Field Trip or Stay at School?

[Bojo]

Here's the setup:
1. DS school field trip for later this week - permission slips & money due by x time last week.
2. DS friend forgot slip & money on last day accepted (Friday); called mom to run it up to school.
3. Mom brought on lunch break; left money & form in school office for student pick up.
4. Office procedure calls for student notification in AM and/or PM that items have been left in office.
5. DS friend's classroom called for notification, no answer.
6. School office worker placed slip & money in DS friend' s teacher's mailbox.
7. On Monday, DS friend's teacher turns in slip & money (now past deadline for forms and $) to field trip cooridinator (another teacher).

The question: Should DS friend be allowed to go on the field trip; or stay at school with the students who don't go?

 

[mommytotwo]

If the teacher coordinating the event is still able to take his friend on the trip, I say include him. The child's mom had helped to get the permission form and money in, along with the help of the office. If everything is set and it can't be changed, then his friend should stay in school cause it was his fault that it was not turned in on time.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

Yes, she should include him. We all make mistakes. Field trips normally culminate a unit of study. He will only learn more from the field trip.

I once had a parent tell me that if I (teacher) wanted her daughter to go on the field trip, I could pay for it myself. I told her, "I'll be happy to pay for your daughter." Our PTO would pay for students that couldn't afford to pay.

Lori

 

[Efastpitch]

Looks like your DS will be staying at school. Its to bad this happen, I would suggest that your DS not wait until the last day to turn in his permission slip and money. He was left without any extra time for just this type of problem.

 

[Grog]

I say he should go. It sounds as if the mother went out of her way to get the permission slip and money to the school before the deadline and the office dropped the ball by not notifying the student it was there. Not his fault.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Go, money has been paid. Hopefully the kid learned something from it.

 

[gymnasticsmom68]

Originally posted by Grog
I say he should go. It sounds as if the mother went out of her way to get the permission slip and money to the school before the deadline and the office dropped the ball by not notifying the student it was there. Not his fault.

I agree.

 

[browneyes]

1. I think he should go.
2. How old is ds's friend?

 

[Bojo]

Thanks for the sharing opnions.

Efastpitch: it really is my DS's friend.

How old is ds's friend?

11 years old.

What about responsibility. Students had 2 weeks to get the paperwork and $ turned in. If this child is allowed to attend, what message does that send to the class?

 

[Pin Wizard]

Yes, since it was in the office on the final day to turn in. Perhaps the office should STAMP things with the date received!

However, if my son did that I would NOT be running to school with it. I would tell him that he had plenty of time to get all info to me and back to school on time. His problem if it's done too late. Kids need some responsibility!

As it is, if he hands me a test paper, permission slip, or anything else on Monday morning (or any other morning for that matter, Mon.-Fri.), that he needs signed, I don't sign it! He has to deal with his teacher for not having it in on time. It really bugs me that he can't seem to give me things the night before. He needs to learn that!! He won't learn it if I sign in the morning before I even have a cup of coffee as we're running out the door.

 

[02bBarbie]

What about responsibility. Students had 2 weeks to get the paperwork and $ turned in. If this child is allowed to attend, what message does that send to the class?

He had 2 weeks..the money hit the school on the last day..still good in my book.

What kind of school advertises when kids get their money in?

With all due respect, I thinking you're making way too big of a deal over this. Of course the kid should go

 

[kilee]

Responsibility--- come on. The money was there. How it got there, another story. The school made the bottom line error. The money was there by the deadline!

 

[tar heel]

Are some children really left at the school? Is this field trip educational or part of the curriculum? If so, everyone should be participating. I'm amazed that an elementary school would even be allowed to do such a thing.

 

[kasar]

I plan all the field trips for my DDs school. We, as policy, do not collect money for field trips for this reason. All field trip money and enrichment programs are paid by the PTO after our fundraiser. Parents know that is where most of their money goes. Yes, it's tough to raise that money but it's awful to have kids who can't come because they can't afford it, or any other reason. These are educational trips and should be available to all the students.

That said, the kid is 11 years old! 11 year olds forget things all the time (I've got one myself). Cut the kid some slack - most places don't need the head count until a day or two before. The school should have built in some extra time for wiggle room for these exact reasons (it sounds like they may have if the money was due a week before the trip). Yes, kids have to learn responsibility but, to me, having a child miss a field trip isn't the time.

 

[bumcat]

Oh good grief! Of course he should go.
The message to the class should be that he turned it in on time and the office screwed up. The last day counts as on time doesn't it?
Sometimes it's not the kids fault, sometimes it's parents waiting til the last minute in giving them the money.
We're always on time cause DS nags and nags so I give him the money the first day.

 

[Bojo]

PW: As a matter of fact there is a "drop off" sheet in the office where parents record the items left for student pick-up. Some days the sheet is multiple pages in length.

02bB: Not makin a big deal out of anything - just seeking opnions. Thanks for yours

TH: Yes, some students stay @ school instead of gong on the trip (by parent choice).

bumcat: I know what you mean. I sent ours the next day - just to quiet DS

DS told me today that his friend will be on the trip.

 

[tar heel]

Bojo -- By parent choice, do you mean that the parent doesn't approve of the field trip, is overprotective and doesn't want their child on the bus or what? My concern, of course, is that it's $. If a field trip is during the school day, and therefore part of the education being offered that day, I think every child should go unless the parent has specifically prohibited it. Back in the dark ages when I was in school, kids who didn't pay didn't go. It amazes me that we as a society would do something like that to a child. Can you imagine how it would feel if everyone is going off to some big event and you're staying at school? Why are we even surprised that some kids grow up mad at the world and become criminals . . .

 

[Bojo]

No, tar heel, there are funds available for those who cannot (or will not) pay. Some parents just do not want their children to participate in this particular trip. Or maybe the kid wants to stay at school

 

[ScarlettO]

I didn't allow my child (6th grade) to attend a school field trip to a maximum security prison( most thought I was being overprotective ), but my child stayed home that day.

 

[momm2four]

When I taught 5th grade last year, we left students behind for bad behavior, but not for monetary reasons. As a matter of fact, here, if you are on free or reduced lunch you can waive school fees/field trip costs.

Lori P.