WWYD? School Field Trip

[Tinijocaro]

Why not?

Because common sense tells us that it would be rude to not address this with the teacher first. She was kind enough to email about this and clarification is needed. You're a teacher? How did you feel when parents didn't even give you a chance to resolve something? Most principals worth their salt will ask the parent if they talked to the teacher first.

 

[DisneyHardin]

Because common sense tells us that it would be rude to not address this with the teacher first. She was kind enough to email about this and clarification is needed. You're a teacher? How did you feel when parents didn't even give you a chance to resolve something? Most principals worth their salt will ask the parent if they talked to the teacher first.

Exactly. I'm a teacher and if a parent ever goes to our principal with an issue, the very first thing she asks is "what did the teacher say when you talked to her about this?"

 

[Missy1961]

Don't pay. Your child did not go. Decisions involving your children and their activities and their health are up to you as parent. The school should take your word as parent in charge of the child.

No one made any decisions for the OP's child but the parent. I'm not sure where you're getting that from.

If the parent said their child was going, and the school paid for his admission ticket, then the parent owes the school the money. End of story. And I'd call the teacher rather than email so we could clear everything up. I'd also inform her that the online system stinks.

 

[Kellykins1218]

How hard is it to email back asking if they pre-paid for the trip? If they did, then OP would owe since the school was told the child would attend. If they paid at the venue then they would owe nothing. It's really not that difficult to sort out.

 

[Wendy31]

I'm not sure why a big deal needs to be made out of the teacher's email & why a simple email reply just can't be sent in response instead -

"____________________ (son's name) did not attend the field trip since he was sick that day. If a ticket/fee was purchased in advance for him, please let me know if we need to pay. Thanks!!"

The ONLY concern I might have is if the teacher wasn't aware that the OP's son was out sick on the field trip day because I would hope a teacher would be more aware of which students are present and which students are absent. However, in this case, I think I'd just give her the benefit of the doubt & assume she's trying to "close out" the field trip & make sure her payment records are accurate.

If tickets were purchased based on who returned "yes" field trip permission slips & the facility charged even for "no shows," then I think the OP would need to pay for her son's ticket.

 

[Lilacs4Me]

Update - Taking into consideration the circumstances around my son's health issues, the school is waiving the fee since he didn't go. The admission to the museum was free, and the bus costs are the same regardless of how many students are on each bus. There are 5-5th grade classes and they took 3 busses. The other part of the money was for a group lunch (they ordered pizzas for the kids when they got back to school) which he obviously didn't partake in, so we are all good.

Thanks everyone!

 

[Lilacs4Me]

How hard is it to email back asking if they pre-paid for the trip? If they did, then OP would owe since the school was told the child would attend. If they paid at the venue then they would owe nothing. It's really not that difficult to sort out.

It's not hard AT ALL. I was simply asking which direction IN the reply people would take if they got a similar email.

it's a message board....it really is OK to present new topics for conversation/opinions! That's what keeps the board interesting and non-stagnant!

 

[cabanafrau]

Update - Taking into consideration the circumstances around my son's health issues, the school is waiving the fee since he didn't go. The admission to the museum was free, and the bus costs are the same regardless of how many students are on each bus. There are 5-5th grade classes and they took 3 busses. The other part of the money was for a group lunch (they ordered pizzas for the kids when they got back to school) which he obviously didn't partake in, so we are all good.

Thanks everyone!

Glad you have a good resolution -- and more importantly, hoping the health issues get a GREAT resolution and soon!

 

[Kellykins1218]

It's not hard AT ALL. I was simply asking which direction IN the reply people would take if they got a similar email.

it's a message board....it really is OK to present new topics for conversation/opinions! That's what keeps the board interesting and non-stagnant!

Wow. Really? My comment was directed at all of the other responses saying that you should go over the teacher's head and were freaking out about something that wasn't as complicated as they were making it. You know...posting my opinion like you just said this board was for. Not sure why you felt the need to attack me for it?

 

[mummabear]

I think you should pay for it, you returned the slip advising you were going and accepting the $15 cost.

 

[sam_gordon]

Update - Taking into consideration the circumstances around my son's health issues, the school is waiving the fee since he didn't go. The admission to the museum was free, and the bus costs are the same regardless of how many students are on each bus. There are 5-5th grade classes and they took 3 busses. The other part of the money was for a group lunch (they ordered pizzas for the kids when they got back to school) which he obviously didn't partake in, so we are all good.

Thanks everyone!

I think you should pay for it, you returned the slip advising you were going and accepting the $15 cost.

Another example of where it pays to read to the end of the thread before posting.

 

[powellrj]

Thanks for updating us op! Glad everything worked out!

 

[Missy1961]

Update - Taking into consideration the circumstances around my son's health issues, the school is waiving the fee since he didn't go. The admission to the museum was free, and the bus costs are the same regardless of how many students are on each bus. There are 5-5th grade classes and they took 3 busses. The other part of the money was for a group lunch (they ordered pizzas for the kids when they got back to school) which he obviously didn't partake in, so we are all good.

Thanks everyone!

Good news. And very fair of them too.

 

[manning]

He didn't go and the trip wasn't paid for from you... Common sense says you owe nothing. I'd call the Principal and talk to him/her and explain that 1. the online system is crap and 2. your child was out with medical issues and wasn't going to be attending the trip anyway so 3. why are you being reached out to, to collect upon a "debt" that you don't owe.

Being a former teacher, I will go to bat for the teacher somewhat and hypothesize that perhaps the trip was paid for out of her department/classroom budget and the kids making their payments is reimbursing her classroom account, so if she's coming up short of breaking even, she's reaching out to those that there is no record of payment. This is just one possibility but there's only one way to find out, just call the school and talk to a member of the administration.

If there is any.

 

[Disney Doll]

I'd say call the teacher. If you RSVP'd yes but didn't send the money and he didn't go but they bought him a ticket in sfbvance based on your RSVP-ing yes, then I'd say you owe the $.

However if they didn't buy a ticket in advance and he didn't go, I'd probably just tell the teacher that.

 

[Lilacs4Me]

Wow. Really? My comment was directed at all of the other responses saying that you should go over the teacher's head and were freaking out about something that wasn't as complicated as they were making it. You know...posting my opinion like you just said this board was for. Not sure why you felt the need to attack me for it?

Oops! Sorry! I totally read that wrong and thought you were telling me it wasn't as hard as I was making it out to be. Thanks for clearing that up! My apologies

 

[Kellykins1218]

Oops! Sorry! I totally read that wrong and thought you were telling me it wasn't as hard as I was making it out to be. Thanks for clearing that up! My apologies

lol Thanks I was confused, too. It's all good.