AS THE END of the school year rolls into town for most primary school children this week, the age-old dilemma of what to give your child’s teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs) rumbles on. Do you gift, do you not? What do you get if you do, and how much should you spend?

Teachers’ gifts are a newish phenomenon for today’s current crop of parents. They were practically unheard of when I was in school, apart from when I left in sixth year and maybe gave those one or two teachers I really felt a connection with a card or flowers, but today, more so at primary level, it’s become the expected norm to give your children’s teachers some token of thanks.

There was a time not so long ago, when I naively thought that my children’s teachers would love nothing more than a personalised token of our appreciation for all their hard work and care during the year.

Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

I went and got Christmas ornaments made up with thoughtful ‘thank you Ms/Mr (teacher’s name)’ messages on them in December and bought things like ‘World’s Best Teacher’ mugs or bars of chocolate with their names on them to give them in June. I handed these things over, enthusiastically patting myself on the back, thinking it was the best idea ever.

Personalised mug, you say? Sure, no one else will have got them that! Genius move. Looking back, while well-intentioned, I can see now that they probably wanted that kind of glorified tat........

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