Is Being a Teacher Worth It? Why Teachers Deserve Our Thanks
If there was one phrase I absolutely hated hearing as a teacher, it was:
“You get so many holidays – six weeks in the summer? Wow!”
Technically, teachers do have a long summer break. But anyone who has actually been a teacher will know that the reality is very different.
Teaching doesn't simply stop when the children leave the classroom.
Do Teachers Really Get Six Weeks Off?
Officially, teachers have a summer holiday, but I don't know many teachers who simply walk out of school on the last day of term and don't think about work again until August.
There are classrooms to organise, displays to put up, resources to prepare and lessons to plan.
Teachers spend days – and sometimes weeks – getting their classrooms ready for the new school year so that when children return in August, they walk into a bright, welcoming and organised environment.
And even when teachers are away on holiday, the job can still be in the back of their minds.
You might spot something on holiday that would make a fantastic classroom resource or think of an activity that would be perfect for a lesson. Once you're a teacher, it can be surprisingly difficult to switch off completely!
How Many Hours Do Teachers Work?
Teaching involves so much more than standing in front of a classroom.
There is lesson planning, marking, preparing resources, assessing pupils, writing reports, attending meetings, communicating with parents, completing paperwork and keeping up with training and professional development.
Teachers can work long hours well beyond the time that pupils have gone home.
A BBC report previously highlighted research showing that many teachers were working around 60 hours a week, demonstrating just how much work can happen behind the scenes.
As a former teacher, this doesn't surprise me.
The time spent actually teaching a class is only one part of the job. There is an enormous amount of preparation and administration that happens before and after the school day.
Why Do Parents Give Teachers End-of-Term Gifts?
As the end of the school year approaches, conversations in the playground often turn to teacher gifts.
Some parents wonder whether they should buy something for their child's teacher, while others worry about how much they are expected to spend.
The important thing to remember is that you should never feel obliged to give a teacher a present.
A gift should simply be a way of saying:
“Thank you for everything you've done for my child this year.”
It doesn't need to be expensive, elaborate or extravagant.
In fact, I think most teachers would be genuinely uncomfortable knowing that parents felt pressured into buying them something.
A small, thoughtful gesture can mean far more than an expensive present.
You Don't Need to Spend a Fortune on a Teacher Gift
When choosing an end-of-term teacher gift, I think personalised presents can be particularly meaningful.
Teachers receive lots of chocolates, flowers and bottles of wine. There's nothing wrong with those gifts, of course, but something personalised can be a little more memorable.
A personalised gift can remind a teacher of the particular class or child they taught that year and become something they can keep.
Our personalised thank you teacher gifts are designed to do exactly that – provide a small but meaningful way to say thank you.
Some of the Funniest Teacher Gifts
Having been a teacher myself, I've heard some brilliant stories about the presents teachers have received over the years.
Some of the funniest include:
- A nose ring for a teacher who didn't have her nose pierced.
- A pen with somebody else's name on it.
- A used hairbrush.
- A bottle of wine that actually contained water.
- And my personal favourite – a pair of size 18 pants for a teacher who was a size 8!
At least they were new!
I'm sure the children who gave these gifts had absolutely no idea how funny their presents would become years later.
And perhaps that's part of the charm of teacher gifts. They don't have to be perfect. It's the thought behind them that matters.
Saying Thank You to a Teacher
Whether it's a nursery teacher, primary school teacher, secondary school teacher, teaching assistant or another member of school staff, teachers play an incredibly important role in children's lives.
They teach far more than the subjects on the timetable.
They encourage children when they're struggling, celebrate their achievements, help them develop confidence and often become one of the adults they remember for many years to come.
So, as the end of term approaches, if you feel that your child's teacher deserves a little thank you, a small gesture can be a lovely way to show your appreciation.
You don't need to spend a fortune. You don't even have to buy a gift.
A handwritten note from a child saying “Thank you” can mean the world to a teacher.
But if you'd like to give them something they can keep, take a look at our personalised thank you gifts for a thoughtful end-of-term present.
And to all the teachers out there – thank you for everything you do.
Now, go and enjoy that summer holiday!
(And yes, I know you'll probably spend some of it preparing for August!)