Field Trip Vent...

[teacherforhi]

I thought I would post this here and see what other parents think because every teacher I've spoken to thinks the parent involved is nuts...

I'm going to preface this by explaining that I am NOT in charge of this trip. I teach in a self-contained special ed classroom and either my assistant or myself go on every grade-level field trip with our students. We send home reminders about trips and make sure that permission slips are stapled in agendas so that parents see them, but we don't take up the money and such.

Back in January, the entire 8th grade received a permission slip for a trip to the state capital. The trip is tomorrow. The permission slips went home way in advance because we're taking charter buses and the price is a little high for a trip ($30). The slip also clearly stated that we would not be back until 5:30 and that parents would be responsible for finding a their child a way home.

Thursday afternoon of last week, I got a message from the parent of one of my students saying that her child had no way to get home on Tuesday. This is after she's paid for the trip and his lunch. I've had a lot of problems with her in the past, so I ask my principal to make the call and explain that we are not going to transport a student. (We just don't...too many opportunities to be sued.) Not to mention the fact that it's only three school days before the trip and she's known about this since January!

Then she calls again this morning and threatens to call the superintendant. I offered to give her the number...

Am I crazy to think that this is her responsibility? Or at the very least she should have been making these phone calls back in February before she paid for the trip?

 

[Kimberle]

Let her make the "call". The teacher/school has done nothing wrong. The note clearly said the children must arrrange transportation home. Could she be given a refund? I'd feel sorry for the child though, being left at school while the others are on the trip.

What would happen if she just didn't pick her child up? A friends dh coaches a "fun" football team. She said he's always driving kids home because their parents don't pick them up. (It's not part of the school.)

 

[LisaNJ25]

Nope, You are not crazy. It is her resposiblity to get her child home from a field trip after school hours.

I just paid $145 for my sons 7th grade field trip. Its a 3 day, 2 night camping trip. They get back at 1pm and are not allowed in the school. A parent must be there to pick him up. I make sure I was able to get him home at the hour before I signed him up.

 

[teacherforhi]

Let her make the "call". The teacher/school has done nothing wrong. The note clearly said the children must arrrange transportation home. Could she be given a refund? I'd feel sorry for the child though, being left at school while the others are on the trip.

What would happen if she just didn't pick her child up? A friends dh coaches a "fun" football team. She said he's always driving kids home because their parents don't pick them up. (It's not part of the school.)

My principal offered her a refund, which I thought was generous of him, considering the payment deadline had already passed.

She actually called later today and claimed he had a ride, but I honestly believe she just means to not have anyone there to try and force our hand. I guess she didn't read the part in the Code of Conduct that we turn custody of any child not picked up within a reasonable time to the local police department, who in turn will notify Social Services.

 

[RitaZ.]

It's her responsibility to provide transportation for her child. My 14 yr. old has been on several trips where they take a charter bus from the school, he has another one coming up soon. It's always our responsibility to get him to school on time and be there to pick him up on time. I mean, if something comes up, then the mom should ask a friend, neighbor or arrange a ride with a school friend.

 

[HaleyB]

Yeah, it really sounds like you might end up with that kid on your hands. I can not believe she thinks this should be your problem (or the school's).

Last year we had a parent slap a child (not their child) across the face in front of about 50 other kids, several staff members and a bunch of parents. The part that I found so scary is she did not try to hide it or even understand why everyone else got so upset.

It still makes me fume, the boy she hit was in foster care and the school/teachers spent 2 years trying to build trust with him... and this happened.

 

[mom2boys]

Standard procedure for our school system too. In fact our permission slips for trips with after hours returns have a place to indicate who will be taking your child home. I assume this is a publice school where most students live within a certian geographic area. If she can't get the child, she needs to find a relative, friend, classmate's parent to do so.
Our school system and our prior private school always made it clear at the beginning of the year that NO teacher was permitted to transport a studen for any reason due to liability.

 

[tw1nsmom]

That parent is completely off base. If she objected to the transportation policy, she should have pursued it at the beginning of the year. I could almost understand it if she was calling to say that something unforseen came up and was trying to get in touch with other parents to arrange a ride, or asking for advice/ideas from you. As of now, because she's well aware that her child needs a ride, I would definitely turn her child over to the police if she fails to show up.

BTW...this is coming from someone who is probably considered "one of those parents" by the teachers in my childrens' school. I'm also a special education advocate and the laws guarantee equal access to an education, not a greater access. Now if her child required a specially equiped bus in order to participate in the trip, then the school would have to provide it. But...if they aren't transporting any of the other children home, then they don't have to transport the special needs child home.

 

[UrsulasMyHero]

Sounds like this parent is Nucking Futz. She expects you - the school - to make sure her child gets home, even though the feild trip slip stated it was her repoinsibility. Phuleeze. I hope she tries to pull the bs you think she's planning. Chances are she's not the best mom.

 

[Stacerita]

The mom is out of line on this one. She needs to be responsible in getting her child home. Not the school. The field trip premission slip stated what was expected on the parent part. She probably waited till the last minute to make arrangements and now wants someone else to take responsiblity. And if she says she has someone to pick the child up and no one does, then you/school needs to follow through with Code of Conduct. As sad as that may be.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

When my kids have field trips that run after the regular school hours and require a special pick up, when we send in the check and permission slip we have to specify who is picking up our child and give their phone number so they can be contacted if they do not show up.

 

[Talking Hands]

This parent is completely out of line. The child gets to go on the same terms as the other children. That means if there is a requirement to pick up the kids after hours then she needs to pick him up.
Our district has the same policy about transporting children. It is a big NO unless it is your own child.

 

[Cor44432]

Once, just once in 12 years of teaching have I had a child NOT picked from
a field trip in which we returned after school hours.

Called the principal, she called the superintendent, next thing I know, here
comes a police car. Turns out, our district policy is to have the police come
pick up the child, and the parents then must pick them up at the station.

 

[kbkids]

Okay, we're all dying to know! Did she pick up the child??

 

[DVC Jen]

The mother has issues. She is in the wrong. Don't let it bother you for another second.

 

[dbogen]

Maybe she is still waiting for the mom? LOL
I hope not.

Deanna

 

[teacherforhi]

Okay, we're all dying to know! Did she pick up the child??

Sorry, sorry...she was there. Apparently when push came to shove, she had a friend that could pick him up.

However, I have a feeling I will hear about it tomorrow because he apparently left his inhaler at school this morning and there was no way to get back in the building when we got back.