This is a good idea
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-46399857
Primary school teacher Kate McLaughlan says Christmas is her favourite time of year.
But there will be fewer presents under her tree on 25 December.
This year, she has asked her pupils' parents not to buy her a gift, and instead to help teach the class an important lesson.
In a letter to parents earlier this week, she asked if parents could make a donation towards supplies for the local food bank.
Mrs McLaughlan, of Newark Primary School in Port Glasgow, said she wanted to teach the children about social responsibility: "Instead of a teacher gift, I would like us to support the Inverclyde Foodbank..
An excellent idea I hope it spreads all over the UK. Think what a difference that would make!
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I agree, CS. There was another teacher initiative that I read about recently but can't remember details. Teacher, think it was Head, said Christmas was cancelled unless children cohld convince her through debate and logic why school should celebrate it, hoping for some connection with birth of Christ as opposed to birth of Pressie Time.
No argument from me that commercialisation be reined in.
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That’s a marvellous idea. The pupils will learn that some folk are needy and they will help those very people at the same time as understanding the real meaning of Christmas.
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It's a brilliant idea and there is so much need for it. A great way to raise awareness.
There was a report on SW news last week - can't remember the exact details - of a group of school students who'd designed special labels to be placed in supermarkets on items that were particularly needed for local food banks - now rolled out to all Sainsburys stores.
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I heard an item on the radio the other day which reported a lady saying that in her family they put a price limit on gifts per recipient (£5 or £10 I think) but the stipulation was that everything had to be bought in charity shops.
I'm not sure how practical that would be but I applaud the sentiment.
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Fliss and I have a £15 limit for buying pressies for each other at Christmas. Not a lot we need really.
In the past Fliss' sister and B-in-L have bought me presents that go to charity. I say tell sis to buy me a large box of Malteasers and, if she thinks that is not enough but me a bottle of Aberlour scotch or more Malteasers
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A well meaning thought, but I would rather she asked for a donation to a favourite charity rather than specifying one. We don't celebrate Christmas per se and Yuletide is a fairly low key event for us .
I've never been bought Malteasers, but I have been bought, on various occasions, Bourbon, Vodka and Aberlour whisky. Unfortunately I loathe Bourbon and Vodka, and I don't really like Aberlour. The best gifts I have received have been token inexpensive ones.
However..... Dear Santa, please may I have a bottle of 16 yo Lagavuilin and some Liquorice Allsorts.
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Yesterday in the news A school announced that the pupils should only give teachers presents up to the value of £50.00 .. Needless to say that kind of attitude IMO is abhorrent and reeks of greed.
The Proper attitude, is that of Kate McLaughlan ---Well done to her.. ----. Why would any school teachers want the children or their parents to spend their valuable cash on "presents for the teacher",,,,,
The practice should be banned and any parents who want to spend that money, be encouraged to give it to charity.
K
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Well I completely agree with your first paragraph (apparently added as an afterthought to the rest of the post
), K. I'm surprised that any school should do that - they deserve to be named and shamed - care to do that in case others, like me, missed that news item (or is it a "fake news" item?)But I think "banning" adults from spending money how they wish is rather draconian, isn't it?
When I was teaching I bought every pupil in my tutor group a small present at the end of each term - nothing elaborate - usually a small seasonal chocolate - we also exchanged birthday and Christmas cards. Some returned the gesture and gave me a small gift in return. Never "expected" but always "appreciated". Nothing wrong with that, surely?
In fact I still see many of those same people now walking their own children to school. I still get Christmas cards and even birthday cards from some of them. It's all about establishing good relationships and earning respect, something that school "in the news" apparently finds it difficult to do.
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Here you go, M.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/7893292/school-tells-parents-christmas-presents-teachers/
Seems it’s a private school costing over £16k p/a so hardly typical. The story is in several 'red tops'.🙄
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When my children were at school a girl was always bringing the teacher some particular world-famous chocolate covered wafer biscuits that were made locally. While the teacher was a great fan of these biscuits, she had reservations about the cost to the child's obviously not wealthy family, so she suggested to the child that she should stop the daily gift.
The child replied, "Don't worry about that, Miss. My mother works in the factory and she brings them out in her knickers."
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thanks for all your comments and replies.
As a point of interest this present giving is only done at primary level but at secondary it is unheard of (talking state schools here).
I often wonder what happens between Christmas in year 6 and Christmas in year 7?
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from that 'news' headline:
The Times reports the new rules had to be put in place when teachers started feeling "awkward" about being given presents worth over £100 by rich families
wouldn't that be a problem to have?
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Moulesy posted on the previous page of an initiative in this area aimed at pointing donors towards the most needed items.
Our local food bank has a very informative website on which they list needed and not required items. Apparently their customer base is ever increasing.
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" The practice should be banned and any parents who want to spend that money, be encouraged to give it to charity."
But K, parents choose to pay the best part of £20000 a year to send their children to that school. Are you suggesting that should be banned and the money given to charity too?
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Our local supermarket has just such a system and the shelf labels are changed weekly depending on what is seen as most in need. It's a very sensible system.
(Of course, without wishing to get too political I think we can all agree at least that the hugely increased need for food banks is a national disgrace.)
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It’s heartbreaking, M. I’ll say no more.
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really? poisonous?
PS my thread dave
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Also K's statement, namely:
Yesterday in the news A school announced that the pupils should only give teachers presents up to the value of £50.00 .. Needless to say that kind of attitude IMO is abhorrent and reeks of greed.
was (as usual for K) a little twisted and a lot of anti-teacher spin added, what the report really said was:
A SCHOOL has told parents not to spend more than £50 on gifts for teachers this Christmas.
A totally different thing altogether I think?
I too agree that giving money to charity is better than to teachers and have suggested my school (I'm chair of governors and their employer) to adopt the idea
But I wonder how in many other professions/jobs do 'customers' or rather their parents give presents? I wonder if K worked in such a company - present envy K?
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+ 100000000 there.
How can some (and I include myself here) sleep well when they know such need is there?
One of the great things I used to love when working, which I notice still goes on, was the shoe-box appeals. It used to bring a tear in my eye to see even the hardened school trouble makers gladly bring in their box.
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Corners, it’s no less than we've come to expect from certain people who think they can say what they like, pepper it with smilies and pretend it’s all in good humour. Fortunately, the CM sees through them.
What a shame some have to be spoilers. 😕
Edit: not referring to your response to M, where we cross posted, obviously.
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+1 sadly
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+1👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻
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+2
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(Of course, without wishing to get too political I think we can all agree at least that the hugely increased need for food banks is a national disgrace.)
I am not sure how much the true need has increased in recent times and how much there has always been a great need not met in quite such a high profile way.
My youngest daughter occasionally uses a community cafe in Leigh with her two children (7 and 8) where you can pay what you can afford. A lot of produce is donated by M&S and also Lidl.
She also buys veg from there as it is cheaply sold from surplus donations.
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