Why are the field trips so underwhelming?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some schools aren't doing field trips to DC this year because they are afraid ICE will pick up their students.

That has to be BS. Cut it out.

It's not BS. There's a whole thread about it on her. My child goes to Lewis High School and they aren't going to DC because they are afraid ICE will pick up kids.

Nope - BS

Here is the thread.
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1296810.page

[Anonymous]

Jamestown Festival Park and the museum piece of Yorktown are both state-owned; they are are operated by a component of VA DoEd.

Very odd for a VA public school to say either site would not be allowed as a field trip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some schools aren't doing field trips to DC this year because they are afraid ICE will pick up their students.

That has to be BS. Cut it out.

Yep. Trolls gotta troll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After having three kids go on the Jamestown field trip in 4th grade, I can honestly say that trip is a complete waste of time. It takes three hours there and three hours back, leaving only a small window to actually see the site. Everything is so rushed, it's absurd. The only way to make that trip really work is to do an overnight.

Our school used todo an overnight. Geriatric principal nixed it. He and granny AP need to go. We need to oust boomer administrators.

How much extra will the teachers be paid for an overnight? I’m a single parent teacher and wouldn’t be able to do an overnight even if I wanted to. I don’t have anyone else to watch my child.

I don’t think many posters are wondering about the impact these trips have on teachers.

I’ve chaperoned several overnight trips. I’ve never been paid extra for being at work 18 hour days and on call 24 hours. In two cases, I even had to pay for my own hotel room and entrance tickets. This was on top of paying for childcare back home so I could chaperone in the first place.

I have a colleague who organizes field trips for her students, but they would probably be deemed “underwhelming” by most of the people posting here. They still require a lot of extra effort and funding which I know she contributes to herself. I hope she never sees this thread.

Exactly. Field trips take a tremendous toll on teachers, who are ultimately responsible for all of the paperwork and all of the details. Every field trip I’ve organized has cost me time or my own money.

This is a discouraging thread. I appreciate that parents want these experiences for their children, but they aren’t aware of the behind-the-scenes that keeps overburdened, overworked teachers from taking on even more work.

And ultimately, most trips would be better as family trips without the stress of returning to a school at a certain time or having to find a place to feed 100 students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some schools aren't doing field trips to DC this year because they are afraid ICE will pick up their students.

That has to be BS. Cut it out.

Yep. Trolls gotta troll.

Actual Lewis email sent to staff.

"Dear Lancers,

As an administrative team, we've decided that due to the current political climate and the safety of all Lancers, there will be an indefinite moratorium on field trips to Washington, D.C.

We are reviewing our school wide field trip process in light of our vision and mission and will share information in the near future.

Thank you for understanding and continued commitment to our students."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some schools aren't doing field trips to DC this year because they are afraid ICE will pick up their students.

That has to be BS. Cut it out.

Yep. Trolls gotta troll.

Actual Lewis email sent to staff.

"Dear Lancers,

As an administrative team, we've decided that due to the current political climate and the safety of all Lancers, there will be an indefinite moratorium on field trips to Washington, D.C.

We are reviewing our school wide field trip process in light of our vision and mission and will share information in the near future.

Thank you for understanding and continued commitment to our students."

Where was the mention of ICE?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After having three kids go on the Jamestown field trip in 4th grade, I can honestly say that trip is a complete waste of time. It takes three hours there and three hours back, leaving only a small window to actually see the site. Everything is so rushed, it's absurd. The only way to make that trip really work is to do an overnight.

Our school used todo an overnight. Geriatric principal nixed it. He and granny AP need to go. We need to oust boomer administrators.

How much extra will the teachers be paid for an overnight? I’m a single parent teacher and wouldn’t be able to do an overnight even if I wanted to. I don’t have anyone else to watch my child.

I don’t think many posters are wondering about the impact these trips have on teachers.

I’ve chaperoned several overnight trips. I’ve never been paid extra for being at work 18 hour days and on call 24 hours. In two cases, I even had to pay for my own hotel room and entrance tickets. This was on top of paying for childcare back home so I could chaperone in the first place.

I think there are two different things going on here.

There is a difference between, "why don't our kids go on more overnight trips?" And, "why aren't they taking a bus into DC and visiting the many FREE museums and historical sights?" There is no school in fcps that is a two hour drive to DC, as one poster complained about earlier. I have had four kids go through elementary school and not a single one did a museum trip. One of them went to Mount Vernon (was meant as a replacement for the Jamestown trip, which none of them did) and that is definitely not free

I live in an area that is definitely at least an hour on a school bus to get to DC. I have been on a museum field trip. At least an hour to get there (and you cannot leave until routes are complete) and an hour to get back in time for afternoon routes. Do you have any idea how much time is allowed for the museum? About an hour--maybe an hour and a half including a break for lunch.

And, that one hour trip on a school bus can definitely extend into far more. IT'S NOT WORTH IT.

Our school rents coach busses for field trips for this reason. They don’t get back until 5. Small school, families car pool. Families pay for it though - the last field trip was over $100

This is an FCPS public?

Yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some schools aren't doing field trips to DC this year because they are afraid ICE will pick up their students.

That has to be BS. Cut it out.

Yep. Trolls gotta troll.

Actual Lewis email sent to staff.

"Dear Lancers,

As an administrative team, we've decided that due to the current political climate and the safety of all Lancers, there will be an indefinite moratorium on field trips to Washington, D.C.

We are reviewing our school wide field trip process in light of our vision and mission and will share information in the near future.

Thank you for understanding and continued commitment to our students."

Where was the mention of ICE?

Are you too stupid to read between the lines? What else do you think "current political climate and the safety of all Lancers" means?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After having three kids go on the Jamestown field trip in 4th grade, I can honestly say that trip is a complete waste of time. It takes three hours there and three hours back, leaving only a small window to actually see the site. Everything is so rushed, it's absurd. The only way to make that trip really work is to do an overnight.

Our school used todo an overnight. Geriatric principal nixed it. He and granny AP need to go. We need to oust boomer administrators.

How much extra will the teachers be paid for an overnight? I’m a single parent teacher and wouldn’t be able to do an overnight even if I wanted to. I don’t have anyone else to watch my child.

I don’t think many posters are wondering about the impact these trips have on teachers.

I’ve chaperoned several overnight trips. I’ve never been paid extra for being at work 18 hour days and on call 24 hours. In two cases, I even had to pay for my own hotel room and entrance tickets. This was on top of paying for childcare back home so I could chaperone in the first place.

I have a colleague who organizes field trips for her students, but they would probably be deemed “underwhelming” by most of the people posting here. They still require a lot of extra effort and funding which I know she contributes to herself. I hope she never sees this thread.

Exactly. Field trips take a tremendous toll on teachers, who are ultimately responsible for all of the paperwork and all of the details. Every field trip I’ve organized has cost me time or my own money.

This is a discouraging thread. I appreciate that parents want these experiences for their children, but they aren’t aware of the behind-the-scenes that keeps overburdened, overworked teachers from taking on even more work.

And ultimately, most trips would be better as family trips without the stress of returning to a school at a certain time or having to find a place to feed 100 students.

Give it a rest already. Simple field trips are part of curriculum and parents have a right to expect them.
Not overnight, yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After having three kids go on the Jamestown field trip in 4th grade, I can honestly say that trip is a complete waste of time. It takes three hours there and three hours back, leaving only a small window to actually see the site. Everything is so rushed, it's absurd. The only way to make that trip really work is to do an overnight.

Our school used todo an overnight. Geriatric principal nixed it. He and granny AP need to go. We need to oust boomer administrators.

How much extra will the teachers be paid for an overnight? I’m a single parent teacher and wouldn’t be able to do an overnight even if I wanted to. I don’t have anyone else to watch my child.

I don’t think many posters are wondering about the impact these trips have on teachers.

I’ve chaperoned several overnight trips. I’ve never been paid extra for being at work 18 hour days and on call 24 hours. In two cases, I even had to pay for my own hotel room and entrance tickets. This was on top of paying for childcare back home so I could chaperone in the first place.

I have a colleague who organizes field trips for her students, but they would probably be deemed “underwhelming” by most of the people posting here. They still require a lot of extra effort and funding which I know she contributes to herself. I hope she never sees this thread.

Exactly. Field trips take a tremendous toll on teachers, who are ultimately responsible for all of the paperwork and all of the details. Every field trip I’ve organized has cost me time or my own money.

This is a discouraging thread. I appreciate that parents want these experiences for their children, but they aren’t aware of the behind-the-scenes that keeps overburdened, overworked teachers from taking on even more work.

And ultimately, most trips would be better as family trips without the stress of returning to a school at a certain time or having to find a place to feed 100 students.

Give it a rest already. Simple field trips are part of curriculum and parents have a right to expect them.
Not overnight, yes.

Um No "right."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After having three kids go on the Jamestown field trip in 4th grade, I can honestly say that trip is a complete waste of time. It takes three hours there and three hours back, leaving only a small window to actually see the site. Everything is so rushed, it's absurd. The only way to make that trip really work is to do an overnight.

Our school used todo an overnight. Geriatric principal nixed it. He and granny AP need to go. We need to oust boomer administrators.

How much extra will the teachers be paid for an overnight? I’m a single parent teacher and wouldn’t be able to do an overnight even if I wanted to. I don’t have anyone else to watch my child.

I don’t think many posters are wondering about the impact these trips have on teachers.

I’ve chaperoned several overnight trips. I’ve never been paid extra for being at work 18 hour days and on call 24 hours. In two cases, I even had to pay for my own hotel room and entrance tickets. This was on top of paying for childcare back home so I could chaperone in the first place.

I have a colleague who organizes field trips for her students, but they would probably be deemed “underwhelming” by most of the people posting here. They still require a lot of extra effort and funding which I know she contributes to herself. I hope she never sees this thread.

Exactly. Field trips take a tremendous toll on teachers, who are ultimately responsible for all of the paperwork and all of the details. Every field trip I’ve organized has cost me time or my own money.

This is a discouraging thread. I appreciate that parents want these experiences for their children, but they aren’t aware of the behind-the-scenes that keeps overburdened, overworked teachers from taking on even more work.

And ultimately, most trips would be better as family trips without the stress of returning to a school at a certain time or having to find a place to feed 100 students.

Give it a rest already. Simple field trips are part of curriculum and parents have a right to expect them.
Not overnight, yes.

Um No "right."

Yeah, I caught that word, too.

Sorry, parent. I’m no longer doing field trips as part of my class. They aren’t required by my curriculum. They were always additional work that I placed on myself. Those days are over. I’m simply focusing on keeping my head above water now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After having three kids go on the Jamestown field trip in 4th grade, I can honestly say that trip is a complete waste of time. It takes three hours there and three hours back, leaving only a small window to actually see the site. Everything is so rushed, it's absurd. The only way to make that trip really work is to do an overnight.

Our school used todo an overnight. Geriatric principal nixed it. He and granny AP need to go. We need to oust boomer administrators.

How much extra will the teachers be paid for an overnight? I’m a single parent teacher and wouldn’t be able to do an overnight even if I wanted to. I don’t have anyone else to watch my child.

I don’t think many posters are wondering about the impact these trips have on teachers.

I’ve chaperoned several overnight trips. I’ve never been paid extra for being at work 18 hour days and on call 24 hours. In two cases, I even had to pay for my own hotel room and entrance tickets. This was on top of paying for childcare back home so I could chaperone in the first place.

I have a colleague who organizes field trips for her students, but they would probably be deemed “underwhelming” by most of the people posting here. They still require a lot of extra effort and funding which I know she contributes to herself. I hope she never sees this thread.

Exactly. Field trips take a tremendous toll on teachers, who are ultimately responsible for all of the paperwork and all of the details. Every field trip I’ve organized has cost me time or my own money.

This is a discouraging thread. I appreciate that parents want these experiences for their children, but they aren’t aware of the behind-the-scenes that keeps overburdened, overworked teachers from taking on even more work.

And ultimately, most trips would be better as family trips without the stress of returning to a school at a certain time or having to find a place to feed 100 students.

Give it a rest already. Simple field trips are part of curriculum and parents have a right to expect them.
Not overnight, yes.

🤣

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After having three kids go on the Jamestown field trip in 4th grade, I can honestly say that trip is a complete waste of time. It takes three hours there and three hours back, leaving only a small window to actually see the site. Everything is so rushed, it's absurd. The only way to make that trip really work is to do an overnight.

Our school used todo an overnight. Geriatric principal nixed it. He and granny AP need to go. We need to oust boomer administrators.

How much extra will the teachers be paid for an overnight? I’m a single parent teacher and wouldn’t be able to do an overnight even if I wanted to. I don’t have anyone else to watch my child.

I don’t think many posters are wondering about the impact these trips have on teachers.

I’ve chaperoned several overnight trips. I’ve never been paid extra for being at work 18 hour days and on call 24 hours. In two cases, I even had to pay for my own hotel room and entrance tickets. This was on top of paying for childcare back home so I could chaperone in the first place.

I have a colleague who organizes field trips for her students, but they would probably be deemed “underwhelming” by most of the people posting here. They still require a lot of extra effort and funding which I know she contributes to herself. I hope she never sees this thread.

Exactly. Field trips take a tremendous toll on teachers, who are ultimately responsible for all of the paperwork and all of the details. Every field trip I’ve organized has cost me time or my own money.

This is a discouraging thread. I appreciate that parents want these experiences for their children, but they aren’t aware of the behind-the-scenes that keeps overburdened, overworked teachers from taking on even more work.

And ultimately, most trips would be better as family trips without the stress of returning to a school at a certain time or having to find a place to feed 100 students.

Give it a rest already. Simple field trips are part of curriculum and parents have a right to expect them.
Not overnight, yes.

Not a teacher here and I know that field trips are not a right and there is no reason to expect them. The field trips to DC museums my kid did in ES were a waste of time, thye spent more time on the bus than they did at the museum. There were some nice trips that the kids enjoyed but I know that they are extra work for the teachers. They did not go to Jamestown or Mt. Vernon in 4th grade, which was a disappointment but it was the year after COVID so I wasn’t surprised.

[Anonymous]

Teachers: As your PTAs for help! We would be thrilled to help you plan and pay for field trips!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teachers: As your PTAs for help! We would be thrilled to help you plan and pay for field trips!

Agreed! I’m the OP and I didn’t realize the teachers plan and organize them. We have a very well-funded PTA and a very engaged set of parents - school events are packed with volunteers. We’d be glad to help!!