Should I be upset?

[eliza61]

I think this is a minor incident. simple breakdown in communications.
1) son old enough to take a little heat.
2) teachers probably got quite a few volunteers and while a gracious email would have been nice, its understandable.
3) It's a class trip- in the grand scheme of things very minor.

I'd let it go and concentrate on keeping the lines of communications open so you don't miss any thing really important like confrences.

 

[DizBelle]

Is there anything to stop you from showing up at the holocaust museum on the same day?

 

[Michelle67]

I'm sorry you are disappointed about missing the trip, but honestly I would just let it go. It would have been nice if someone called to let you know they needed more info, but four messages with your son should have done the trick. If he were in K-3 it would be different, but by middle school he's old enough to either remember the message or write himself a note. I would leave it at his oversight, but I wouldn't punish him either, over missing a field trip as a parent. I know you really wanted to go, but it is your son's school field trip not yours. I don't mean that to sound snarky at all, truly. Since you were really interested, maybe you could plan a trip for your family or just the two of you. He'll be the expert and he can show you around the place.

 

[lulugirl]

Is there anything to stop you from showing up at the holocaust museum on the same day?

The possibility of embarrassing her son?

 

[goofyforlife]

Just imagine being that teacher and needing to send 300 emails reminding parents they need XYZ to go......
My DD went on this same trip in 6th grade. My DD grade has almost 400 students. 150 students were going at one time.

Yeah but the drivers license info was only needed for VOLUNTEERS....

It's doubtful even for a group of 150 that they had over 30-40 parents... Not hard to put together a simple mailing list.

We share the same fustration with teachers and school. They tell us the best way to reach them is by e-mail. Yet every time we've sent emails they never answer us.

 

[cabanafrau]

Let me preface my response by saying that I have a 34 y/o ds, a 32 y/o dd and a 15 y/o dd. So....been there, still doing it, so to speak.
Whom would I blame? My child. At the 8th grade level, it's time for them to take responsibility. If my child had been reminded of something four times but 'forgot' to mention it to me, I would have to assume that the child didn't feel nearly as strongly as I did about the situation.
Now...I'm going to say something, and I'm going to take some heat for it, but it's going to be said anyway....
This is your son's field trip, not yours. Yes, they asked for volunteers, and they obviously got enough without you. My dd's class went to DC last spring...the entire class, on 4 or 5 buses, made the 10 hr drive, and spent three nights there. They toured the Holocaust Museum, they were given instructions as to the expected behaviour. They understood the gravity of the Museum and the contents. They toured many other institutions as well.
Did any parents go? No. It was teacher led..no parents involved. I can't imagine why teachers aren't able to supervise a class field trip to DC...8th graders are old enough to 'self govern' their behaviour.

While I understand the OPs disappointment about not being included, it was not the schools responsibility to touch base with her. The responsibility was given to her son, who in turn dropped the ball. I know this is going to be an incredibly unpopular position but there you have it.

Amen to all of that ^^.

DD14 went on a school trip to DC last year with National Junior Honor Society. Teachers & administrators were the only chaperones. We were told when the trip was booked that depending on available seats on the bus, some parents might be able to join the group. When there weren't any seats available for parents, many were disappointed, most often for their own inability to separate from their child. This year I have a mom asking me if I recommend the trip for her child -- yes, very much so. She commented to me after the orientation meeting that she wished she could go herself -- just to enjoy the experience on her own behalf, not at all to do with her daughter. That I completely understand, they did some fabulous things I would love to do myself. 19 hours on a bus filled with 8th graders? No thank you.

IMO your son is the one to be aggravated with. I'd personally serve him up a whopping dose of his own medicine.

 

[goofy4tink]

The possibility of embarrassing her son?

Welllllll, she could show up and tell her son that she 'forgot' the class trip was that day!!!

 

[happygirl]

Welllllll, she could show up and tell her son that she 'forgot' the class trip was that day!!!

LMBO