Why are the field trips so underwhelming?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Appropriated funds cannot be used for field trips. This means parents have to fund buses and any entrance fees. Or there have to be fundraisers and/or PTA subsidies. There are some grant funded trips such as all the fourth graders going to the Kennedy Center and all sixth graders going to the Portrait Gallery.

Different grade levels at different schools go on different trips that are connected to the curriculum. Our 4th grade visits Jamestown and 6th grade goes to Gettysburg. First grade studies animals and visits the National Zoo.

My kid's elementary doesn’t do Jamestown anymore. They went to Luray Caverns, which returned an hour after school got out. My kid is really into history so I was telling my kid that some schools do still go there for a field trip. My kid said the teacher said they can't go anymore because Jamestown has a gift shop. What?!

I thought that fcps dropped Jamestown and a lot of other cool historical fieldtrips when the school board decided the district was anti founding fathers and anti colonialism.

They used to do cool field trips like Jamestown and Richmond to see statuary row, the Virginia history museum, and the church where Patrick Henry gave his famous speech. But those field trips preesented the founding fathers and early settlers in a positive light, which doesn't align with fcps values, so they were nixed.

Where did you hear that? The school board never made such a decision and those trips have never been district-wide. Individual schools and grade level teams decide which trips they are going to take.

PP is making things up. My DC went to Jamestown 2 years ago. It was probably $80 per kid to pay for a tour bus, so I can see why all schools don’t do it.

Oh yes, they’re totally making things up. I went with my 4th grader to Jamestown a few months ago, like in May 2025. It’s amazing how people post gossip and rumors as facts.

It sounds like the schools with wealthy PTAs or good principals still go, but the other ones have been allowed to quietly cancel and avoid the hassle.

Judging from experience in a different district there needs to be parental pressure for the trips, that’s why poor schools get the short end of the stick. They have the funds just not political will or manpower to organize one

I think most parents just expect the schools to organize field trips as part of the curriculum and don't realize they are somehow (?) supposed to agitate for what used to be a normal part of the school experience.

Agree. It would never occur to me that I, a parent, am supposed to lobby for field trips.

Well now you know. You can choose to pout about it or take the matter into your own hands

If you are so keen on field trips, why don't you take your child yourself?

Believe me, they are not that valuable.

When my child was in elementary he didn’t want to go anywhere with me, for reasons unknown. He was much more amenable if his classmates were going as well.
Also I wanted poorer kids to see something they wouldn’t with their parents.
That’s why I organized field trips.
Yes it’s pain in the neck for teachers but sometimes one has to inconvenience people to get what is needed.

DP. Wouldn’t it have been better to “inconvenience” your son and make him go places with you?

Instead, you’re going to inconvenience teachers who are already providing far more than their contracts require? I’m blown away by how casually you say it’s okay to inconvenience people to get what you want.

Oh trust me I did inconvenience my kid plenty by making him go.
It would be nice to get something useful out of the system for a change. I was willing to organize the trip and there were plenty of parents willing to chaperone so I didn’t just dump it all on the poor teacher. Yes she had to do some extra work but sometimes you have to fight for what your kid needs. Just ask the SN board parents.

Your child doesn’t “need” a field trip.

- a special needs parent and teacher who takes her own children on trips, not relying on the school system to do it for me

My child also doesn’t need all the tests, should I opt them out and screw your stats?

I’m the PP.

Be my guest. I actually agree that your child doesn’t need all the tests. Opt out!

Yes but who are you to agree? You know the teachers and admin are doing what they can for the good kids to participate in testing right? Because stats? They don’t advertise opt out posssibilities.
It’s a take a little give a little situation.
If you need my child to be tested then do plan a simple trip or two. I am happy to organize it, too.

Such an odd post.

So you’re holding your kid’s testing score hostage? I need to plan “a trip or two” in order for your child to be tested?

So it’s true: you want schools to cater directly to you.

Try homeschooling. You’ll get all the field trips you want with none of the testing. Seems like that fits you perfectly, correct?

This. “Problem” solved.

[Anonymous]

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.

You’re pathetic.

[Anonymous]

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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

A “thread on here” is your proof? Do you have any idea how much BS is posted (and commented on, and +1d to high heaven) on this anonymous message board? 🙄

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:A love of learning. Bringing history to life. Teachers excited to teach and show their student's the connection between what they are learning and the history around us.

So the “bringing history to life” is 45 minutes at the museum or site. The rest of the day is bus rides and organizing groups/meals.

Meanwhile, the teacher put in 3 weeks of planning and an aggravating amount of hours chasing permission slips. She then had to discipline students on the bus and at the exhibit. She had to constantly remind chaperones that they are on duty and can’t treat this as a fun vacation, and maybe they should get off their phones every now and then.

And all the kids will remember is singing on the bus ride.

DP. I’m a parent who has chaperoned many of these field trips and I couldn’t agree more. Some of them are, sadly, just a huge waste of time and effort.

I also mentioned earlier that I thought Colonial Day was FAR more fun and informative for the kids than a useless day spent on a bus to and from Jamestown. Of course, FCPS stupidly stopped allowing Colonial Day, so that is not an option anymore.

Time to get some moms together and organize one.
You have to accept that there are increasingly things that school won’t provide.

NO! They are a waste of time for almost all kids in FCPS. I do not understand why Field Trip mom is so hot on this.

You want to prevent a handful of moms from organizing their own Colonial Day why, exactly?

Great idea. Get together and take your kids to Williamsburg. Leave the school out of it. You are free to do this any time you like.

Exactly what I suggested. School won’t do it, so parents should.

This is literally how homeschooling and homeschool co-ops start.
School won’t use phonics, parents teach reading themselves. Grammar education sucks, parents buy Well-Trained Mind and do it themselves. Field trips suck, parents organize a trip with others themselves.
Sooner or later they pull the kid out and do it all themselves! (Or find a suitable private) Lol

And that’s your choice. Public schools will never be able to provide everything you want because they have to serve all families, not just your own.

Also, schools were never meant to replace the family. You SHOULD be doing this type of thing on your own, and you shouldn’t be expecting the school to provide all of your kids’ experiences and opportunities for learning. If you need a place to outsource this work to, then perhaps a homeschooling co-op or a well-resourced private is a good choice for you.

Which is exactly what I did.

Public elementary school was entirely too generic, industrialized, ultra-processed for my taste. I had the means to do something custom for my children and I did. Real reading and grammar instruction, hands on science, field trips where they could spend hours exploring, fresh air, sunshine, fine motor skills, time to explore their own interests, and minimal screens. Bonus points for co-ops where parents knew that if their child was an insufferable bully, they could be iced out if they didn't get a handle on it.

10/10 would recommend for those that find it feasible.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:A love of learning. Bringing history to life. Teachers excited to teach and show their student's the connection between what they are learning and the history around us.

So the “bringing history to life” is 45 minutes at the museum or site. The rest of the day is bus rides and organizing groups/meals.

Meanwhile, the teacher put in 3 weeks of planning and an aggravating amount of hours chasing permission slips. She then had to discipline students on the bus and at the exhibit. She had to constantly remind chaperones that they are on duty and can’t treat this as a fun vacation, and maybe they should get off their phones every now and then.

And all the kids will remember is singing on the bus ride.

DP. I’m a parent who has chaperoned many of these field trips and I couldn’t agree more. Some of them are, sadly, just a huge waste of time and effort.

I also mentioned earlier that I thought Colonial Day was FAR more fun and informative for the kids than a useless day spent on a bus to and from Jamestown. Of course, FCPS stupidly stopped allowing Colonial Day, so that is not an option anymore.

Time to get some moms together and organize one.
You have to accept that there are increasingly things that school won’t provide.

NO! They are a waste of time for almost all kids in FCPS. I do not understand why Field Trip mom is so hot on this.

You want to prevent a handful of moms from organizing their own Colonial Day why, exactly?

Great idea. Get together and take your kids to Williamsburg. Leave the school out of it. You are free to do this any time you like.

Exactly what I suggested. School won’t do it, so parents should.

This is literally how homeschooling and homeschool co-ops start.
School won’t use phonics, parents teach reading themselves. Grammar education sucks, parents buy Well-Trained Mind and do it themselves. Field trips suck, parents organize a trip with others themselves.
Sooner or later they pull the kid out and do it all themselves! (Or find a suitable private) Lol

And that’s your choice. Public schools will never be able to provide everything you want because they have to serve all families, not just your own.

Also, schools were never meant to replace the family. You SHOULD be doing this type of thing on your own, and you shouldn’t be expecting the school to provide all of your kids’ experiences and opportunities for learning. If you need a place to outsource this work to, then perhaps a homeschooling co-op or a well-resourced private is a good choice for you.

Which is exactly what I did.

Public elementary school was entirely too generic, industrialized, ultra-processed for my taste. I had the means to do something custom for my children and I did. Real reading and grammar instruction, hands on science, field trips where they could spend hours exploring, fresh air, sunshine, fine motor skills, time to explore their own interests, and minimal screens. Bonus points for co-ops where parents knew that if their child was an insufferable bully, they could be iced out if they didn't get a handle on it.

10/10 would recommend for those that find it feasible.

Excellent! So you don’t need to worry about FCPS field trips then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids are in the younger end of elementary but I'm really surprised by the field trips. They go on one a year, to places like Green Spring Gardens, Huntley Meadows, or Cox Farms. Are the other elementary schools like this? We live 20 minutes from the nation's capital - why aren't they visiting some of the many, many offerings there? (And yes, I take my kids to the museums!). It's not a lack of chaperones - they always have more volunteers than they can use.

Does anyone know if there are big high school trips anywhere? Where I grew up (Ohio) our big high school trip was to DC. Wondering what the equivalent is here.

No money. And only allowed to have the buses from 10ish to 1ish without incurring a large expense.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:It depends on the pta.

YEARS ago, our school sent kids to Jamestown. Then, principal wanted to use PTA funds for technology instead.
He won, but it was a big deal in the PTA. Lots of emotional arguments over it. Not sure what they do now.

So, at least at that time, PTA funds paid for this type of field trip.

FWIW, I don't think it is worth it. It is too long for a day trip.

There are other ways to teach about it.

I was a teacher who took kids on field trips in a different system. They are not as valuable as you think.

The kids who really benefit are the poor kids whose parents never take them anywhere. I doubt anyone on DCUM is one of those parents.

I disagree. I think all kids benefit from seeing new things and having new experiences, getting out of the daily grind, etc. There should be a lot more field trips. How incredibly pathetic that money for a field trip went to useless Ed tech instead.

Kids LOVED Jamestown. Teachers of course did not see the value as it was a very long day for them.

Yes it all usually boils down to people in charge who just don’t want to bother, unfortunately. I mean I can’t really blame them but it’s sad overall. I am a huge proponent of field trips and used to organize them and you won’t believe the amount of quiet resentment plus bureaucratic hurdles

I’m a teacher and can no longer plan field trips. The bandwidth just isn’t there. I’m already behind on 70,000 other requirements and obligations in spite of devoting weekends to my work, so I simply can’t take on more. This job gets progressively harder each year.

- HS teacher

100%
-ES teacher

[Anonymous]

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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.

It’s sad how parents have lowered their expectations. Teachers/admin should ask for help if they can’t do the trips themselves but they should happen.

Ask for help from whom? The non-existent PTA? The mom working 3 jobs? I work at school 7:30 am to 5 pm, then at home 6 pm to 8 pm, and for at least 10 hours every weekend, and I still don't have everything done. They have us stacked with work up to our eyeballs. We can't get teachers to volunteer for after school events anymore. I'm one of the few at every event, and I'm just too exhausted to do it anymore. When am I supposed to plan this magical field trip?

[Anonymous]

It’s sad how parents have lowered their expectations. Teachers/admin should ask for help if they can’t do the trips themselves ldbut they shou happen.

Why should the trips happen?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:A love of learning. Bringing history to life. Teachers excited to teach and show their student's the connection between what they are learning and the history around us.

So the “bringing history to life” is 45 minutes at the museum or site. The rest of the day is bus rides and organizing groups/meals.

Meanwhile, the teacher put in 3 weeks of planning and an aggravating amount of hours chasing permission slips. She then had to discipline students on the bus and at the exhibit. She had to constantly remind chaperones that they are on duty and can’t treat this as a fun vacation, and maybe they should get off their phones every now and then.

And all the kids will remember is singing on the bus ride.

DP. I’m a parent who has chaperoned many of these field trips and I couldn’t agree more. Some of them are, sadly, just a huge waste of time and effort.

I also mentioned earlier that I thought Colonial Day was FAR more fun and informative for the kids than a useless day spent on a bus to and from Jamestown. Of course, FCPS stupidly stopped allowing Colonial Day, so that is not an option anymore.

Time to get some moms together and organize one.
You have to accept that there are increasingly things that school won’t provide.

NO! They are a waste of time for almost all kids in FCPS. I do not understand why Field Trip mom is so hot on this.

You want to prevent a handful of moms from organizing their own Colonial Day why, exactly?

Great idea. Get together and take your kids to Williamsburg. Leave the school out of it. You are free to do this any time you like.

Exactly what I suggested. School won’t do it, so parents should.

This is literally how homeschooling and homeschool co-ops start.
School won’t use phonics, parents teach reading themselves. Grammar education sucks, parents buy Well-Trained Mind and do it themselves. Field trips suck, parents organize a trip with others themselves.
Sooner or later they pull the kid out and do it all themselves! (Or find a suitable private) Lol

+1
This was our experience, for sure. We stuck it out until high school, which was much better. But we were very much supplementing big time during elementary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A love of learning. Bringing history to life. Teachers excited to teach and show their student's the connection between what they are learning and the history around us.

So the “bringing history to life” is 45 minutes at the museum or site. The rest of the day is bus rides and organizing groups/meals.

Meanwhile, the teacher put in 3 weeks of planning and an aggravating amount of hours chasing permission slips. She then had to discipline students on the bus and at the exhibit. She had to constantly remind chaperones that they are on duty and can’t treat this as a fun vacation, and maybe they should get off their phones every now and then.

And all the kids will remember is singing on the bus ride.

DP. I’m a parent who has chaperoned many of these field trips and I couldn’t agree more. Some of them are, sadly, just a huge waste of time and effort.

I also mentioned earlier that I thought Colonial Day was FAR more fun and informative for the kids than a useless day spent on a bus to and from Jamestown. Of course, FCPS stupidly stopped allowing Colonial Day, so that is not an option anymore.

Time to get some moms together and organize one.
You have to accept that there are increasingly things that school won’t provide.

NO! They are a waste of time for almost all kids in FCPS. I do not understand why Field Trip mom is so hot on this.

I'm the PPP and I think (?) the PP is saying we need to organize Colonial Day. Which would be great, but FCPS won't allow it anymore.

Have one in someone’s backyard this summer.
It’s a great year to start a new tradition.

+100

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A love of learning. Bringing history to life. Teachers excited to teach and show their student's the connection between what they are learning and the history around us.

So the “bringing history to life” is 45 minutes at the museum or site. The rest of the day is bus rides and organizing groups/meals.

Meanwhile, the teacher put in 3 weeks of planning and an aggravating amount of hours chasing permission slips. She then had to discipline students on the bus and at the exhibit. She had to constantly remind chaperones that they are on duty and can’t treat this as a fun vacation, and maybe they should get off their phones every now and then.

And all the kids will remember is singing on the bus ride.

DP. I’m a parent who has chaperoned many of these field trips and I couldn’t agree more. Some of them are, sadly, just a huge waste of time and effort.

I also mentioned earlier that I thought Colonial Day was FAR more fun and informative for the kids than a useless day spent on a bus to and from Jamestown. Of course, FCPS stupidly stopped allowing Colonial Day, so that is not an option anymore.

Time to get some moms together and organize one.
You have to accept that there are increasingly things that school won’t provide.

NO! They are a waste of time for almost all kids in FCPS. I do not understand why Field Trip mom is so hot on this.

You want to prevent a handful of moms from organizing their own Colonial Day why, exactly?

Great idea. Get together and take your kids to Williamsburg. Leave the school out of it. You are free to do this any time you like.

Exactly what I suggested. School won’t do it, so parents should.

This is literally how homeschooling and homeschool co-ops start.
School won’t use phonics, parents teach reading themselves. Grammar education sucks, parents buy Well-Trained Mind and do it themselves. Field trips suck, parents organize a trip with others themselves.
Sooner or later they pull the kid out and do it all themselves! (Or find a suitable private) Lol

And that’s your choice. Public schools will never be able to provide everything you want because they have to serve all families, not just your own.

Also, schools were never meant to replace the family. You SHOULD be doing this type of thing on your own, and you shouldn’t be expecting the school to provide all of your kids’ experiences and opportunities for learning. If you need a place to outsource this work to, then perhaps a homeschooling co-op or a well-resourced private is a good choice for you.

Which is exactly what I did.

Public elementary school was entirely too generic, industrialized, ultra-processed for my taste. I had the means to do something custom for my children and I did. Real reading and grammar instruction, hands on science, field trips where they could spend hours exploring, fresh air, sunshine, fine motor skills, time to explore their own interests, and minimal screens. Bonus points for co-ops where parents knew that if their child was an insufferable bully, they could be iced out if they didn't get a handle on it.

10/10 would recommend for those that find it feasible.

Then why are you on the FCPS forum?
DP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A love of learning. Bringing history to life. Teachers excited to teach and show their student's the connection between what they are learning and the history around us.

So the “bringing history to life” is 45 minutes at the museum or site. The rest of the day is bus rides and organizing groups/meals.

Meanwhile, the teacher put in 3 weeks of planning and an aggravating amount of hours chasing permission slips. She then had to discipline students on the bus and at the exhibit. She had to constantly remind chaperones that they are on duty and can’t treat this as a fun vacation, and maybe they should get off their phones every now and then.

And all the kids will remember is singing on the bus ride.

DP. I’m a parent who has chaperoned many of these field trips and I couldn’t agree more. Some of them are, sadly, just a huge waste of time and effort.

I also mentioned earlier that I thought Colonial Day was FAR more fun and informative for the kids than a useless day spent on a bus to and from Jamestown. Of course, FCPS stupidly stopped allowing Colonial Day, so that is not an option anymore.

Time to get some moms together and organize one.
You have to accept that there are increasingly things that school won’t provide.

NO! They are a waste of time for almost all kids in FCPS. I do not understand why Field Trip mom is so hot on this.

You want to prevent a handful of moms from organizing their own Colonial Day why, exactly?

Great idea. Get together and take your kids to Williamsburg. Leave the school out of it. You are free to do this any time you like.

Exactly what I suggested. School won’t do it, so parents should.

This is literally how homeschooling and homeschool co-ops start.
School won’t use phonics, parents teach reading themselves. Grammar education sucks, parents buy Well-Trained Mind and do it themselves. Field trips suck, parents organize a trip with others themselves.
Sooner or later they pull the kid out and do it all themselves! (Or find a suitable private) Lol

+1
This was our experience, for sure. We stuck it out until high school, which was much better. But we were very much supplementing big time during elementary.

My parents supplemented and provided tutoring for the four of us in the 1980’s, that is a part of parenting. You see that your kid needs more so you provide more. Two of us has LDs, my parents realized that those two kids needed additional support. Two of us were incredibly smart, my parents realized that they needed more. We went to museums and historic sites as part of vacations because learning through seeing is great.

Its called parenting. People have been doing it for a long, long time. I am not sure why the current crop of parents seem to think that schools are supposed to do everything but they do. Schools are suffering because parents are not supporting the schools by helping with homework or working on areas of weakness or discipling their kids at home. Why? Because the teachers are supposed to do all that.

And plan field trips because going to the art museum or history museum or a battlefield is too much for you to do on the weekend. You need that 1 hour in the art museum a year field trip.

[Anonymous]

Do fourth graders still go to the Kennedy Center?