By NIALL CHRISTIE

GLASGOW City Council have moved quickly to rule out a ban on gifts to schoolteachers this Christmas.

After Falkirk Council announced plans to introduce an immediate blanket ban on gift giving from parents and pupils, council bosses in Glasgow say they will trust parents to make that call themselves.

A spokeswoman for Glasgow City Council said: "That is not something that Glasgow is even considering.

"Our headteachers will know their local school community and they might put out a note to parents to say that there is no pressure on them to buy a gift, but lots of parents like to.

"At the end of the day it is the parents' prerogative whether on not they want to give teachers gifts or not.

"Teachers have very demanding jobs so who are we to say that they do not deserve a present?"

The Glasgow public wholeheartedly echoed this.

Shocked at the news from Falkirk, Glasgow locals said that parents did not need babied on how they spend their money.

David Keith, a 62-year-old former insurance worker from Glasgow, said: "It should really be up to the parents, the teachers work so hard they might think they deserve it.

"Stopping it altogether seems a bit much in my opinion."

Likewise, 31-year-old Iain Gibson does not think that a total ban is the answer.

The Glaswegian operations manager said: "A ban seems a bit excessive.

"As long as it does not go over the top, some chocolates or something else, that would be fine.

"At a certain point it puts the parents in an awkward position where they feel like they have to."

Rita Hurst, 71, a retiree from Glasgow, agrees that parents, and more importantly children, should not feel forced into participating.

She said: "This kind of thing just did not happen in my day.

"Extravagant gifts from parents could make some children feel uneasy, especially ones whose parents may be struggling and could not afford a big gift.

"For teachers, I am sure that a small gift, even just an apple, would mean the world to them.

67-year-old former sales manager from Airdrie, Bill Simpson, agreed with this.

He said: "I can see both sides of this but I think we need to trust the better judgement of parents, and respect teachers who we all know do a power of work.

"Putting a price limit or parents all clubbing together might be a better idea than banning gifts.

"When my children were at school we would always send in a gift to say thanks."

The younger generation also agreed, with everyone questioning the decision taken in Falkirk.

Student Sarah Jayne, 20, from Glasgow, said: "People do not pay for school here so is it really a big deal for a teacher who has worked hard all year to get a small gift from parents?

"A ban would be blowing this discussion out of proportion."

Falkirk native Nikki Scott agrees with her.

The 18-year-old student said: "Teachers have to put up with the children five days a week so they all deserve a present.

"This all seems a bit ridiculous if you ask me, it is Christmas after all so people should be able to give to whoever they want."