MCPS run international trips

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:About the trips:

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/watchdog/sdut-company-rewards-teachers-for-school-trips-2011dec26-story.html

They're not school trips so compensation rules don't apply. They make it very, very clear they aren't school trips. Of course, there is always an idiot out there who doesn't bother to read or listen to the numerous times they say they aren't school trips.
I don't find myself becoming mad that a person who coordinates and chaperones my kid for a week should get their trip comped. Honestly the petty people out there are something else.

they aren't school trips but the teacher is responsible for supervising the kids.

Not sure if you're aware of this but teachers are people! Just like you and I!
I'm far more worried about teachers getting tutoring side jobs through the unwritten referral directory than this.

Wow! You think teachers shouldn't have side gigs? They're not allowed to tutor kids in the school they work in. What's your issue?

PP here. If they want to have side gigs, that’s fine (it shouldn’t be necessary but it is). They should not be able to use their MCPS positions or MCPS resources (including email or student/parent contact info) to advertise their side gigs.

100 percent. This is basic ethics.

How is it a side gig if the teacher isn’t making a profit and usually has to take 1-2 days of personal leave while traveling?

You sound jealous. If not of teachers, then of families who figure out how to make this happen for their kids.

I’m not jealous at all. I have absolutely zero interest in an organized travel group. I’ve traveled plenty and prefer to do my own planning. But I do think it’s unethical. Advertising an expensive for-profit trip via the school and implying (and they ALWAYS do) that it’sa class trip is misleading and unethical. I don’t care who or how much they benefit it’s an abuse of position.

No, they don’t always do that. Many posters have clarified that their schools didn’t. If you have an issue with the actions of a specific teacher, report them to MCPS. Don’t try to ruin things for everyone else.

If THIS is troubling you as an abuse of power so much, you must not sleep at night having kids in MCPS. Have are your whistleblowing efforts going on other issues?

As I’ve said at my kids schools they never make it clear and parents have been misled.

This is an equity issue and an important one. Expensive vacations that are not accessible to the vast majority of the school population should NOT be advertised or recruited for through school. There is no “ruining things for everyone”, the troops can go on, they just need to be advertised and recruited for outside of school and without using ANY school resources.

My son's football team collects money for the team. By your logic, his school shouldn't have a team since not every parent can afford the fees.
School pictures and yearbooks are unaffordable to some. They should be taken out of school especially since they are pushed for kids to participate. Collecting money for field trips shouldn't happen. None of the money goes to the school but to the venue.
If you want to be equitable and fair you must remove every single extra from school.

The adults running these things need to be more thoughtful. I will not buy my child a $100 yearbook and we can afford it (nor do they want one at that price). That can shop around and find an affordable way to do that.

When you do field trips, you choose something affordable, try to get the school/PTA/PTO to pay for kids who cannot afford it or ask for donations.

School pictures, again you consider prices and choose accordingly.

School teams, you also look at the choices the parent/team reps are making and encourage things affordable or find outside resources. Lots of ways to do it but asking parents for hundred's of dollars or telling them their kids cannot play is a horrible thing to do and a horrible example to set to your own kids on how to treat people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:About the trips:

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/watchdog/sdut-company-rewards-teachers-for-school-trips-2011dec26-story.html

They're not school trips so compensation rules don't apply. They make it very, very clear they aren't school trips. Of course, there is always an idiot out there who doesn't bother to read or listen to the numerous times they say they aren't school trips.
I don't find myself becoming mad that a person who coordinates and chaperones my kid for a week should get their trip comped. Honestly the petty people out there are something else.

they aren't school trips but the teacher is responsible for supervising the kids.

Not sure if you're aware of this but teachers are people! Just like you and I!
I'm far more worried about teachers getting tutoring side jobs through the unwritten referral directory than this.

Wow! You think teachers shouldn't have side gigs? They're not allowed to tutor kids in the school they work in. What's your issue?

PP here. If they want to have side gigs, that’s fine (it shouldn’t be necessary but it is). They should not be able to use their MCPS positions or MCPS resources (including email or student/parent contact info) to advertise their side gigs.

100 percent. This is basic ethics.

How is it a side gig if the teacher isn’t making a profit and usually has to take 1-2 days of personal leave while traveling?

You sound jealous. If not of teachers, then of families who figure out how to make this happen for their kids.

I’m not jealous at all. I have absolutely zero interest in an organized travel group. I’ve traveled plenty and prefer to do my own planning. But I do think it’s unethical. Advertising an expensive for-profit trip via the school and implying (and they ALWAYS do) that it’sa class trip is misleading and unethical. I don’t care who or how much they benefit it’s an abuse of position.

No, they don’t always do that. Many posters have clarified that their schools didn’t. If you have an issue with the actions of a specific teacher, report them to MCPS. Don’t try to ruin things for everyone else.

If THIS is troubling you as an abuse of power so much, you must not sleep at night having kids in MCPS. Have are your whistleblowing efforts going on other issues?

As I’ve said at my kids schools they never make it clear and parents have been misled.

This is an equity issue and an important one. Expensive vacations that are not accessible to the vast majority of the school population should NOT be advertised or recruited for through school. There is no “ruining things for everyone”, the troops can go on, they just need to be advertised and recruited for outside of school and without using ANY school resources.

My son's football team collects money for the team. By your logic, his school shouldn't have a team since not every parent can afford the fees.
School pictures and yearbooks are unaffordable to some. They should be taken out of school especially since they are pushed for kids to participate. Collecting money for field trips shouldn't happen. None of the money goes to the school but to the venue.
If you want to be equitable and fair you must remove every single extra from school.

The adults running these things need to be more thoughtful. I will not buy my child a $100 yearbook and we can afford it (nor do they want one at that price). That can shop around and find an affordable way to do that.

When you do field trips, you choose something affordable, try to get the school/PTA/PTO to pay for kids who cannot afford it or ask for donations.

School pictures, again you consider prices and choose accordingly.

School teams, you also look at the choices the parent/team reps are making and encourage things affordable or find outside resources. Lots of ways to do it but asking parents for hundred's of dollars or telling them their kids cannot play is a horrible thing to do and a horrible example to set to your own kids on how to treat people.

I think you need to come to some schools(especially HS) and ask teachers and activity coaches/coordinators exactly how much things cost, the number of fundraisers they do, and the funds that families are spending.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:About the trips:

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/watchdog/sdut-company-rewards-teachers-for-school-trips-2011dec26-story.html

They're not school trips so compensation rules don't apply. They make it very, very clear they aren't school trips. Of course, there is always an idiot out there who doesn't bother to read or listen to the numerous times they say they aren't school trips.
I don't find myself becoming mad that a person who coordinates and chaperones my kid for a week should get their trip comped. Honestly the petty people out there are something else.

they aren't school trips but the teacher is responsible for supervising the kids.

Not sure if you're aware of this but teachers are people! Just like you and I!
I'm far more worried about teachers getting tutoring side jobs through the unwritten referral directory than this.

Wow! You think teachers shouldn't have side gigs? They're not allowed to tutor kids in the school they work in. What's your issue?

PP here. If they want to have side gigs, that’s fine (it shouldn’t be necessary but it is). They should not be able to use their MCPS positions or MCPS resources (including email or student/parent contact info) to advertise their side gigs.

100 percent. This is basic ethics.

How is it a side gig if the teacher isn’t making a profit and usually has to take 1-2 days of personal leave while traveling?

You sound jealous. If not of teachers, then of families who figure out how to make this happen for their kids.

I’m not jealous at all. I have absolutely zero interest in an organized travel group. I’ve traveled plenty and prefer to do my own planning. But I do think it’s unethical. Advertising an expensive for-profit trip via the school and implying (and they ALWAYS do) that it’sa class trip is misleading and unethical. I don’t care who or how much they benefit it’s an abuse of position.

No, they don’t always do that. Many posters have clarified that their schools didn’t. If you have an issue with the actions of a specific teacher, report them to MCPS. Don’t try to ruin things for everyone else.

If THIS is troubling you as an abuse of power so much, you must not sleep at night having kids in MCPS. Have are your whistleblowing efforts going on other issues?

As I’ve said at my kids schools they never make it clear and parents have been misled.

This is an equity issue and an important one. Expensive vacations that are not accessible to the vast majority of the school population should NOT be advertised or recruited for through school. There is no “ruining things for everyone”, the troops can go on, they just need to be advertised and recruited for outside of school and without using ANY school resources.

My son's football team collects money for the team. By your logic, his school shouldn't have a team since not every parent can afford the fees.
School pictures and yearbooks are unaffordable to some. They should be taken out of school especially since they are pushed for kids to participate. Collecting money for field trips shouldn't happen. None of the money goes to the school but to the venue.
If you want to be equitable and fair you must remove every single extra from school.

The adults running these things need to be more thoughtful. I will not buy my child a $100 yearbook and we can afford it (nor do they want one at that price). That can shop around and find an affordable way to do that.

When you do field trips, you choose something affordable, try to get the school/PTA/PTO to pay for kids who cannot afford it or ask for donations.

School pictures, again you consider prices and choose accordingly.

School teams, you also look at the choices the parent/team reps are making and encourage things affordable or find outside resources. Lots of ways to do it but asking parents for hundred's of dollars or telling them their kids cannot play is a horrible thing to do and a horrible example to set to your own kids on how to treat people.

I think you need to come to some schools(especially HS) and ask teachers and activity coaches/coordinators exactly how much things cost, the number of fundraisers they do, and the funds that families are spending.

We know as we are heavily involved in our kids schools and volunteer as much as we can, including fundraise.

[Anonymous]

Let’s also ban those darn piano sales papers they give to kids.

We also need to crack down on the professional photographers attending MCPS sports events.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I couldn't care less about equity. What about liability if it's advertised at school and something happens? Who is accountable?

Families sign paperwork. These trips have been available in MCPS over two decades. Thousands of students have gone. No one has sued MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let’s also ban those darn piano sales papers they give to kids.

We also need to crack down on the professional photographers attending MCPS sports events.

I don’t know about the professional photographers but those piano sales have no place in MCPS. They don’t even seem to be a good deal. Public schools are not commercial organizations and there’s no reason why sales flyers should be in my kids back packs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I couldn't care less about equity. What about liability if it's advertised at school and something happens? Who is accountable?

Families sign paperwork. These trips have been available in MCPS over two decades. Thousands of students have gone. No one has sued MCPS.

These are not mcps sponsored. A few are but not these.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I couldn't care less about equity. What about liability if it's advertised at school and something happens? Who is accountable?

Families sign paperwork. These trips have been available in MCPS over two decades. Thousands of students have gone. No one has sued MCPS.

These are not mcps sponsored. A few are but not these.

Which is why no one has sued MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Bumping up for recent feedback on the trip experience and pricing.

[Anonymous]

Here's a discussion on EF trips that many schools use:
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1229081.page

[Anonymous]

We take our kids to Europe every year for less then half what EF charges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We take our kids to Europe every year for less then half what EF charges.

Its for busy parents not wanting to take their kids. Its crazy expensive especially when there are four kids to a room.