I honestly don't think you can say that all these trips are totally unnecessary as far as their education is concerned. For example, A Level History students at my daughters school can go on a trip to Auschwitz - which is expensive - but I'm sure you will agree this is worthwhile and educationally beneficial. If the kids were off on a trip to Barbados to laze about on a beach for a fortnight I would agree but all the school trips at my daughters school are linked to different subjects/year groups topics or sporting activities.
Are we saying that because some can't afford to go, then no one should? In my opinion that is equally unfair.
We have also observed that there are quite well off parents who don't send their kids as they choose to spend their money on other things. That is also unfair to those children as their parents have different priorities. That's life I'm afraid, sad but true.
I agree with everything caddyclan has said.
School ski trips can give children the chance to try skiing, when perhaps their family either could not afford for all of them to go, or might not be interested in that type of holiday.
We are in a very similar situation, with a son that got an A in GCSE PE and is currently doing P.E for A level. He is a very talented skier and intends to go on to be an instructor and then on to whatever that leads to.
However he has never been on a ski holiday with the school as the cost of the trip would take two, possibly three of us on our own ski holiday, usually to France.
His school goes on a ski trip every two years. The last one was to America and the one going in March 2013 is going back to America, by popular demand from the pupils. They were asked if they wanted to go to America or Italy and America was the choice. They can fill all of the places, with no difficulty, in fact it is the most popular of all the trips organised by the school.
Other school trips that dont cost anywhere near as much, have not taken place, as there have not been enough pupils wanting to go. Twice we have sent deposits and have had them returned, as there were not enough pupils wanting to go. One was to go to Wimbeldon and the other a business studies trip to London, which was costing £650 for three days, so cost does not appear to be a factor.
Even when I was at school there were trips organised and not everyone could afford to go, myself included, so I dont think it is anything new. The difference now is that the trips seem to be getting longer and are traveling further, which is a reflection of the world we live in today.
Quote: Originally posted by Nee-Naw Nee-Naw on 05/11/2012
Other school trips that dont cost anywhere near as much, have not taken place, as there have not been enough pupils wanting to go. Twice we have sent deposits and have had them returned, as there were not enough pupils wanting to go. One was to go to Wimbeldon and the other a business studies trip to London, which was costing £650 for three days, so cost does not appear to be a factor.
i must be so out of touch, but if my school wanted £650 to London for 3 days (presumably thats 2 nights 3 days?) my kids wouldnt be going either !
i have allowed each of my 3 kids one trip each, and i cant afford that, but wanted them to have an opportunity that i could not provide, that said, it wouldnt be anywhere near the £1000 mark, i just couldnt afford that. middle daughter went to France on a PGL thing earlier this year at a cost of £400, i could never give her that opportunity myself, and equally, my other 2 will go on a trip costing roughly the same as going abroad with them on one wage is not an option. This way they get to do it and with their friends too, instead of being with mum dragging them around "boring" places.
As with another thread on here about Harpers headband, its about what you can afford and deem reasonable, to me £1000 is way out of the question, to others it could be seen as a fair amount and affordable, its about the way of living these days.
------------- why is there so much month left at the end of the money?
£650 for the London trip does seem somewhat excessive. Saying that, London is pricey...my youngest recently went on a 2 day trip to London, staying one night on HMS Belfast and that cost £90, this was linked with the GCSE history course - she loved it and has found it helpful with her studies.
My one and only trip with school was camping at the Beddgelert Forestry commission site. It rained the whole week, the tent leaked and as I was nearest the door, my sleeping bag was soaked through. The teachers looking after us (I use those words loosely!!) didn't want to know and I spent 5 sleepless nights. No mobiles then so couldn't ring my parents to come and get me. The kids were made to cook the food which was inedible and I came home half a stone lighter. My trousers were actually falling down. Was like a stick anyway. Never asked to go on another one. My parents even got a refund of some of the cost, it was that bad. It was about 40 years ago. Luckily it didn't put me off tents.
Julie
------------- Wish I could go camping more and not have to work for a living!!!
I remember when i was at school in the eighties that my brothers and i didnt go on the sking trips.I know this was due to the cost as mum explained it to us.
I never felt i missed out in any way and it was no big deal.
Thats how it is in life, you cant have everything you want without some sacrifices.
One boy i know who went hardly saw his father as he grew up as his dad was always working.On the other hand i spent a lot of quality time with my father.
I dont think it is unfair as thats what it costs,there will other trips at a lower more affordable cost.Why should those who can afford it miss out if they decide to scrap it because others cant afford it ?
We thought £650 was a lot as well, but then we have return flights to add to the usual costs.
There was a lot packed into the three days, but it was half the price of the ski trip,yet it was the one the pupils preferred to go on.
The thing is, isn’t everyone entitled to the same level of education?
By making the trips so expensive, these "educational" trips discriminate against those kids who come from less affluent backgrounds. They don’t get the same education because their parents simply cant afford it.
Now if we were talking about expensive private schools, then that would be one thing, but we are talking about your "everyday" high school, which is maybe a little unfair.
------------- Never look down at anybody....
.....unless to offer a hand, to help them up
Personally if i was a teacher you would have to pay me a bonus of £1300 to take a group of teenagers away,dont get me wrong i worship my kids but other peoples?
I run a kids footie team,1hr on a saturday and match on sunday,i find that quite enough!! At the most i have 14 and there doing somethink they love but at times this season im starting to think im getting fed up with this,the bickering,the mood swings welcome to the teens coach.
I have also wondered if teachers make a contribution to there costs or if indeed they received a bonus so that question is totally valid.
I did not go on any expensive school trips as a child, and never felt that I missed out in any way.
However I do think that if parents are able to afford it, these trips can be invaluable and unforgettable for the children, travel does broaden your horizons so much.
cbreddie says that having expensive trips discriminates against less affluent kids, but surely there would be differences in what each family would be able to afford in everyday life as well.
I fail to see how it would help by withdrawing these opportunities for everyone else too.
Education should be equal for all in an ideal world, but this is an optional extra curricular activity, not part of their statutory education. If some families cannot afford it, that is part of life, but there are others who despite being on a low income, manage to scrape together the money for trips by cutting back elsewhere, and others who cannot do even that.
As someone else said, there are usually lower cost trips and activities so everyone is catered for.
------------- Enjoying life beyond kids, new love, living on a boat and a new lease of life in my mid 50s! Never too old to reinvent yourself.....
Mum to five - 4 girls, 31,28,25 and 22 and one boy, 20
Engaged! Wedding June 2020!
Skiing is expensive, but we normally manage to go for a week for £2000 for four of us by driving and self- catering.
I have no problem with the school running such a trip and don't see why just because some people can't afford them they should be stopped. I could afford it, but would choose not to. life is unfair and if kids see that having a good job etc. can make a difference then maybe it would inspire them?
Our schools all run trips to Peru etc which are thousands. The kids have to fundraise to pay for them, but some parents just make up the money - we won't be doing that either, but the kids are welcome to participate if they think they can get the cash together. For families on low incomes if they know the school has such a trip then perhaps the kids could fundraise for that? Sell off the Xbox games? Sell coffees on a Saturday morning at kids footie matches? Do some car washing/babysitting, referee? Paper round? These are all things a friend of mine's son did to pay for his Peru trip. Not sure where he fit in his schoolwork, but he's planning another such trip in 2014.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: School trip (
Topic Closed)
