Has it gotten out of hand?
At my children's school, we usually do a collection for a teacher's present towards the end of the school year – almost always an Avoca voucher. I don't mind it – it is nice to show a little appreciation for these people who do so much for the children – and I always had a feeling they would prefer a voucher over 29 scented candles and boxes of chocolates.
However, in other schools and classes, they do things differently, and things can get a little out of hand.
One mum recently took to TikTok to accuse parents of creating a competition over who can buy the best present for the teacher at the end of term.
The mum, who goes by the name
'Jo's unfiltered life' on TikTok says she feels like the only mum who doesn't send her kids to school during the last week of the school year looking like 'Santa at Christmas'.
"Don't hate me"
Instead, the mum says she always sends a card into school for the teacher to 'show her appreciation,' but reveals she is not 'giving every teacher and teaching assistant (TA) a present.'
"Don't hate me, don't hate me," she starts off the video.
"Am I the only mum who doesn't send my kids into school for the last day of term with bag and bags of presents for the teachers? Like is that just me? Am I the only one that does that? Coz every other mum here has sent their kids in playing Santa at Christmas."
She adds:
'There's so many bags, coz it's not just one teacher, in my son's class alone there's the main teacher, then they've got like four TAs, and they're all giving them presents!
'Am I the only one who doesn't do this? I appreciate the teachers, I send a card to say thank you, I'm not buying you loads of presents though. I'm gonna get so much hate ain't I?
'It's just like they're trying to outdo themselves every year, like each mum wants to buy a bigger present than the other mum, it's a competition now, it's not even about the teachers anymore.
'I don't get presents for my job'
The mum's car rent on TikTok soon went viral, with many parents agreeing with her that the present buying and how competitive is all ends up being is out of control.
"I'm sorry but school ask me for money for something every week," one parent wrote.
Another one said:
"I don't get presents for my job, it's my job at the end of the day."
A third one – who herself used to be a teacher – chimed in:
"'It's just a competition between the mums. The teachers are grateful for a 'thank you' and no 'Karen Mums. (I used to be a teacher.)"
What do YOU think? Are you buying teachers' presents this year?
