It's the last day of term at many schools today and, according to a poll commissioned by Woolworths.co.uk, just over half of parents sent their child in clutching a present for teacher.
The survey found that the average spend was £7.50 and Woollies estimated that for a class of 30 pupils, this works out at £225 worth of gifts per tutor. Many parents said they also bought presents for teaching assistants - and 12.5% go so far as to buy one for the dinner lady as well.
On the blogosphere teachers said the most common gifts are wine, chocolates, flowers, toiletries, and crafts made by the child. And they had few complaints about receiving them.
Though some teachers also confessed to recieving some rather strange ornaments and previously loved-children's toys. Bellabeariswideawake recieved: "an eggtimer encased in molded plastic shaped like skeletons holding up the sides." Which she said was "V v freaky. From a really lovely sixthformer as well." While TalcAndTurnips on mumsnet said some of the less conventional gifts her mother had received included "a box of french toast, a dead Tamagotchi and a packet of hairy gonk pencil-toppers."
The trend for giving gifts to charity in lieu also seems to have taken hold with some parents saying that they are using the money to buy school books for children in less developed countries, and @handyherione tweeting that she was adopting a dolphin on behalf of the school as her kids' gift.
Teachers, did you get £225 worth of presents this year? What's the best or the weirdest thing you've received? Parents, did you feel obliged to buy your child's teacher a present? Or was the gift made out of genuine gratitude?
