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There has been alot of talk around here about field trips lately. So what is your idea of a good field trip? How much is a reasonable amount to pay for one? What kind of transportation and how many chaperones do you need?
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I debated whether I should even voice my opinion about this, and then realized - we all have opinions, and I know that I enjoy reading what people have to say, whether I agree with them of not! So here goes. . .
As a teacher, I have to say that I dread field trips. I have had very few positive experiences with them. The best ones have been fairly local and cheap (or free) without any parent chaperones. Why, you may ask? Because all children act differently (and I'm sorry to say, but often worse) around their parents. It's very difficult for me to know whether to step in and discipline when a child misbehaves around a parent - and I've heard many parents say that it is hard for them to know whether they should discipline their children on field trips or leave it to the teacher.
Almost every field trip involves nagging the few days before the trip- contacting some parents several times to return the permission slip. I have even been on the phone moments before the bus was supposed to leave, begging a parent to let their child attend the field trip with her class. Many parents refuse to send even a dollar or two - and I have had to cover many children's fees. After the field trip, I usually receive at least one parental complaint about something - the child thought it was boring, their child didn't eat all of their sack lunch, their child did not have enough drink breaks, they didn't think they had enough supervision, etc.
In a nutshell, my experience has been that it is a lot of work to plan, a lot of time is wasted nagging parents for permission slips and money, having parent chaperones often makes the children's behavior worse, and the parent complaints are very disheartening after spending so much time planning an educational field trip.
I know I am not a parent, and the last thing I will do is pretend to be an expert. (We are hoping that we are blessed with a child someday, and when/if that happens, I know I will be clueless about how to parent!) That's just my two cents. Thanks for letting me share!
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Your opinion is certainally valued!!! I actually have to agree with you. I have been a preschool teacher and field trips are a pain. I prefer not to accomany my children on filed trips also, because I know they behave better for the teacher WITHOUT me there. I think that the similer field trips are usually best. The walk down the street for a tour of a local bakery or such. My kids school always takes them to a play at the local college and they always enjoy that and it is free. It involved riding the school bus there with their teachers and that is it.
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I really don't like field trips at all. It's my feeling and experience that it is hard to keep track of that many children off school grounds. There are extra safety risks involved as well. I have gone on several trips as a chaparone. I go especially on my oldest son's field trips because he has a tendency to lag or wander. Teachers have their hands full trying to keep track of that many students, I don't like the idea of my child being left behind or wandering off. It can happen. Last year, I chaparoned with a substitute teacher on a field trip to a city an hour away. The bus was leaving the parking lot before we had accounted for all of the children, our count was one short. I had to stand up at yell at the bus driver to stop because we didn't know if all the children were there. Her reply, "If we missed one, we'll just go around the block." It turned out that the kids had just changed seats. But what if one had been missing and the bus circled a city block before returning. What could happen to a panic stricken child in that amount of time. I was livid!!!!
I think if the school wants to have extra curricular entertainment, it should be brought to the school or done very locally, such as visiting local fire departments, visiting the local high school to see the students put on a play. I am very uncomfortable having my children busses to the city to see performances and such. We visited the zoo last year as well. The trip was okay, but I was in charge of my son and two other children one boy, one girl they were in kindergarten. It was time that the all needed to use the bathroom. So I had to send the boys in their bathroom and the little girl in the girls bathroom alone. I was not comfortable with that. If I go somewhere with my own children, I don't send them in a public bathroom alone at that age. How did I know who was in there, if they were playing around or whatever. I have often thought of expressing my conserns to the school regarding field trips, who knows, I still may. It's not a money factor with me, it's a saftey one and frankly, most of the trips are not of an educational nature. I just find them unnecessary.
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I think a good field trip is one that is somehow connected to what the kids are learning. Or something like a play, classical concert etc
I don't really have an 'unreasonable' in terms of how much to pay for one, I've never had to pay out what I thought was unreasonable.
I like the kids and chaperones to be bused together. The number of chaperones depends on the event, the number of kids, the age of the kids etc
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The best field trip is the one I don't have to go on! This is the thing, There are not many places around here that I have not taken my child. So, when field trips come around my kids always ask do I have to go? I have been there. I know that there are kids who don't go anywhere. So, take them and let my kid stay home.
Last year my ds went to an Indian interpretive center over an hour away. I couldn't go. But when I asked him what he learned. All he could say was the bus ride was long and his lunch was good. I like walking field trips. We live near a creek and the forest , I think hands on mini field trips are great for science class etc.
We do like the fun reward field trips. At the end of the school year each class Either goes to the swimming pool, bowling alley or roller rink Just for fun!
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Originally Posted by Oregano
I think a good field trip is one that is somehow connected to what the kids are learning. Or something like a play, classical concert etc
I don't really have an 'unreasonable' in terms of how much to pay for one, I've never had to pay out what I thought was unreasonable.
I like the kids and chaperones to be bused together. The number of chaperones depends on the event, the number of kids, the age of the kids etc
I agree with all of this...
I do have to say though that I had to pay $15 for Aurora to take a trip somewhere one time (don't remember where ), but at the time it seemed like an outrageous amount of money for what they were doing.
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We just got a note home that the first grade class will be going on a field trip to Buffalo in the spring to see a play. We live in a very small town and going to the the city is not something I look forward to myself and certainly not for my child. My son tends to wander and be easily distracted and his class as a whole is a handful. I don't want him going to the city without me. I sent a note in today expressing my concerns and asked if I could chaperone the trip. If I can, I will still dread it, but will go and let my ds. If I can't, honestly, I'm not sure.....
I wish they wouldn't schedual them for so far away, especially for this age group. grrrr