School Field Trips

[Teacher03]

I teach, and we always take a field trip to the zoo. Each child is responsible brings his or her own lunch, drinks,etc. My first year teaching, I allowed money for the gift shop. BIG MISTAKE! Some brought $20, some brought none. I felt so terrible for the ones that couldn't shop. I bought pencils for everyone, but I learned my lesson. Now we just skip the gift shop. Just my two cents.

 

[disykat]

you write "can't expect me to thank them" - and then complain taht kids don't thank others - interesting...and I don't think kids not thanking people stems from others niceties, but is another problem..nor do I think that little niceties are the problem as far as expecting everything.....

You got me there. I used the first "can't expect me to thank them" as an expression meaning I don't really appreciate it because it's teaching them a lesson that is different from what I strive to teach as a parent. I actually had my child write a thankyou note to the zoo mom in our case, but I wasn't pleased that she bought my child things. I was irritated. I honestly don't know if she expected to be reimbursed, but I didn't. The second was my opinion that kid's don't appreciate the little treats anymore - instead they seem to think "is this all?" - and many of them even say it out loud. I should watch my words more carefully before using the same expression to mean different things.

I really don't want other parents feeling sorry for my kids and treating them to expensive extras at the zoo when my goal is for them to think the zoo is a treat in itself.

My experience working with kids is that many of them are WAAY less appreciative of little treats now than kids were in the past and I attribute this to being "over treated".

Due to 25 years of field trip experience as a teacher and a parent, I have strong opinions on this subject. I think it's really sad that anyone would think a child can't have any fun without money for extras. I don't think school is a place for it. At school everyone should have equal opportunity, not be separated into the haves and havenots.

Field trips, like everything else, are different these days. In 1983 I took a group of schoolkids to the state fair with sack lunches and no money. No one thought a thing about it. I moved from that community, but I'd venture to guess that the money thing is a huge issue now on that annual field trip.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

again - then why not just have them say "no thank you"?

your strong feelings are fine, but they seem to have left you jaded: assuming a well meaning parent is irritated with you or acting out of feeling sorry for your son - negetive motivations rather than purely wanting to do something nice...wow. I just can't understand someone taking such a nice gesture and twisting into something like this - add to that the fact that the zoo mom couldn't have possibly known your take on the situation, so couldn't have possibly known they were doing anything wrong.....


I'll leave it at this...but it just seems like a huge over reaction to me...you could have just used it as another "teaching moment" with your child - iIreally can't see getting so bent at the zoo mom for it....

and again - it isn't the message you are sending your kids - it is your over-reaction that I just don't get....

edited to respond to your edit - because others do not view it the way you do I doubt they look at it as "can't have fun without money for the extras"

if the school says no money - that is fine...if they allow it I see no problem with well meaning parents buying small treats or helping out with kids where parents forgot to send in money or couldn't - I prefer to do the nice thing, although I understand in your family it is not viewed that way.....

I am also glad the DD's teachers - and their years of experience - have led them to feel otherwise...

 

[1Prince2Princesses]

I just want to share a little story that is related (because I was proud of my son for it). Usually our field trip permission slip forms are very clear about whether extra money is allowed or not. When my son was in 5th grade, his class took a trip that I did not chaperone. They were allowed to take money with them, and my son took $10 of his own money (which is a rule in our house... spending money for field trips comes from his own wallet). When his group, who was chaperoned by a teacher, went to the gift shop, the other 3 kids in his group did not have money with them. When my son realized it, he put back the more expensive souvenier he had picked out for himself, and got 4 of something less expensive. He paid for them all with his own money, and gave one to each kid in his group. I was so proud of him when the teacher told me what he had done.

 

[chamonix]

.....and that story right there goes to show what kids do learn or can learn on field trips that might not seem "educational" to some upthread. "Educational" isn't just learning about giraffes or pumpkins or paintings.

You have a wonderful son.

 

[frndofpooh]

At our school (public) there is no money allowed on field trips EVER. Our principal is extremely concerned about the cost of field trips in general (she does not want to strain those who do not have the funds). So, last year she sent home a letter saying that from now on, kids on a field trip needed to eat a lunch packed from home (or boxed in the cafeteria and sent with the child; helpful for those on reduced price lunch) and that no trips to the gift shop would be permitted. She went on to say that within the curriculum, there would be opportunities for kids to learn shopping/money management skills such as a classroom trading post or kids market where they print their own money and use that to purchase items.

I love it. We went to DC last year and there were no gift shop or food hassles. Kids spent time exploring the museum and not worrying about trinkets - it had been spelled out before they got on the bus that we were here to see the exhibits and that was it. The kids had a great time; not a single complaint from them and no parents shelling out money.

I am not a huge fan of this principal but in this case she was right on. There is huge disparity between haves and have nots in our district. Some schools have resorted to stopping field trips altogether or restricting them to a cost of $5 or less (try finding a field trip in that range). I think her compromise was excellent.

To the OP - honestly, I would have bought the kid a water too but I think I would have advised the mom when we returned home to overpack the lunch box next time

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Why would it be the school's responsibility to supply water for these children on a field trip? Are the teachers and chaperones supposed to pull a wagon behind them with a jug of water and cups? It is the parents' responsibility to pack adequate drinks for their children, and that means more than one juice box if the trip is outdoors for an extended period of time. And what kind of a place doesn't have any water fountains? My guess is that there were some. Almost everyplace has water fountains outside the restrooms.

Most often on field trips--the childrens pack lunch is kept in a separate area. Depending on where you are going--it either stays on the bus until needed or it is carted to where the lunch will be eaten and the group comes at its specified time to eat it (my observations of school groups for field trips we have taken in Florida).

Packing adequate drinks doesn't solve the problem if the children do not have access to them. The school should adequately inform the parents of what is needed and if water is needed and they don't communicate that, they should indeed provide that water or easy access to it. (and yes I have seen groups tote a wagon with one of those HUGE igloo water dispensers with cups. Problem solved. )

 

[disykat]

your strong feelings are fine, but they seem to have left you jaded: assuming a well meaning parent is irritated with you or acting out of feeling sorry for your son - negetive motivations rather than purely wanting to do something nice...wow. I just can't understand someone taking such a nice gesture and twisting into something like this - add to that the fact that the zoo mom couldn't have possibly known your take on the situation, so couldn't have possibly known they were doing anything wrong.....

I'm sorry my strong feelings have upset you so. I did not assume parent was irritated with me. I simply took that stance based on the OP, which was a parent upset with parents who don't send money. Add to that the post from someone who said that field trips weren't fun without the extras. From that, I think it's a possibility that parent was irritated with me for not sending money, just as I was irritated at them for spending money on my child.

I don't get why it's so upsetting to you that I dared to be irritated that someone bought my child something when I had sent no money. It's just how I feel. I thought we were posting opinions here.

 

[disykat]

if the school says no money - that is fine...if they allow it I see no problem with well meaning parents buying small treats or helping out with kids where parents forgot to send in money or couldn't - I prefer to do the nice thing, although I understand in your family it is not viewed that way.....

As you can see from the poll, I am not alone in my feelings that money is not necessary on many field trips.

 

[rie'smom]

I only give my daughter money if it's allowed and it usuallt isn't. They bring drinks and munchies on their field trips so that's not a problem.

 

[lowie]

I also have to add, that as a parent I had my child come home once and tell me that someone bought them things. It irritated me. He should have known better because he very specifically was NOT given money and already had special snacks in his lunchbag that I had sent for him. I understand that it's hard for a kid to resist, but I thought the parent should have known better.

Please know that while it might be "fun" for you, the parent was not expecting it. As the parent, it is THIER perogative to decide whether they are going to teach their child that fun is dependent upon spending extra money.

really, i feel that if you have such strong views on it, then you shouldn't allow your child to be supervised by another kids parents. there should be some level of trust when you send your kid out there with someone you don't know.

 

[lowie]

To the OP - honestly, I would have bought the kid a water too but I think I would have advised the mom when we returned home to overpack the lunch box next time

only one problem there... the lunches were waiting in the cars in the parking lot and even if the child had extra drinks they were out of our reach.

and about the lack of water fountains. we were at a 'yesteryear village' you know the kind with a blacksmith and one room school house. it was (unfortunately) attached to the county fair. the fountains were located in the fair area and we were not allowed to go in there.

lastly, I'm going to talk to the principal about maybe banning gift shops on trips. on top of all the other issues with this, they were selling candy cigarettes and MANY of the kids (from all different schools there) were pretending to smoke with them!

 

[Chattyaholic]

I haven't chaperoned a school field trip in many years, but when my DS and DD were in school I chaperoned a lot and I don't recall ever spending any money on other kids. Usually the field trips were already paid for and they brought sack lunches, so no money was really needed. If we did stop at a McDonalds or something I don't remember any kids not having money to eat. Unless they got money from the teacher.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

I'm sorry my strong feelings have upset you so. I did not assume parent was irritated with me. I simply took that stance based on the OP, which was a parent upset with parents who don't send money. Add to that the post from someone who said that field trips weren't fun without the extras. From that, I think it's a possibility that parent was irritated with me for not sending money, just as I was irritated at them for spending money on my child.

I don't get why it's so upsetting to you that I dared to be irritated that someone bought my child something when I had sent no money. It's just how I feel. I thought we were posting opinions here.

I'm not upset - not at all - just making observations - it seemed to me you were overly upset with the situation and assuming negetive motivations where people were just being nice.

I was simply posting my opinions as well and never said you had no right to.

 

[Wishing on a star]

and about the lack of water fountains. we were at a 'yesteryear village' you know the kind with a blacksmith and one room school house. it was (unfortunately) attached to the county fair. the fountains were located in the fair area and we were not allowed to go in there.

Ummmm, so were there no restrooms in that section either????
Sorry, but I find it hard to imagine restroom facilities without water available.


While the children may have been thirsty, the opportunity to have a drink with their lunch would have helped.

Or was there no water or drinks available where the children had lunch either? (which I would also have a hard time believing)

It is up to the school to be responsible that the children have lunch and a drink. If they did not, then your complaint is definitely with the school, not parents who do not want their little kids throwing money around.

As long as that is taken care of, then I see NO reason why you should 'always feel compelled' or obligated to end up buying things for the children. Perhaps this is your own personal difference of opinion or 'issue'???

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

As you can see from the poll, I am not alone in my feelings that money is not necessary on many field trips.

never argued that..and I clearly stated that I have no problems with no money being sent....it does clear up some problems as far as fairness and forgetful parents. I have no problem with that issue at all. and..technically, the poll asks what people have DONE, not whether or not ithey think money should be sent...the poll doesn't say anything regarding necessity or whther it SHOULD be done...and I doubt there are that many parents that feel as strongly as you that it would lead them to make such negetive assumptions and see others motivations as anything other than just being nice or helpful

I have spent money on other kids - so I voted that way - if the poll asked should money be sent in - I might vote no - because it breaks my heart to see the kids without - nad that would make it more fair - but I don't think a stop in the gift shop is the end of the world either....

My only issue, again, was with your over-reaction to someone doing something nice for your child and, again, your negetive assumptions.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I'm constantly surprised that parents do not even send their kid on a field trip with enough money to buy a drink!

Ummmm, no I do not send money with my child.
If the field trip will involve drinks or snacks for the children, it is specified in the permission slip, and is included in the cost of the field trip.

Lunch, and a drink with lunch are always included thru the cafeteria, or the child may pack a lunch. Once when they did have happy meals at McDonalds, they did figure the cost in with the price for the field trip.

I HATE it when people consider little early elementary aged children as marketing opportunities.
As a parent, if I take my child somewhere, I can make the decision whether to go into the gift shop and spend money or not. I do not need the school district to push that on my child when I am not there.

 

[taximomfor4]

I voted that I never send money. But here is my disclaimer: I never send money unless the permission slip says they can BRING money. (That only happened one time ever, out of many, many field trips, between the 3 school-age kids I have).

The permission slip has a line for "other", where the teacher can request.

Each of my kids has had at least 2 field trips to the zoo. I have never sent a penny. They had their packed lunches, and for an extra drink mid-day, they got cups of free water at a concession stand. That way, there are not "haves" and "have nots." I

Beth

 

[taximomfor4]

Some schools have resorted to stopping field trips altogether or restricting them to a cost of $5 or less (try finding a field trip in that range). I think her compromise was excellent.

To the OP - honestly, I would have bought the kid a water too but I think I would have advised the mom when we returned home to overpack the lunch box next time

Our kids' school did the no field trips at all thing for a few years. In fact, they have just got a couple field trips they are allowing now -- the Kindergarten zoo trip (with NO extra money), and the 5th graders take a tour of our county's historical sites.

Beth

 

[Hannathy]

I have a question for those who buy only their group something, How is the teacher supposed to answer and deal with the other students when they say why did Julie's group get hot chocolate and we didn't? How come I couldn't be in her group? I had money but my chaperone said we weren't supposed to buy anything? Kids talk so the whole class will know. My DD's first grade teacher had to deal with such a situation and she was very angry at the Mom who bought only her group hot chocolate. It also made the rest of us chaperone's look bad because we followed the rules. I mean I certainly could have afforded 5 cups but not 90 so I didn't.