ANy other parents against school field trips?

[JESW]

This has nothing to do with the current world situation, I have always felt this way about field trips.

My kids are young - 4 & 8 - so I have not had a lot of field trip experience. When I send my kids off to school that is where I want them to stay. I don't believe that they need to get on yet another bus and then drive off to somewhere else.

DS8 is in the 2nd grade and they just started a section on Native American Indians. In May the entire second grade is supposed to go to Mashantucket, CT (from MA) to the Pequot Museum. I have never been there but it is supposed to have a recreation of an Indian village, among other things.

The ride will be over an hour. These kids are 8 years old. From what I have heard from parents who have been on field trips, they are basically a zoo with the kids happy to have their freedom and run around. What do they learn? DS is happy to go because he misses school that day.

I can't go as a chaperone as they won't let me bring my DD4. DH and I are tempted to take the family there and really look at things and not let DS go on the field trip. I don't want to start anything with the school and I don't want DS labeled as a problem, but there is something in me that is really against field trips! (and no, I didn't have a bad expereince as a child!) Why can't they bring someone in the school to talk about things instead of having them go off somewhere?

Just wondering what other parents think...

Jill

 

[Breezy_Carol]

As long as there aren't too many, I think field trips are a great learning experience. My 2 are both in high school now. They have been on local trips where they planted trees in a state park, and more distant trips to Fort McHenry, etc. I have chaperoned some but also think it is valuable for them to do things without a parent too. The trips are usually well chaperoned and do have educational value. And they often spark an interest in something new.

I would let DS go unless you felt it was unsafe. Otherwise, she will feel left out.

 

[Dodie]

IMHO:

As a former teacher, I would have to say that, as long as they aren't too frequent, field trips to an EDUCATIONAL destination such as the one you describe are invaluable learning tools.

Yes, the kids may have some "fun" on the bus and during the trip, but the chance to experience something like this in a non-traditional school setting is a wonderful addition to the typical day-to-day books and pencils activities. Even if they don't feel like they're learning at the time, because they are also having fun with their friends, these are experiences that they will remember long after school is finished.

Educational field trips can also serve as positive reinforcement, kind of a reward for hard work.

I can't imagine why anyone would be "against field trips" in general.

 

[bfeller]

Some things that are taught in the classroom can't be fully appreciated or comprehended by the student unless the student can actually see it or experience it.

 

[apagano]

As someone whose job depends on school field trips, I hope there aren't too many parents who feel the way you do.

 

[aprincessmom]

I don't mind them. I just chaperoned a field trip with 1st and 2nd graders to a play a few weeks back. About a 1/2 hour ride to a neighboring state. I have to say you could have heard a pin drop on that bus coming and going. But that's how the school busses are run normally with assigned seats and quiet voices...totally amazing and foreign to me since our busses were zoos on wheels. But it worked.

As for the actual trip itself. They've done a few this year, some local and some requiring bus travel. And DD did a bunch with her kindergarten and daycare in the past few years. The children have really loved them. Sometimes it's more educational to go to the place than have it come to you. Sometimes it's hard to have it come to you because you lose a lot of the more interesting aspects of the subject. For example, they went to an apple orchard in the fall. It would have been hard to really display the cider machines and walk them through the process in a way that could stick in their mind using a talking head at the front of the class and a few slides.

The field trips DD's been on have had a direct correlation to the lesson plan so they are learning about something ahead of time and go with an agenda of learning once they get there. After the trip, the experiences are called on again related to curriculum so it's not like the experience is just a waste.

I think they are fine no matter the age. Sometimes learning needs to have a little more fun involved in it. Our school doesn't allow chaperones to bring younger children either -- mostly because the field trips are being used for educational purposes so the distraction factor would be too great.

BTW...I have gone to the museum you are referring to and it would be hard to bring that experience to the children. I think they'd get much more out of it if they go there.

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

Field trips in general are a good thing. Will 8 year olds behave the same way as 16 year olds? Of course not. That is part of the value of field trips (IMHO) they help kids learn how to behave when they are out and about.

It is important to keep an appropriate student to adult ratio as part of this process. DH & I have chaperoned whenever we could make it work for 11 years now and the photos and memories of those trips are very precious. The kids remember these as highlights too.

One point that is important: the school must make sure parents know and give permission for any trip off the REGULAR school grounds. I know at one time our elementary principal felt this was only necessary if they were going somewhere other than the district. After we discovered trips were taking place to the middle school for concerts, high school for special events of various types without us being informed the PTO had a "conversation" with him about this and it STOPPED. He never considered 1) the concerns some parents might have about travel, 2) the issues there might be with a particular program, 3) the hassle and inconvenience of going to one school to pick up a child for an appointment and finding out they weren't there!

Deb

 

[jel0511]

My children are 5 and 2, and my 5 year old has already gone on a field trip. Only to the pumpkin farm with her preschool, but she loved it!!! Some of my best memories from school are of field trips from school. I remember vividly in 4th grade when we were studying NJ History, we went to a re-creation of a revolutionary house. It was so interesting to hear and see how they lived. I was 9 then, and I still remember that 25 years later. It's true, somethings are better learned by experiencing them. Also, when the trip is part of a class trip, there are usually guides giving educational explanations to the children, which you usually don't get as the average visitor.

 

[JESW]

Thank you for all your insightful responses. I appreciate them. I don't have a problem with the EDUCATIONAL part of the trip, I am still protective of my 8 year old and don't like the idea of him going on yet another bus and traveling over an hour away.

Both my kids have been on several field trips but none have been that far away. It is the distance and their age that bothers me. I know that DS will like it and we will most likely let him go, but I am not thrilled with the idea.

Thanks again for the responses.

Jill

P.S. Apagano...I didn't mean anything against your job - it sounds as if you are a bus driver???

 

[Breezy_Carol]

If you are concerned about the trip and they don't want you to take your younger child, could you either get a sitter and leave her home, or follow in your own car and go on your own. Sometimes that was an option on the very popular trips where there wasn't enough space on the bus for all the parents who wanted to go.

 

[Kallison]

I love field trips, I think they are a good learning experience as well as a break from the every day grind - and who doesn't need that. When my kids were small I always went, even if I wasn't an official chaperone -- I would drive and meet them there. Our first graders take the train into Philadelphia and walk all over the historic area. My 4th grader just went to Harrisburg to see the Capitol, he learned a lot. Since I went back to work this year in a middle school it is the first year I haven't been on their field trips. My 6th grader was rejoicing that I finally missed one. I have every confidence in the school and I knew many of the Moms chaperoning. When my 3rd grader went to Philadelphia to a museum I requested she be placed in a group with a Mom I trusted. I can understand your concerns, my friend was always against field trips and would just keep her child home that day. I know my kids would pitch a fit if I kept them home but she never seemed to have a problem with it. Maybe can you get a sitter and go on at least one of the trips? I'm taking a day off to go on my DD's next trip to an Egyptian museum exhibit.

 

[RitaZ.]

When my oldest child started Kindergarten, I wasn't too happy about him going on field trips. I would let him go, but I was hesitant. Then when I saw how excited he was about the field trip and shared what he learned with us, I knew it was the right thing to do for DS. Next month, he (11 yrs. old) will be going with his class on his 5th grade end of year field trip to Orlando for 3 days!!! He is so excited about this trip, he can't wait. I'm nervous, as this is a 3 day trip and far from home...

By the time DS#2 started school, I was used to the field trip routine. I still worry about accidents, but the fact is they can happen anywhere. I'm an over-protective mom, but I have learned to loosen up the strings slowly. We can't live in constant fear of bad things happening. Also our children want to be part of the experience and not feel left out.

One thing that many parents do is follow in their cars or chaperone. DS#2 has a field trip coming up in May to a local attraction, I plan to chaperone. DH and DD will meet us there, so they'll join the fun, too.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[ripleysmom]

It is your decision to keep your children home from a field trip, however, I believe that in doing so you are depriving your child of an educational experience that he cannot get in the classroom.

Certainly you can take him to the site of the field trip, you cannot though duplicate the interaction that he will get on that field trip. There may be excellent questions posed by his peers that would enhance the learning aspect of the trip, questions that an adult does not have the imagination or intuition to ask.

 

[DonnaS]

I'm *gasp* 40 and I still remember a lot of the field trips I took in elementary school. I don't remember the "getting there"; I actually remember the educational part.

 

[suzannen]

I worried a lot more about the field trips until I went along and chaperoned them. The bus trips were definitely not zoos - all the kids are belted in and the teacher(s) spend the time orally questioning and reviewing with the kids the sorts of things they've been learning about where they are going. The kids' eyes are a wonderful thing to watch, their excitement is really infectious and my DD remembers details, details and details about all of her trips since pre-K. Except for my always worrying about bus accidents, our family has only had really good experiences with these trips.

 

[Piper]

I teach second grade. We are planning a field trip to see a play about a book by Louis Sachar. We are in the middle of reading the book. As preparation, the students are making a list of the characters and their characteristics--both the things the author states in the book and the things we infer from the events in the book. We are also making a list of the questions we have as we read the book and any answers we subsequently find as we read. When we finish the book, we will try to predict which characters will be selected for the play (the book has many, many characters) The students will also vote for their favorite character and will construct a graph of their votes. After the play, the students will write a paper comparing the book to the play--how were they alike--how were they different--and did the actors chosen match the way the students visualized his or her favorite character.

Although we have read many other books with these things in mind, some of the questions the students relate directly to the fact that they will be seeing the play--such as....I wonder how you could make this happen on stage? We have had some great discussions about this book!

We are all looking forward to the field trip in a couple of weeks!

 

[Patricia]

I am generally against field trips. I have felt this way for many years now and the recent developments in the world have cemented it for me. I am also a teacher and have been on countless trips. I just feel NO ONE watches my child like I do and I am not comfortable with taking that type of chance. My compromise is that if I cannot go or someone I know very well cannot have my child in his or her group, then the child doesn't go. I cannot tell you how many times on a trip I retrieved a child who has escaped from his group. My oldest child is now a Jr in HS and I finally relaxed about letting her go. I am ok with my 7th grader going to most places, but not all , and for my 1st grader, he is still on the old restriction that worked for me all these years with the older two. You just have to be able to live with yourself while they are on the trip, if you are ok with it, and can spend the day at home not fretting, then great. Each parent has to make his own decision, but I do know of many schools which have discontinued them completely.

 

[BrerMom]

Originally posted by Patricia
but I do know of many schools which have discontinued them completely.

That's sad. There's just something about going as a group and (usually) getting a special tour that can't be duplicated with the family. Volunteering as a chaperone is one way to get around it.

I've found that sometimes the chaperones cause more trouble than the kids. A mom was giving my DD (then 1st grade) a hard time about sitting next to her DD until she saw me watching her. I guess she thought since I wasn't constantly holding DD's hand the way she was her DD's, I must not be there.

As a side note, I got to go so many more places as a kid because of field trips. It's easy to forget that not every family has the same resources.

 

[Michelle]

Count me as a mom who LOVES field trips and thinks they are great learning opportunities (and great FUN!) for kids.

I understand the concern, but you know, you really can't watch your child 24/7 and you have to be willing to let go a little for kids to be able to experience life. I generally am one of the chaperones for field trips in my daughter's school (she's now 9 and in 4th grade) and I have absolutely NO qualms about the care the kids are in when they are away from school. We always have plenty of parents along too.

Every parent has to choose what is best for his/her child, but I think it's a shame for a child to miss out on one of the "FUN" activities in school each year.

 

[Mishetta]

I am not in favor of field trips either, but I do let my DS (age 7) go. As another poster mentioned, no one watches my son better than I do so it's hard to trust my DS with anyone else.

I worry while he's on his trip & I pray that he'll be safe & in as much as I don't like it when he's on a trip, I see that he comes home all excited about the experience. IF though at his school they had a vote on continuing or stopping all further field trips, I would definitely vote for discontinuing them.

We take him to plays, nature centers, museums, etc...so he wouldn't be missing out on an experience.