Field trips...kids that can't afford

[Jaycey'smom]

My daughters 4th grade class is going to St Augustine for the field trip. The cost of this trip was $52 for my daughter and $70 for me. I have no problem paying but thought it was a bit high considering she has went to Epcot and Seaworld in the past and has only been MAX $40 for her and $50 for me. (this was at a diffrent school/county) These prices always include the charter bus BUT I never ride on the bus and my daughter always rides home with me. This school also always (at least once a week) has a letter coming home with stuff like "pay a dollar to wear a sports shirt" ,"pay $6 to get 30 mins outside", "pay $25 dollars to put your childs birthday on the school sign". (this is a PUBLIC school by the way) I always give the $$ because I want my daughter not to feel left out BUT feel like the are making a killing off me). Ok to my point My daughter came home today and tells me a little girl in her class can not go on the trip B/C she does not have the money right now!! (This little girl lives with her father only and he walks or rides a bike everyday to drop off/ pick up this little girl.) I have already paid for my seat on the bus that I will not use and do not mind paying for her admission but wonder where all this "extra" money the school is asking for (once a week) is going. What should I do? Sorry so long it just broke my heart that this school is making so much money and this little girl can't go b/c of money.

 

[KirstenB]

Ask if your PTA has a fund for needy kids/field trips. When our dd was in first grade, one of her classmates hadn't paid to go on a field trip, so I thought she was not able to go. I asked the teacher if I could pay for her, and the teacher said she'd look into it , and get back with me. Turns out, our PTA had a fund for field trips for free lunch kids, so they covered it.

 

[Chris]

Honestly, I'd call the school and ask them. They should have something in place to help out these children that can't afford these trips.
i know that our middle school does, they have a trip, Natures Classroom and there is a girl my daughter is friends with that can't come up with the 225.00 for the trip and they are giving her a "scholarship' so that she can attend.

With our grade school, they always send home a note saying if you can't afford it to let the teacher know and they'll work something out.

Please let us know if you find anything out. That's very sad for that child.

 

[Mophia'sMom]

I often wonder where all the money the school "raises" goes. My dd school has free dress ($2), flowers for Vday ($2/carnation), school dances, etc. I've never heard of the PTO/PTA having funds set aside for kids who couldn't afford the trips, but it wouldnt' hurt to check it out. I'll never forget 2 little kids in my daughter's Kindergarten class. They could never afford the parties for Christmas or the end of the year ($5/each + Christmas gift). The school actually would ssend these kids to the cafeteria to sit while the classes had the parties. I always made sure these kids attended the party, and had gifts to open for Christmas. It was great seeing how excited the kids were that they were able to participate, and to believe that Santa paid for the Christmas gifts for them.

 

[ceecee]

Honestly, I'd call the school and ask them. They should have something in place to help out these children that can't afford these trips.
i know that our middle school does, they have a trip, Natures Classroom and there is a girl my daughter is friends with that can't come up with the 225.00 for the trip and they are giving her a "scholarship' so that she can attend.

With our grade school, they always send home a note saying if you can't afford it to let the teacher know and they'll work something out.

Please let us know if you find anything out. That's very sad for that child.

I agree, call the school and ask. Our PTO have funds set aside for this just in case, I bet yours does too since it sounds like they are getting a lot of "donations".

 

[carj]

I would call and ask as well but if your child's school is like most, the money for the year is already earmarked.

A lot of schools that have lower socio economic students get more federal funding. (If your school thinks that $50 field trips are okay, I am guessing that they are not getting much additional federal $$!

Those little fundraisers for wearing a spirit shirt etc... are probably used by different groups to raise money. (PE may raise money for new basketballs, etc...) I would think that it is unlikely that they all go to PTA.

 

[mrs.beast]

I have been at a few different schools in CA and we always had scholarships for field trips. Also, the bus has to be large enough for everyone, even if people are planning on driving etc so we just take the final price of everything and divide it by the # of people to get what each kid owes. Also, many places will not take passes etc with groups so we often end up charing people with passes place to go (I have 3 students with passes to the children's museum we are going to next week and they have to pay $9 each because the museum will not let use them during "school group" time.)

Also our bus prices have skyrocketed due to rising gas prices (200 to 400 instead)

 

[HollyJoy]

I agree that the school should be able to pick up the tab for those kids who might have some financial woes that would keep them from going. I know ours does. Right now, we're in the middle of planning an end of year outing for our 5th graders, and it will cost $20 a kid. Our school will make sure that all 5th graders are able to go, and that cost will not be an issue.

 

[InstImpres]

I've never heard of the PTO/PTA having funds set aside for kids who couldn't afford the trips, but it wouldnt' hurt to check it out.

It may not be an obvious line item. I know as a former PTA president, there was a discretionary line item that we paid this out of. It did require the parent asking the teacher (or principal whatever the parent decided). We did not "advertiser" funding availability but did cover it when parents asked. It was up to the principal to "qualify" them for need and we were never given the students name to be respectful of their privacy

 

[Monica20039]

That is really heartbreaking! I work as a teacher in a school where 100% of the children are low income and some of the stuff they charge the kids for is ridiculous!! ($4 carnations, $10 ticket for the dance)

It's not fair! That money could be dinner or it could be gas money to get to work...!!

Sorry to go off on a rant, it makes me upset. I hope it all works out!

 

[jensen]

I'll never forget 2 little kids in my daughter's Kindergarten class. They could never afford the parties for Christmas or the end of the year ($5/each + Christmas gift). The school actually would ssend these kids to the cafeteria to sit while the classes had the parties. I always made sure these kids attended the party, and had gifts to open for Christmas. It was great seeing how excited the kids were that they were able to participate, and to believe that Santa paid for the Christmas gifts for them.

I'd be raising holy cain if I found out something like this went on in any of our local schools. Bless you for being so kind and shame on those idiot administrators who came up with that policy!!!!

 

[Jaycey'smom]

I am going to the school tomorrow morning and see what I can do. But this is not a needy school by any means!! The "dinners" they have about every 2 months have a $6 hotdog, $7-8 cheesburger or a $9-10 chicken ceasar salad!! What happened to a hotdog and drink for $1?? I just hope they will let her have my seat and she will get to go.

 

[Mophia'sMom]

I'd be raising holy cain if I found out something like this went on in any of our local schools. Bless you for being so kind and shame on those idiot administrators who came up with that policy!!!!

Well, that was a few years back, and things have changed in our local school district. We were fortunate to break away from our Parish School System, and our town has it's own school system. We are now the #1 school system in the state, but we also pay 3x more taxes then what we did prior. I've been fortunate not too have encounter a similar situation since then, but my daughter is now in middle school so I do not have as much interaction with the students as I used to when she was younger.

 

[dopeyfanatic]

In our school the money raised is used to pay for the field trips. Students NEVER pay for a field trip at our school, ever. The money raised also pays for 6th graders to go to Science camp, yearbooks for every student (provided free, ask for $10 donation) and other random things. Like it paid to have our baseball fields redone and it pays for the supplies for the crossing guards. I would ask your Parent Club, PTA (whatever it is) if they have a fund for that. I think it's insane to ask for that much money for a field trip and NOT have funds set up for low income kids.

 

[elgerber]

I'll never forget 2 little kids in my daughter's Kindergarten class. They could never afford the parties for Christmas or the end of the year ($5/each + Christmas gift). The school actually would ssend these kids to the cafeteria to sit while the classes had the parties. I always made sure these kids attended the party, and had gifts to open for Christmas. It was great seeing how excited the kids were that they were able to participate, and to believe that Santa paid for the Christmas gifts for them.

Wow, that is so sad. They must have felt just terrible. How can you do that to little kids? How wonderful of you to step in and help them.

 

[spalady]

I feel bad for this kid. Keep us posted on what happens.

 

[Ali]

Typically, Any child who can not afford to go on the trip must be paid for by the school in some way or no one can go. BUT the parent must make contact with the school and tell them that the reason their child won't to on the trip or won't be in school is due to financial reasons and that makes many people uncomfortable.

My school went on the trip to St Augustine last week and for the past 4 months the teachers have been freaking out about how many kids couldn't afford it. The principal was going to cancel it but they did a fundraiser instead and dedicated the money to the trip. The principal flat out said he would not pay for the 18 kids who couldn't afford the fee and he was ready to cancel the trip.

Someone needs to make the teacher and Principal aware of the situation.

Whether you use your seat on the bus is irrelevant, I never used mine either when I chaperoned, They still need the money parents pay to provide for the students who can't pay, a built in cushion to ensure that everyone will have a trip to go on. As for the little bits of money you are being asked to pay for fundraisers like wearing a sports shirt and stuff that money in my school is going to the Positive Behavior support store to make sure the kids who are working hard have nice things to buy with their tokens. That is totally school funded by fundraisers and donations.

 

[clh2]

The only reason a student would not be able to go on a field trip in our district is simply academic (missing homework, failing classes, poor behavior).

There is a policy (don't know if it is a written policy or a "common sense" policy) that finds a way for all students to afford the field trip. I do not know if there is a PTA "slush" fund for this, or if the other kids are "upcharged" on their field trip cost to cover the kids who cannot afford it. Quite honestly, it doesn't matter to me.

Our 8th grade students our going to Six Flags, as a trip to end middle school. The cost for admission and bus (1.5 hours away) is $42. I find that quite reasonable. I can't even drive there for $42, so, since DD is going to want to go there anyway sometime this summer, and I do not this field trip is saving me lots of $$ and lots of sanity

I am going to make a comment about the other fundraising activities going on. If you are not certain what the money is going for - just ask! Many public schools are getting budgets cut left and right. Our elementary school PTA bought all the software for all the computers the school district bought. It was really quite an undertaking, but the school district budget was only so much. The PTA really kicked it up a notch to "finish" up what was needed, to tune of about $15000/year for several years. Also - if you are not involved, get involved with your PTA, then you can also vote on their budgets. No fair just complaining.

 

[canwegosoon]

I often wonder where all the money the school "raises" goes. My dd school has free dress ($2), flowers for Vday ($2/carnation), school dances, etc. I've never heard of the PTO/PTA having funds set aside for kids who couldn't afford the trips, but it wouldnt' hurt to check it out. I'll never forget 2 little kids in my daughter's Kindergarten class. They could never afford the parties for Christmas or the end of the year ($5/each + Christmas gift). The school actually would ssend these kids to the cafeteria to sit while the classes had the parties. I always made sure these kids attended the party, and had gifts to open for Christmas. It was great seeing how excited the kids were that they were able to participate, and to believe that Santa paid for the Christmas gifts for them.

I am not saying this is the case-but on the other side-I know mothers who won't let their kids get present for Christmas(they are Christian, so I know it is not a religious issue) and they have to donate any money or gift cards they do recieve. They also never would pay for a Christmas party...but if the school were to pick it up it is ok with them. They do it for the reconiziation-"my child donates"... and then many people I know say, they must be not doing well right now(when it is all a show-5 houses that have been flipped, new cars every year, boats, ski mobils etc, and both parents have "professional" jobs)-I think they don't want to let on what their true status is(and that is their right)-but don't have me contribule to fundraising so your child who doesn't "need" to have the expenses covered.

OP every school does it different re: fundrasing and where the money goes. Personally instead of going to call the school, I would check with the PTA/O-go to a meeting listen to the financial report. They will usually disclose all that information pubically(you might even to be able to ask for previous minutes sent to you). I know in our school the fundraising picks up a lot of the items the teachers want but the school funds can not buy. But to be fair I also know it goes to a really nice teacher apperication luncheon, Christmas party for faculty and a Holiday day trip/luncheon. There are also funds for teacher classroom gifts, and funds to cover busses for field trips(not chartered busses-school busses), and money to cover for student who do not pay for what ever reason(no money or parents forget). But they do not supply a year book for everyone-I know in another local school they do that.

 

[canwegosoon]

Not to hijack the OP thread-but 1 year I would just love an itemized list of expenses for the year, for fundraising. I try to keep track of it myseld from year to year-but it always seems there are new ones added. Just like most schools have a master calander-I wish there was a master fundraiser/school expenses calander...then I would budget it for the year-and have it everytime. It is all the suprise $50 here and there that drive me crazy(I have more than one child).