UPDATE! Is DD's teacher nuts? Field trip to NYC?!

[Tinijocaro]

DH took 20 high school jazz band students to Japan in June for a 10 day tour of 4 major cities. It cost each student less than $2000.00 after fundraising. You dd's trip sounds awfully expensive. Those types of trips should be saved for when they are older kids get som much so young these days- nothing's special anymore!

Jackie

 

[froglady]

The school my children attended had an annual 6th grade trip to DC, which was around $700. BUT, you knew from kindergarten on that this trip was coming up; the school always made a big deal about saying good-bye to the class at chapel before they left, and welcoming them back when they returned. They also sold fried chicken at lunch every Monday to raise money, and also had donut sales periodically. Every child got to go, regardless of financial situation, as this was a private school with scholarships and endowments. At one time they limited the number of parents who could chaperone, but now allow any parent to go.

DD went to NYC twice with her drama/art teachers, but she was in HS, it was a small group, and NO parents went along; just the teachers and their spouses. It was purely optional, and did not reflect on their grades. They spent the time going to plays, musicals, workshops, and touring art museums and galleries.

 

[EthansMom]

I agree --- $800 pp and a trip 1000 miles away in a bus is outrageous for 8-10 year-olds. I would be gently explaining to my daughter that she will have to wait until she gets older before going to NYC.

It seems to me that there ought to be a learning opportunity closer to home for the kids. And that's exactly what I would tell their nutty teacher.

 

[hugsquared]

Jeez Louise...I got a trip to the Meritta Bread Company in 3rd grade and got to eat a piece of warm bread right out of the oven. Guess I went to the wrong school. I think it cost us $5 and that included the sack lunch with warm milk that the school supplied. New York City at that age yes, I can just see the look on my parents face now.

 

[LoveWDW]

There should have been a meeting with all the parents to talk all of this out. I hope it works out for you.

 

[tw1nsmom]

I think it was very inappropriate for the teacher to tell the students about this trip before runing it by the parents.

I don't like overnight field trips at all for that matter. I think it excludes the lower income kids, and that's just not appropriate in a public school.

Isn't there somewhere nearby that has the road shows from Broadway? Why couldn't they go to a show like that locally. They could probably even arrange for a backstage tour there.

New York IS a great place to bring kids. I went in 6th grade and we're bringing our kids (5 yrs old)down to the city next month. However, we only live about 3 1/2 hours from the city. When I went as a kid, we left early in the morning and were back later in the evening. There's no way my mom could have afforded that kind of trip, and no way that she would have allowed me to go overnight without her.

 

[Daxx]

I am all for field trips ... great educational experiences if/when used correctly. I teach Kdg. and our parents and/or admin. pays for field trips. B/c we don't have a lot of money and can't be overly extravagant, we have to walk to all field trips. Therefore, ours are limited to the local art gallery, supermarket tour, historical society and college campus which has a major theatre division and they bring in loads of "child friendly" plays and musicals for the little ones. I am not complaining about this ... I feel we're very fortunate that we get to go to those places. Better than not going anywhere at all!

Although none of our field trips have cost over $5.00 and I only need to seek out administration approval, I do feel that there should be parents meetings before any major field trip. Our 8th graders go on their "class trip" -- usually to Ohio R&R Hall of Fame ... and they still call in the parents to discuss it w/them before announcing it to the kids. With that teacher announcing the trip to the kids, talk about getting kids hopes up. I am sure that there might be parents who either couldn't afford it or couldn't take the time off of work to accompany their child. I feel bad for those kids who really want to go but will not be able to for whatever reason b/c it's now put on the parents to look like the "bad guy" when they have to say no.

 

[laurie31]

Isn't there somewhere nearby that has the road shows from Broadway? Why couldn't they go to a show like that locally. They could probably even arrange for a backstage tour there.

Ironically enough, YES! Birmingham is only a 15 minute drive away and they have a series of Broadway plays on tour each year. This year the "crown jewel" in the series is The Lion King. It's playing RIGHT NOW to rave reviews. There was even a big article in the paper about how the material to make the costumes is custom-dyed to match each actor's skin color and how elaborate the costumes are, etc. This would be an awesome show for the kids to see.

I don't remember if I mentioned it earlier, but it only costs $25 for the whole year to be in Drama. This includes costumes, props, everything. Even low-income parents can afford this. I'm sure they never dreamed they might be asked to shell out $1600 and take a week off work

The trip is planned for Spring Break, so they wouldn't miss any school, but what on earth would I do with my other child? DH can't get off work for a week to stay home with her. However, I think it's hopefully going to be a moot point. I'll let you know if anything gets added (or perhaps taken away is a better term) at next week's practice.

She did have some written information, so it's not just DD exaggerating the facts. A good thought, as kids are good at that sort of thing, but it's not the case this time.

Laurie

 

[MELSMICE]

I think a field trip to NYC for that age group is a litte much. Honestly, (& this is just my opinion) I think field trips & class trips have gotten a little extreme.

My oldest DD (16) came home the other day & told me that the C1 Spanish was going to Puerto Rico & there were 2 spots left - she wanted to take one. I told her that I was not sending her to Puerto Rico on a school trip - no way, no how!

She hasn't mentioned it since, so it either wasn't that important to her or she realized that I meant what I said!

 

[KrnB]

That would be a fabulous field trip - if she were in the high school drama club. The Lion King in Birmingham that you mentioned would be much better suited for kids that age (not to mention it is an AWESOME show!) - they'd learn just as much there as they would in NYC.

I can see that kind of trip if you lived in New England.

That's also insane to expect that parents can afford to take that kind of time off. That really places parents in an awkward situation with their children, making you feel guilty for telling your child "no." That's part of why this would be better for older kids - they don't need the same kind of supervision that younger ones do.

 

[becjlek]

the teacher was way out of line on this one. I can't believe the administration okay'd this. Are other parents upset too?

 

[AdventurerKat]

I think your daughter is way too young for a trip like that. High school kids, sure. Middle school kids, maybe. But elementary students going 1,000 miles on a bus to NYC? NO WAY!

 

[Pin Wizard]

Wow! I'd have a major problem with that for a few reasons. Number one being they didn't discuss it with the parents! I'd be on the phone with the teacher AND the principal.

 

[Tinkbell]

I think the teacher could find some professional theater closer to where you live. I think they are just a little too young for such a big outing.

 

[Pooh93]

Seems way over the top to me, especially if the parents haven't been given information on the "possibility" of taking such a trip. I think I'd be finding out what's going on as quickly as I could. Imho, I think 9 is way too young. This sounds like something graduating seniors would try to do for a class trip.

 

[lbgraves]

Neither of my kids would be going on that trip. It is way too far & too much money at that age IMO. You aren't being a mean mommy...just a caring one.

 

[charabby]

My eldest dd went on a trip similar to this (but no bus) when she was, uh. . . 7. But she went with her dance team and it was Thursday through Sunday. We're in MI, so I'm not sure of the distance comparison. Anyway, parents had to go too. But our trip was much less expensive. I think it was right around $300 each - included lodging, all meals but lunch, two broadway shows, and some other tours. We were responsible for our travel. So in the end it probably cost about $500, plus souvenirs for a total of $1000.

Although I think the teacher presented the idea in a totally inappropriate way and what she has proposed is not realistic (whole week - 1000 miles on a bus - telling the kids first - crazy! ), I have to disagree that 9 is 'way too young'. My dd and her dance teammates had a fabulous time and got a lot out of it. She is looking forward to going back this spring (the studio repeats this trip periodically b/c it's such a perfect fit for dancers) and is not jaded as many people think this experience makes kids. There are many world experiences she'll have to wait for and I just don't see anything wrong with trips like this for elementary age kids. But that drama teacher is overreaching and has planned very poorly. I agree with that.

 

[lajones81]

I would love to know what happens with this story! Keep us posted!

As a teacher myself, I can't imagine asking parents to shell out $800. Yikes!

 

[Patch'sD]

A trip to disney Ok, Trip to NYC nothing to do for Kids. Broadway, Empire State Building, Ground Zero, Statue of Liberty, MoMA, Guggenheim, Museum of Natural History, Intrepid, Wall Street, Yankee Staduim, Shea Stadium, Museum of Natural History, Museum of the Moving Image, Central Park, Rockefeller Center, Radio City, Bronx Zoo...... Ah The Mouse Culture.

 

[laurie31]

DD has drama on Thursdays - I'll let you all know what happens then.

Just to clarify - I do NOT think 9 is too young to experience NYC. We could go as a family and I'm sure we would all love it. My number one objection is that this is a public school where over 50% of the kids are on free/reduced lunch. Drama team is ony $25 for the whole year. Parents were not expecting an extra $1600 thrown in there. It's different when it's a smaller group from an activity outside of school (kids who take acting lessons, dance, etc).

What I meant by objecting less to WDW is that it's
A - MUCH MUCH MUCH closer. I would have problems with 50 young kids going 1000 miles to ANYWHERE. I wouldn't want them to go to Disneyland, EuroDisney, Yellowstone, Yosemite, San Francisco, Chicago, etc. All wonderful places, but too far for an elementary school field trip.

B- I feel there is a huge potential for a child to get separated from the group in a group that size, no matter whether they're visiting a local museum, the zoo, Disney, or where ever. It would be a much bigger scarier deal to be lost in NYC than to be lost in WDW if you're only 8. WDW is at least a contained area...it's not likely a lost child would leave the park. How would a lost child find the group again in a large city, whether it's New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, etc?

and C- I was halfway joking due to the forum I'm posting in

Laurie