions are. What sort of house you live and what sort of car you drive. You obviously have absolutely no idea about the hours that teachers work in term time when you talk about the few weeks we work and if you think that the holidays we get are all holiday, you are a joke. You are ignorant and should not spout such crud. >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( :-X
Got my hackles up that one ;D
Ooooer. Okay, yes, teachers get paid for what they do - but so do hairdressers, cab drivers, waiting staff, milkmen, etc....do you tip them? I am not suggesting this gift is a tip - but our village school is great, and the kids love it, and their teachers have been excellent. They deal with number one daughters allergies superbly, and number one son who wasn't able to go to regular pre-school because of his speech problems has come on so fast thanks to his great teachers. We don't normally do the whole gift thing - some parents buy very extravagent gifts and it can become competitive, however, my children asked if they could give their teachers something, and as I have an abundance of courgettes and beans at the moment, why not? I would probably have given the veg to neighbours anyhow, and daughters teacher is a neighbour!
Sounds like you had a sad time at school valmarg. I loved school - the 'hard' teachers were a challenge, the good teachers were amazing. I am one of those people who says that my school years were the best years of my life (well, up until I met my love and had my little darlings).
Didn't want to cause any shouty posts, just wondered what you thought. Now I know. Thanks Tulippa, Sarah and RC. And Glow, enjoy the chocs! :)
Oh, and when the paperboy, milko or dusty knocks in December time to wish you a merry Christmas, don't slam the door too hard.
Just read the comments.... I too work in a school, and if on the last day of term I was presented with a box of home grown, home- made things I would be CHUFFED to bits.
What a fantastic original idea - go for it, and let the kids enjoy giving it to their teacher. Good for you.
I hear alot of people saying teaching is a doddle, long hols, short days etc etc.... Let me say that teaching is a doddle - but only in August - the rest of the year it is HARD work, and exhausting.
EJ.I think that is a good idea and will be appreciated. Charlie's niece and her husband have been teachers all their working lives (they both retire today) Yes I think they get reasonable salary but then so do most professions. I know that teachers don't just work in term time, they have an awful lot of work outside of school hours.. Joshua, my grandson left junior school today and the teachers have been marvelous all the time he has been in Junior school.(see shed pic dressed up for Junior proms ;D) They have been kindness itself he has often had to come home due to bad migraine. So just to say thank you Lorna sent in little presents for them.
Lorna
After my rant - thanks to all those that appreciate us. I know it is not the worst job in the world - I wouldn't do it otherwise. It is just the 9-3 and long holidays brigade that get my goat (and that of most other teachers)
I have a sister-in-law that works on the administrative side at a school and doesn't get the long holidays that the teachers get and on the run up to this time of year she gets very tired of hearing the teachers doing a countdown on how many days, minutes etc: they have left to work, this includes Bank holidays too! I feel for her as it must get very boring and come across as a little childish ::)
All the administrators I have ever known in schools get the same holidays as the teachers and do not have the long preparation time at the end of the school day or during the holidays. That is not doing down the job as I have also known some of the headteachers they work for who would be absolutely useless if it were not for them.
Gifts - am I too late for this? From experience, please don't give perishables unless you know the teachers well and know they've not got their own hols scheduled to start in the immediate future. Boxes of chocs, bottles and jars fine, tho :) One Christmas I had to offload all mine to the local hospice, except for the duck. That went in the freezer. It was dead already, btw 8)
Teachers...you do bite! I was winding you up! ;) :D Which is why I mentioned my Dad.
Seriously, I don't agree with giving pressies but then I might be a mean, tight so and so :P. No I think it sets a precedence for those of us who don't want to join in with this new (to me ) tradition or simply can't afford it. I fork out left, right and centre enough.
If my son decided upon himself that he wanted to give his teacher something then he can go ahead...I would suggest to him...why not a piece of artwork? A homemade book?A piece of writing? A homemade "Thankyou teacher" certificate done on the pc. All showing he has actually learned something?
Tipping...now theres a thing. I hate it when it is forced upon you because of traditon or because the staff don't get paid well enough in the first place,that sort of thing. I want to be free to decide if I think the service has been good enough to deserve a tip. I don't always tip my hairdresser...at 90 odd pounds I think I've paid enough already. Eeee I should be on Grumpy Old Women.
Last year on the last day of term before the summer the Deputy Head was standing in the yard giving away carrots to anyone who would take them!
I can't remember my Dad getting anything other than a sore head... from the end of term trip to the pub. Teachers! ;D
Of course we bite; it's an unfortunate but necessary part of the job. How long do you think we could keep control if we didn't display our fangs occasionally?
Knew yours was tongue in cheek Heldi which is why when I ranted (I was very tired) I quoted t'other one :)
Stay in at lunchbreak and do some lines? Sorry Mr Brenchley. Yes I'll remove my pet lip aswell.
I once had to write out the hymn "At the Name of Jesus" 3 times during playtime for nicking Billy D's hymn books during assembley. I also got to "Stand Out!" by the corridor monitor for talking. I'm so ashamed.
My two girls are going to Year 1 and 3 too. One teacher got a lavender plant and the other chocolates. I have to say I do admire teachers. Occasionally I work in primary schools and I'm always exhausted at the end of the day!
My youngest came home yesterday with a potted horse chestnut tree. She took a germinating conker to school in spring and the teacher potted it up. Now what am I going to do with it :-\?????
Added to my post above - from diary Christmas 1979...I was going away for 2 months 1st January
"Most unwelcome and over-the-top gift
Christmas eve morning, with all the shopping for Christmas through to the New Year done, I had delivered:-
Large wooden crate containing swedes, turnips, parsnips, carrots, cauliflower, beets, savoy cabbage, a carrier-bag of spinach, leeks and spring onions, all piled on a sea of sprouts and topped by a bouquet of parsley.
A crate of fruit - 4 kinds of applies; Granny Smiths, Cox's, Royal Gala and Golden Delicious, large Jaffa oranges, pears, grapefruit, lemons, a dozen or so bananas, black grapes, white grapes, and millions of mandarins.
And a duck.
It was Christmas Eve and my kitchen resembled Harvest Festival."
A bottle would have been just fine!
Have just packed off Mr Triffid to pick up Small Triffid, armed with pots of honey (from our bees) for his teacher & assistant. Have always used the mantra of 'things to eat, pour or burn' ;D when dealing with prezzies for teachers, nurses etc.
And sorry to see such ungenerous comments in some of these posts... two of my family are special-needs teachers and they're so committed to their work they probably ought to be committed!
I think its a lovely idea to give a little home made / home grown present. I normally just get a token present and card for my childrens teachers, but must admit I got my daughters teacher a pretty necklace and bracelet for her present today.
It was a bit more than I normally spend, but shes been unbelievably good to my daughter who had some really difficult problems this year, at one point it was actually suggested that we have her home tutored for a while, but her teachers help and support got her through it.
So I thought something sparkley to say a heartfelt 'thankyou' was in order. :)
I gave my teachers gifts - and I was at school some (cough) 20 years ago and beyond. Anyhow, I don't care about how long teachers work, or others, my question was do you think it is a nice idea or saddo idea, and we did it, and I ended up with 3 tearful teachers. They all live very locally to me, and 2 I know socially as well as through school, so I know the goodies will be appreciated. (Didn't do the sloe gin tho, decided I would save that for me!!) ;D
On the work hours thing, like so many on here, I am a mum, wife and now, gardener, so I work 7 days a week, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. When I am on holiday, I still have the kids and hubby to look after, keep house and garden, and look after the array of pets. ;D ;D
Quote from: EJ - Emma Jane on July 21, 2006, 18:48:06
(Didn't do the sloe gin tho, decided I would save that for me!!) ;D
LOL.
In a shopping queue today, two mums aged about 30ish had some rolls, crisps etc and two little sized bottles of Black Tower wine. As she paid, one mum said, 'these are for the teachers', to which the other replied in a horrified voice, 'what? I thought you got them to go with our lunch??' I did laugh. She was all for going back and getting another two and was still half jokingly mumbling about it as they walked out of the shop, hehehehe.
My word what a can of worms has been opened.
EJ I think your pressi is a lovely thoughtful gesture, unlike the boring box of chocs I sent for my sons teacher, men are hard to buy for anyway so thats my excuse! and the box of maltesers for the class assistant( thats all she deserved cos she is a miserable trout face he he).
I like the thought of giving pressis, for me there is as much joy in giving as receiving. I work as a nursery nurse and we get pressis given from the kids at chrimbo and its lovely,makes you feel appreciated more than the wage packet does at end of the month! The kids get so excited about bringing the pressi no matter how big it is.
To be honest I dread the day when Kayden turns around and says that he doesnt want to take presents anymore because it will be yet another sign that he is growing up to quickly. I didnt even dare ask my daughter Elise whether she would be taking presents for her high school form teacher sure the look I would have got in return would have shot me down in flames.
Anyhow talking of giving pressis it reminds me I need to get some chocis for the nurses who have just looked after me.
trina
I agree that MOST teachers work really hard. I have a friend who is a teacher in a primary school in a very run down area (drug addict parents who forget to pick their children up etc etc) and when she first started she worked long hours to prepare her classroom etc.
I was talking to her on the phone the other night and in September she will be taking the 9 year olds, which means that in the morning she will be taking D&T and Art all afternoon. She3 was boasting that this means she will have ver5y little prep to do for D&T and that it took her a whole hour to do an entire years prep for Art, with no marking. She will be doing minimal hours and getting her holidays, and yes she gets paid very well for this.
I know that I will hear from her over the weekend to see what she can give me cos the parents have given her too many chocs etc
Like EJ I am a wife and mother so work 24/7 for my family, but they never bring me prezzies!
Quote from: baby_boo-bah on July 22, 2006, 07:51:49
Like EJ I am a wife and mother so work 24/7 for my family, but they never bring me prezzies!
oh baby boo bah, you must train them better! yesterday my husband came back from the market with two pots of perenial lupinsfor me. what a guy.
Redclanger, with regard to your rant on (I think) 20 July, the answers to your questions, are that my HUSBAND (nothing to do with the recent crappo PARTNER) come November will have been MARRIED for 40 years, we are prematurely retired, live in a detached bungalow, and drive a rustbox of an old Ford Escort.
What that has to do with your ability to turn out illiterate children, I can't imagine!!
One thing I will reiterate is the fact that I would not give a present to the sado/masochists that taught me and my husband!!
Things may have changed, but I doubt it.
valmarg!!
Actually, they have changed. I well remember the sort of teacher youre referring to, and they put me off the profession for 30-odd years before I finally drifted into it. But seriously, they were unable to relate to kids, had no class management skills whatsoever, and wouldn't last five minutes these days. Once the cane went out, and teachers had to rely on relationships rather than threats, they soon left the classroom, and good riddance to them!
There have always been excellent and inspirational teachers and there will always be poor and ineffectual ones. Modern methods of training and recruitment are tending to minimise the number of weirdos (sadists/ paedophiles etc) who make it beyond the first term's training. The rigorous quality assurance procedures in most schools have discouraged the lazy buggers who would for example sit with their feet on the desk doing the crossword or not even darken the door of the classroom they were supposed to be teaching in. So things are getting better. All teachers work hard for their pay now, not just the dedicated few.
As for presents for the teacher? Well my kids took them in primary, because they wanted to.
As a secondary teacher myself I have no need nor wish for presents from my pupils. The best present they can give me is a well worked out essay or a good presentation. Most of all it's the expression on their faces when they are successful that gives me my kicks. One of the great richnesses of the job is the privilege of assisting young people to grow in knowledge and self-confidence and to experience success.
True, but I do appreciate it when I get a Christmas card from some kid I've really struggled with!
Most of my teachers (and my kids teachers for that matter) were complete rubbish, wouldn't give them the time of day, let alone gifts. I had an IQ in the top levels and only 1 of them spotted it >:(
P.S. Redclanger, one of my aunts was a teacher, and an uncle was Deputy Director of Education for the town I grew up in. I am not as ignorant of the teaching world as you imply.
One example of teacher ignorance, is the local schoolmistress, going of a holiday on the Isle of Wight, couldn't find the Duty Free shop on the ferry?????????????
Ejucation's a wunderful think if you can get it!!!! Pity most can't.
valmarg
Quote from: valmarg on August 06, 2006, 00:44:36
What that has to do with your ability to turn out illiterate children, I can't imagine!!
Don't like you ;D
PS You had a bad experience x number of years ago and you still blame every teacher who teaches today. I wasn't born when you were bullied. Life does not exist in the same time bubble you live in and you really need to get over yourself. Teachers don't expect presents and because I currently teach in an affluent area, I don't get many (you will find that the poorest kids in the poorest areas are the most generous. But like most people, I really appreciate thank yous and acts of kindness.
Sphericals, you daft twerp
ooo, and so it gets personal. This is history now - I asked, and received some helpful answers - I gave the veggies, and am still hearing how much they were appreciated - end of story. I am shutting this up now.