School Field Trips

[lowie]

Today I chaperoned a school field trip for my DS6. I chaperone EVERY field trip either of my kids go on. I pay for myself and my child, i supply my time away from work, gas for my car and mileage on my car.

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

I end up with anywhere from 3 to 5 children plus my child for each trip and every time i feel compelled to spend additional money for kids who didn't bring money. Mainly it's for small trinkets in gift shops. but like today i had a kindergartener who was whining from thirst. how could i NOT buy her a drink. and no, there weren't any water fountains, i looked!

I know nobody is twisting my arm to buy them anything, but I feel terrible just buying for my own child.

 

[JoyG]

I'm a teacher and I never send money with my own kids on field trips.

With my own class, we always have a bag lunch with us and I totally avoid gift shops with the kids. There are too many kids who can't afford to bring extra money...just raising the money for the admission was hard enough on them.

Occasionally, I'll have a chaperone who buys things for the kids in their group but I try to discourage that b/c it's not fair to the rest of the class.

 

[flipturngirl]

I do not remember having to raise money for the trips. The PTA always bought the stuff and we always had to bring a sack lunch or the school would pack you one at your expencie. I would not bring money with me because people would steal it and the teacher said not to bring money. The only time people should bring money is if the teacher says so

 

[Hannathy]

I couldn't vote because there is not the answer I would post.

1. I never buy anything for my child if they were not supposed to bring money.
2. If they were told they could bring money I send some.
3. I do not buy some kids something and not all of them.

Our field trips always spell out if there will be an opportunity to go to the gift shop or not, if they aren't supposed to bring money I do not buy anyone anything. What was the deal were they to bring drinks? If they were to bring lunch then you and me and my kid drink what you brought or nothing. I hate parents who buy kids things on field trips in front of other kids. Did you buy every child there a drink? The teacher in charge should have on the permission sheet what they should bring and then thats the rule. If they could bring money then I give my child what I would have given them if I was there or not and if someone didn't bring money oh well.

 

[disykat]

I do not send money, nor do I spend money when I chaperone. When it's a class I'm teaching I specifically tell them to bring their lunches/drinks/whatever and NOT to bring money and that there will be no visiting the gift shop or snack bar. I have never been on a field trip where money was needed, but it seems like there's always a parent who buys their group ice cream and it just causes bad feelings all around.

If it were an overnight trip or something, of course you need money, but for a trip to a museum, park, zoo, etc. I see no need for money.

 

[pearlieq]

In general we were not allowed to bring money and I really think it's better that way. There's nothing in the gift shops that the kids can't live without. Money gets lost, stolen, and creates a divide between the haves and the have-nots.

I think it's best if the group just focuses on the event at hand.

 

[lowie]

I hate parents who buy kids things on field trips in front of other kids. Did you buy every child there a drink?

ouch, hate is a pretty serious emotion.

and, no, i didn't buy every kid in kindergarten through 2nd grade a drink. we were in an outdoor venue in the south florida heat and i had a whining child who was thirsty. i bought each kid in my group a drink and it wasn't flaunted in front of other kids as we were exploring on our own.

i wish they would ban everyone from the gift shops. that would make it way easier.

 

[Beth76]

Well my son's only in Kindergarten. He hasn't had any field trips this year but I doubt I would send money with him. Usually any money is collected in advance with the permission slip. He had a few field trips in preschool and that's how they did it. I chaperoned one field trip and no one was buying anthing from the gift shop.

 

[mjkacmom]

I've never been on a field trip (I have 5 children, and 2 still aren't school-aged), but the only time I send money is if the school says it's okay because they're going into the gift shop (which I hate, since some kids bring no money, and some lots of money - I don't buy my kids stuff from the gift shop when we go to these places as a family). They do bring their lunch, and a drink.

 

[Blondy876]

The school I teach at and the school my girls go to both do not allow the children to bring money on a field trip. Too many parents that flip out when the money cannot be accounted for so they simply don't allow it. I am busy enough (and so is the chaperone) on a field trip that I cannot also be an accurate accountant. Not to mention the parents that simply cannot afford to send in the money. Imagine how that child feels as his friends buy junk or candy at the gift shop. Children do not go on field trips to buy gift shop crap, they go for the educational experience.

 

[LBAK]

In our school district they are told not to bring money and to bring a bag lunch. The exception was when they went to a broadway play. They were allowed to bring money so I sent some for that.

 

[aprilgail2]

I always send money with her on a field trip and the one time I forgot she went into her own wallet and took a ten of her own money with her. When I go it drives me nuts when paretns don't send money, we went to the bronx zoo and only half the kids had spending money, which meant I bought them all tickets to go on the train tour thing and the sky ride tour with my own money. We didn't have to go on it but whats the fun in goign on a trip if you can't do any of the fun things. Most class trip forms have notices on the bottom that say "send extra money for the gift shop" etc...so the parents are aware but just don't send it. We are going on a class trip to the circus in March and I know my daughter will want soda and peanuts or popcorn like we always get and if the other kids don't have money for it they can share hers but I am not buying them all drinks, popcorn and peanuts.

 

[chamonix]

why didn't the school supply or bring drinks? Especially in the "Florida heat" to a place with no drinking fountains? That's crazy, and ridiculously unprepared, and I can't believe a school would do that! I would be furious at the lack of foresight and planning on the part of the school!

If nothing else, a list should go home before the trip stating what is needed to be brought: water bottle, $ for gift shop, whatever. (and the school should still bring water, lol)

I have been on field trips where the gift shop was declared off limits, and I have been on ones where the kids were told they could bring $--often they are told a limit--say, $5. Some kids parents chose not to send any as they didn't want their kids to buy crap, and that is a valid choice for their family. (and not something you should "undo")

I don't think you should feel obligated to buy kids gift shop stuff. If you do, that might be nice, but if you are bugged by it, don't do it. Now, as for water--see above, lol. That is truly a serious issue and the school is negligent for not providing drinks in the scenario you describe. As I said, I would not let that one rest, the school would be hearing from me about the safety of the children on similar field trips in the future.

I hear you though, in general, as a mom who has never missed a field trip in 7 years, and a girl scout leader who also knows no matter what list you send home, kids will show up with no water bottle, and dressed inappropriately for the weather, etc.....I feel your pain. Usually I just get sad/mad when I wonder why parents do this to their kids, and why they can't be bothered to make sure they are taken care of, and why they don't take off a day once a year to accompany their kid on a field trip.

 

[Becky2005]

You are allowed to bring money on field trips?!?!?!

Around here that is WAY, WAY frowned upon! As a matter of fact, I seem to recall it expressely forbidden on most field trips.

Even when we went to the zoo that wants as many parents that want to come, they tell the kids to pack their lunches.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I was typically given spending money when I went on field trips--but not all parents do and there is nothing wrong with that. It is the school's responsibility to set out what is needed for a trip:

attire
a bag lunch (drink if necessary)
if an extra/snack or drink will be needed
etc

souvenirs while special--some parents just don't see the need for them. I take my daughter on many field trips with our homeschool group and I do not purchase trinkets for her on every visit.


Since you say you were in S. Florida--I think the teacher should have realized the need for extra liquids and either made it known where water fountains were (no idea where you trip was???). I've seen some groups on field trips just bring one of those HUGE jugs of water and cups--that way if a child gets thirsty in the heat...water is available. I witness this on many of our field trips. Perhaps you could make that suggestion to the teacher for next time.

 

[highland3]

I try to go one one or two trips a year. Usually there is no need for extra money... but sometimes....

 

[mytwotinks]

I always send money with her on a field trip and the one time I forgot she went into her own wallet and took a ten of her own money with her. When I go it drives me nuts when paretns don't send money, we went to the bronx zoo and only half the kids had spending money, which meant I bought them all tickets to go on the train tour thing and the sky ride tour with my own money. We didn't have to go on it but whats the fun in goign on a trip if you can't do any of the fun things. Most class trip forms have notices on the bottom that say "send extra money for the gift shop" etc...so the parents are aware but just don't send it. We are going on a class trip to the circus in March and I know my daughter will want soda and peanuts or popcorn like we always get and if the other kids don't have money for it they can share hers but I am not buying them all drinks, popcorn and peanuts.

You would buy your daughter a snack and let her eat it in front of the other kids who don't have any? I don't think I'd do that. I really dislike it (Maybe even hate but I don't want any trouble!) when the mom's that are there spend money on their kids. A school feild trip is obviously not going to be an all out luxury trip! I wouldn't buy my kid or even my group something because that isn't what the teacher planned for the feild trip. I think I'd rather teach my kid to appreciate what the school was giving them and not whine about what they aren't getting!

 

[chamonix]

I wanted to add a story this made me think of....how awfully negligent parents can be:
My friend is a public school teacher for 4th-5th grade. At the end of the year they take a trip (2 hours each way on a bus to St Louis) to the zoo. Of course, they have to get a signed permission slip from the parents to take the kids. One girl didn't get a permission slip returned. They sent it home with her every day, told her to talk to her "mom" (and I use the term loosely) and I believe also made several calls to contact the parents about this. On the day of the trip--still no signed slip. They called repeatedly, one teacher even drove to the house to see if anyone would answer the door! No response. The poor little girl had to stay at the school by herself, watch the rest of the kids drive away on the bus to the zoo. All because her mom is a loser.

Even worse, the public schools here are attendance centers, so her entire SCHOOL was gone on the trip--she was the only one left in the entire building, except for the secretaries. Oh, and I think (hope!) they left the school psychologist behind to spend the day with her.

Some parents make me sick. That little girl will NEVER forget that day. (and not in a good way)

 

[daisyduck123]

Hi!

1st grade teacher here....we've taken 3 trips already this year.

2 of them, we ate a late lunch at school when we got back from the trip.

For the other trip, everyone was told to bring a bag lunch & drink...of course, one boy forgot. I bought him a hot dog when we were there.

We NEVER let the kids bring any spending money for gift shops (we state this in the permission slip notice & tell the chaperones not to take their groups to the gift shops) & NEVER have them buy lunch on the trip. If we will be eating on the trip, then we all bring bag lunches.

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

I must say that i have no other knowledge about this parent aside from what was posted, but could itbe a possibility that the mother didn't want her going to a zoo because maybe she believe's that animals belong in their own enviornment, not in a zoo. Maybe there was a logical answer other than her being a "loser". I don't know. I really want to beleive that there isn't a parent that would make their child stay behind while the whole school goes on a trip. I know i am wrong about that, but i always try to find some good at least for the child's sake.

I wanted to add a story this made me think of....how awfully negligent parents can be:
My friend is a public school teacher for 4th-5th grade. At the end of the year they take a trip (2 hours each way on a bus to St Louis) to the zoo. Of course, they have to get a signed permission slip from the parents to take the kids. One girl didn't get a permission slip returned. They sent it home with her every day, told her to talk to her "mom" (and I use the term loosely) and I believe also made several calls to contact the parents about this. On the day of the trip--still no signed slip. They called repeatedly, one teacher even drove to the house to see if anyone would answer the door! No response. The poor little girl had to stay at the school by herself, watch the rest of the kids drive away on the bus to the zoo. All because her mom is a loser.

Even worse, the public schools here are attendance centers, so her entire SCHOOL was gone on the trip--she was the only one left in the entire building, except for the secretaries. Oh, and I think (hope!) they left the school psychologist behind to spend the day with her.

Some parents make me sick. That little girl will NEVER forget that day. (and not in a good way)