PolishForums.com
POLAND . The Unofficial Guide
 Unanswered | Archives
Poland News and Events Witamy, Guest | PF Members | Gold Members

Polish Forums / Society, Culture /

Giving gifts for teachers - customary in Poland?


page 1 of 2:  1  2  Next » posts: 36

sunbreakThreads: 22
Posts: 10
Joined: May 6, 08 ♀ 		 Nov 21, 10, 02:25    #1
Is it customary in Poland for students to give the teacher a gift at the end of the term? If so, is this true for college students or just lower grades or both? What would you give a male teacher?
smurfThreads: 46
Posts: 660
Joined: Sep 8, 09 ♂ 		 Nov 21, 10, 11:46    #2
Why would you give a present to someone whose just doing his job?
Ashleys mindThreads: 7
Posts: 1,346
Joined: Nov 2, 10 ♀ 		 Nov 21, 10, 11:54    #3
I discovered that giving gifts in poland is not customary full stop.

My partner had trouble understanding that I wanted to commemorate the birth of his nephew by sending his parents a gift...

and cards... forget it!

But you do what feels right... ;)
Lodz_The_BoatThreads: 58
Posts: 2,314
Joined: Sep 7, 08 ♂ 		 Nov 21, 10, 12:02    #4
Ashleys mind:
I discovered that giving gifts in poland is not customary

Where is it customary? ... It is not that we give gifts to please the person. To bring a smile ... as a surprise =)...

Giving gift to the teacher at the end of a term is silly I think. I never did such a thing, although I was close to a few and I gave them gift when my university was over. But its kinda strange to give gifts to a person who might be responsible for your grade - it sounds more like bribery to me (sorry if it sounds bad).
Ashleys mindThreads: 7
Posts: 1,346
Joined: Nov 2, 10 ♀ 		Edited by: Ashleys mind  Nov 21, 10, 12:09    #5
I can see your point, but there are gifts which are gestures of thanks, and gifts which may be misconstrued in some way...

Either way, the doubts you raise say more about the possible level of corruption in state institutions than anything else...

A gift is after all just a gift.
WroclawThreads: 77
Posts: 7,404
Joined: Apr 1, 06  Pictures: 3 ♂ [Moderator] 		 Nov 21, 10, 13:36    #6
sunbreak:
Is it customary in Poland for students to give the teacher a gift at the end of the term? If so, is this true for college students or just lower grades or both? What would you give a male teacher?


it might be regional. lower grades in wroclaw hand over a bunch of flowers at the end of term.

some pupils might give a flower on teacher's day. yes, there is teacher's day.
SzwedwPolsceThreads: 13
Posts: 1,915
Joined: Feb 21, 09 ♂ 		 Nov 21, 10, 13:42    #7
sunbreak:
Is it customary in Poland for students to give the teacher a gift at the end of the term? If so, is this true for college students or just lower grades or both?


Yes, it's true also for students at university. A tradition which I hope is decreasing in popularity.
1jolaThreads: 33
Posts: 2,737
Joined: Sep 23, 08 ♂ 		 Nov 21, 10, 14:20    #8
This practice should be discouraged.

In the past, lower classes gave presents to the educated classes - lawyers, doctors, teachers, priests, etc. for basically their services in addition to paying for them. Many think today that is good manners. Still lower class mentality. I don't think teachers buy gifts for their barber or shoemaker.
wildroverThreads: 180
Posts: 8,188
Joined: Jun 7, 07 ♂ 		 Nov 21, 10, 14:36    #9
1jola:
I don't think teachers buy gifts for their barber or shoemaker.


Shoemakers do not influence a childs life in quite the same way a teacher does , they have a huge responsibility to turn out well educated and decent kids , and help shape a kids future as much as a parent does..

My girlfriend is a teacher in Russia , and she works many hours beyond her school hours to prepare lessons for the kids , and she is very proud that her kids have a pass rate for exams well above the averidge....

They have a teachers day in Russia , and on this day she gets so many flowers and gifts there is not room for them all in her flat , she has to put some at her daughters....

I think that being a teacher goes way beyond what you could call a job , and its nice that their efforts are appreciated....
1jolaThreads: 33
Posts: 2,737
Joined: Sep 23, 08 ♂ 		 Nov 21, 10, 14:58    #10
What kind of gifts does she get? A rug or an iron, I suppose?

wildrover:
Shoemakers do not influence a childs life in quite the same way a teacher does , they have a huge responsibility to turn out well educated and decent kids , and help shape a kids future as much as a parent does..

Have you ever given your parents a gift for raising you?
wildroverThreads: 180
Posts: 8,188
Joined: Jun 7, 07 ♂ 		 Nov 21, 10, 15:05    #11
1jola:
Have you ever given your parents a gift for raising you?


Nooo they created a monster.....!
1jolaThreads: 33
Posts: 2,737
Joined: Sep 23, 08 ♂ 		 Nov 21, 10, 15:16    #12
I would say flowers are fine and a sincere thank you would be sufficient. If you read some of the stories of greedy teachers requesting 'gifts,' you might change your mind. Not all teachers are as dedicated as your girl. Now, some teachers spend extra time with slower kids and take no money for it, this is rare. The parents could buy them a gift then. Many more do charge.
wildroverThreads: 180
Posts: 8,188
Joined: Jun 7, 07 ♂ 		 Nov 21, 10, 15:26    #13
1jola:
If you read some of the stories of greedy teachers requesting 'gifts,' you might change your mind.


Of course corruption is not unknown in Russia , and also in Poland , my girlfriend is fortunate to work at a school for gifted children where the standards are very high...

The school is a music and theatre school , and my lady teaches Russian language and culture....heh...she is going to have a challenge teaching me Russian...!
1jolaThreads: 33
Posts: 2,737
Joined: Sep 23, 08 ♂ 		 Nov 21, 10, 15:44    #14
What is nice lady like that doing with a dirty biker like you? Oh, never mind.
wildroverThreads: 180
Posts: 8,188
Joined: Jun 7, 07 ♂ 		 Nov 21, 10, 15:45    #15
She fell in love...so did i...it happens , even to bikers...!
Lodz_The_BoatThreads: 58
Posts: 2,314
Joined: Sep 7, 08 ♂ 		 Nov 21, 10, 15:48    #16
wildrover:
she is going to have a challenge teaching me Russian...!

I hope the challenge doesnt scare her ... LOL =D

wildrover:
it happens , even to bikers...!

Yeah ... good luck!
wildroverThreads: 180
Posts: 8,188
Joined: Jun 7, 07 ♂ 		 Nov 21, 10, 15:51    #17
Lodz_The_Boat:
I hope the challenge doesnt scare her


Not at all....she even went to university to qualify in teaching Russian to non Russians..just so she can teach me....
zetigrekThreads: 59
Posts: 2,709
Joined: May 20, 10 ♂ 		Edited by: zetigrek  Nov 21, 10, 15:59    #18
sunbreak:
Is it customary in Poland for students to give the teacher a gift at the end of the term?


It's costumary to give flowers to a teacher who is "wychowawca" (tutor?) of a class. Also it is costumary to give flowers to wychowawca in Dzień Edukacji Narodowej (14th of October) which is called colloquially Day of a Teacher (Dzień Nauczyciela).

It is costumary only in elementary, middle and high school. Absolutely not in Universities. Although its costumary to give flowers after presentation of your thesis.

Lodz_The_Boat:
I never did such a thing, although I was close to a few and I gave them gift when my university was over. But its kinda strange to give gifts to a person who might be responsible for your grade


where have you lived? certainly not in Poland.
It is a custom and EVERY child gives flowers to his/her class tutor.
Of course it is not a bribe or anything like that. Just a standard way of showing a respect for a proffesion of teacher.
noreenbThreads: 4
Posts: 1,082
Joined: Apr 22, 09  Pictures: 3 ♀ 		 Nov 21, 10, 16:26    #19
zetigrek
It is a custom and EVERY child gives flowers to his/her class tutor.Of course it is not a bribe or anything like that. Just a standard way of showing a respect for a profession of teacher.

I agree with the post. Sometimes one class gives bunch of flowers. Some younger students used to give sweet little gifts like a candle in a shape of a ladybird or a water lily for teachers they liked very much.
It happens more often to get one nosegay from a class than a flower form every student.
Tutor gets as a gift dinner-set or tea-set or something like it when his class finishes school.
What would I give to a male tutor?
I don't know
A bottle of Vodka?
;)
pgtxThreads: 49
Posts: 6,327
Joined: Feb 14, 09  Gold Member MEMBER ♀ 		 Nov 21, 10, 16:29    #20
noreenb:
A bottle of Vodka?
;)

hehe, no :)

maybe a book, or an album, or a 2011 calendar/organizer...
Lodz_The_BoatThreads: 58
Posts: 2,314
Joined: Sep 7, 08 ♂ 		 Nov 21, 10, 16:35    #21
pgtx:
maybe a book, or an album, or a 2011 calendar/organizer...

Why not a Microwave oven ... a Persian Rug? ... A genuine leather Jacket? ... ???

I liked ur stance towards Vodka ... drinking is not a good think! It only retards a good man!
1jolaThreads: 33
Posts: 2,737
Joined: Sep 23, 08 ♂ 		 Nov 21, 10, 16:38    #22
Girls, you've lost touch with today's reality. Type in "Prezenty dla nauczycieli," read what goes on today, and then tell us about teacher appreciation.

noreenb:
Tutor gets as a gift dinner-set or tea-set or something like it when his class finishes school.

This prepares the children to appreciate judges, prosecutors, and other government officials later in life. Wonder if children buy gifts for teachers in countries where corruption in very low as opposed to our country.
pgtxThreads: 49
Posts: 6,327
Joined: Feb 14, 09  Gold Member MEMBER ♀ 		 Nov 21, 10, 16:42    #23
1jola:
you've lost touch with today's reality.

i am... i don't know how it looks today in Poland... and in my time, it was flowers...
wildroverThreads: 180
Posts: 8,188
Joined: Jun 7, 07 ♂ 		 Nov 21, 10, 16:59    #24
pgtx:
and in my time, it was flowers...


Flowers seem to be the normal gift , in Poland , Belarus , Russia , and Ukraine...but what about male teachers...do they usually get flowers too...?
noreenbThreads: 4
Posts: 1,082
Joined: Apr 22, 09  Pictures: 3 ♀ 		 Nov 21, 10, 17:06    #25
They sometimes get flowers.
Some students give them box of chocolates.
I think Pgtx's ideas are the best.
1jolaThreads: 33
Posts: 2,737
Joined: Sep 23, 08 ♂ 		 Nov 21, 10, 17:22    #26
Sometimes they give them...cars. Sometimes they request things they need, like irons, carpets. You did not do a search, I see.
wildroverThreads: 180
Posts: 8,188
Joined: Jun 7, 07 ♂ 		 Nov 21, 10, 18:15    #27
1jola:
Sometimes they give them...cars.


Can somebody give my girlfriend a new Jeep grand cherokee please....?
zetigrekThreads: 59
Posts: 2,709
Joined: May 20, 10 ♂ 		 Nov 21, 10, 19:42    #28
wildrover:
Can somebody give my girlfriend a new Jeep grand cherokee please....?


write to Mr Putin's son (does he has any son?)
Lodz_The_BoatThreads: 58
Posts: 2,314
Joined: Sep 7, 08 ♂ 		 Nov 21, 10, 19:45    #29
zetigrek:
It is a custom and EVERY child gives flowers to his/her class tutor.

You didn't read my entire post did you...

By the way ... gifts are more than flowers ... I don't like the concept anyways ...
zetigrekThreads: 59
Posts: 2,709
Joined: May 20, 10 ♂ 		Edited by: zetigrek  Nov 21, 10, 19:57    #30
Lodz_The_Boat:
By the way ... gifts are more than flowers ... I don't like the concept anyways ...


Nobody likes. Do you really think that those 15 zł I was getting from my parent for flowers each year I wanted to spend on a teacher I hate??


* Zet was clever and was always buying drooped rose for 3 zł *

page 1 of 2:  1  2  Next »

Home / Society, Culture / Unanswered [this forum] | Similar


Similar discussions:

Any there treatment centers for unmarried in Poland?  The best of Polish stories, drama and art


Random: Toronto Job Prospects

Only registered and logged-in users may post here. Please log in or register.


46 [Guests - 39 / Members - 7] users on live forums now


Home | Unanswered | Archives | Random | Statistics Time in Poland: 04:12 / May 27

About Us | Contact Us | Rules, Privacy | Poland Advertising
© 2005-12 PolishForums.com