Paying for fieldtrips for children in need in MCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't do this.

Really, it just leads to more increased dependance amongst the parents. It's $8 and the family can come up with the money. The family has to make a choice - buy one less convenience item that week vs. send their kid on the field trip.

It's not sweet, or cute, or helpful. It's the opposite. It creates a constant stream of dependance.

Go take a nap, Ebenezer.

Really I think the PP is on to something. Go to school during snack time or go on the fieldtrip and see how many of your kid's classmates bring in snacks-- hot cheetos, juice boxes, cookies, gatorade. I stopped donating to the field trip when I volunteered to go with the class. I was amazed that kids who didn't pay had several dollars worth of junky snacks, while I made my kid drink from a recycled water bottle and eat a sandwich bag of Kix cereal. I also was pissed off that a mother came who didn't pay, didn't pay for her kid, and brought a younger sibling who she didn't pay for and she had a nicer smart than I do (she had a smart phone with internet while i still have a flip phone).

Do you realize many parents are just on survival mode? Maybe they were not taught budgeting or healthy eating or maybe the parents are couponing and picking the cheapest stuff. We buy the cheapest cereal on coupons. I rarely will more than $1.50 for a box. Sure, I prefer Kix, but we get what is in our budget (usually I buy better stuff for the kids and the husband gets the crap). Same with juice boxes - husband gets what is cheap. Kids do get water. Sadly, that crap food is cheaper. Or, maybe they are getting it from a food pantry and that is what has been donated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have always sent in extra money for field trips. Depending on the cost of the trip, I either sent in a few more dollars, or just paid for an extra kid. I have never minded it. BUT, this year, there is a chance that the big 4th grade trip our school traditionally takes will have to be cancelled because too many families can't afford the $25. Our FARMS level is below 50%, bot clearly they think there are enough kids who couldn't afford it that the school may cancel the trip. DS is very disappointed, because our older kids enjoyed the trip, and frankly I am getting frustrated with the situation myself.

That is a shame. It is $25. If everyone knows in advance there is no reason why they can't make this happen. Even low income can save up $2 a week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Arlington County pays for all elementary school field trips

This is not true. I paid a class fee of 40 bucks that was to cover things like field trips plus I just paid another 5 for a field trip on Friday.
People who have money don't realize that not everyone has a spare five dollars and not just because they are blowing it all on Cheetos

I don't recall a line about donating more on the slip but I will look into it next time.

The way I look at it is this. If I can give I do. If they are lying shame on them. But if I can give and I don't and someone goes without who is truly in need then shame on me.

My best friend was in immigrant who came here with almost nothing. She once told me "remember those cans kids brought in for food drives well those cans were for families like mine." Not all families who are poor make bad choices. So folks are stuck in a cycle of poverty. So are trying their best to break free.

If you don't want to give it is your choice but if someone else wants to be generous especially where children are involved why would you try to discourage them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have always sent in extra money for field trips. Depending on the cost of the trip, I either sent in a few more dollars, or just paid for an extra kid. I have never minded it. BUT, this year, there is a chance that the big 4th grade trip our school traditionally takes will have to be cancelled because too many families can't afford the $25. Our FARMS level is below 50%, bot clearly they think there are enough kids who couldn't afford it that the school may cancel the trip. DS is very disappointed, because our older kids enjoyed the trip, and frankly I am getting frustrated with the situation myself.

That is a shame. It is $25. If everyone knows in advance there is no reason why they can't make this happen. Even low income can save up $2 a week.

Maybe it's not a priority for them. If it is a priority for the PP, maybe the PP can look into fundraising.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have always sent in extra money for field trips. Depending on the cost of the trip, I either sent in a few more dollars, or just paid for an extra kid. I have never minded it. BUT, this year, there is a chance that the big 4th grade trip our school traditionally takes will have to be cancelled because too many families can't afford the $25. Our FARMS level is below 50%, bot clearly they think there are enough kids who couldn't afford it that the school may cancel the trip. DS is very disappointed, because our older kids enjoyed the trip, and frankly I am getting frustrated with the situation myself.

That is a shame. It is $25. If everyone knows in advance there is no reason why they can't make this happen. Even low income can save up $2 a week.

For some, it's a lot easier to just sign the paper than trying to save money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have always sent in extra money for field trips. Depending on the cost of the trip, I either sent in a few more dollars, or just paid for an extra kid. I have never minded it. BUT, this year, there is a chance that the big 4th grade trip our school traditionally takes will have to be cancelled because too many families can't afford the $25. Our FARMS level is below 50%, bot clearly they think there are enough kids who couldn't afford it that the school may cancel the trip. DS is very disappointed, because our older kids enjoyed the trip, and frankly I am getting frustrated with the situation myself.

That is a shame. It is $25. If everyone knows in advance there is no reason why they can't make this happen. Even low income can save up $2 a week.

Maybe it's not a priority for them. If it is a priority for the PP, maybe the PP can look into fundraising.

I am the PP, and a lot of us parents are offering to fundraise if we can before they decide to cancel the trip. But the way you put it, like it isn't priority for them, but if it is for me, I should fundraise - well that is part of what irks me. If people truly can;t afford it, that is one thing. But to have a trip in danger of being cancelled unless I fundraise, because people can't be bothered to save for it is not a fun thing to explain to disappointed kids.

[Anonymous]

Would a school really prevent a child from attending an educational field trip if his/her parents didn't pay?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Maybe it's not a priority for them. If it is a priority for the PP, maybe the PP can look into fundraising.

I am the PP, and a lot of us parents are offering to fundraise if we can before they decide to cancel the trip. But the way you put it, like it isn't priority for them, but if it is for me, I should fundraise - well that is part of what irks me. If people truly can;t afford it, that is one thing. But to have a trip in danger of being cancelled unless I fundraise, because people can't be bothered to save for it is not a fun thing to explain to disappointed kids.

I agree that it would not be fun to explain it that way. But there is no need to explain it that way, and anyway you don't know if it's accurate or not. Instead, explain that every family has their own priorities, and every family decides how to spend their own money. Evidently many families have decided for whatever reason that this field trip is not a priority for them. If it is a priority enough for you to be worth fundraising for, then fundraise. If it's not, then don't.

[Anonymous]

Our school would say a field trip is X Amount, if you can contribute more for someone else please do so, we always did! I think it's great if those of us who can help do,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS is in K in an economically diverse school (that we love). They will have their first field trip at the end of the month and the cost is $8 per child. I asked the teacher if we could pay extra so that another child could attend if the cost was prohibitive for their family. She said of course but she didn't know (but would find out) how this would be communicated to a child in need. Any thoughts on how this might happen? It's in MCPS. Also, I don't think other parents necessarily know that donating in this way is an option. Any thoughts on how to best communicate this? Thanks very much!

It is understandable that a first-year teacher would not know how such things are handled. Our PTA covers this but it is made to "appear" that the school covers it because they cover it and in turn ask for a reimbursement from the PTA (out of a small fund that the PTA sets aside for such things). Your contribution will not go directly to cover the kid in your class but rest assured, it helps the PTA do such things.

[Anonymous]

There are never enough children! Have more, have more!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't do this.

Really, it just leads to more increased dependance amongst the parents. It's $8 and the family can come up with the money. The family has to make a choice - buy one less convenience item that week vs. send their kid on the field trip.

It's not sweet, or cute, or helpful. It's the opposite. It creates a constant stream of dependance.

Go take a nap, Ebenezer.

Really I think the PP is on to something. Go to school during snack time or go on the fieldtrip and see how many of your kid's classmates bring in snacks-- hot cheetos, juice boxes, cookies, gatorade. I stopped donating to the field trip when I volunteered to go with the class. I was amazed that kids who didn't pay had several dollars worth of junky snacks, while I made my kid drink from a recycled water bottle and eat a sandwich bag of Kix cereal. I also was pissed off that a mother came who didn't pay, didn't pay for her kid, and brought a younger sibling who she didn't pay for and she had a nicer smart than I do (she had a smart phone with internet while i still have a flip phone).

Do you realize many parents are just on survival mode? Maybe they were not taught budgeting or healthy eating or maybe the parents are couponing and picking the cheapest stuff. We buy the cheapest cereal on coupons. I rarely will more than $1.50 for a box. Sure, I prefer Kix, but we get what is in our budget (usually I buy better stuff for the kids and the husband gets the crap). Same with juice boxes - husband gets what is cheap. Kids do get water. Sadly, that crap food is cheaper. Or, maybe they are getting it from a food pantry and that is what has been donated.

Do you realize how many parents aren't in survival mode when they should be? They don't even realize they need to be because anytime there is a problem they turn to a charity or the govt to pick up the slack. I live in Alex City and the situation here is generational. After a few years of witnessing this kind of thing at my child's elementary, I realize that one of the only ways to end generational poverty in this area is going to be to stop the freebies. Sadly, yes, some kids are going to go without but that's not my fault. It's the parents fault. A kid who grows up seeing their parent and grandparents and aunts and uncles pay for nothing, receiving handouts for everything - well the kid thinks thats the way it supposed to go.

[Anonymous]

my school booked trip plan for $20

[Anonymous]

My DC went to a Title 1 school.

In Kindergarten there were many FARMS and ESOL students. On Valentine's Day there was a class party - and the ESOL and FARMS parents were walking in with cakes and trays of muffins from Costco. And flowers for the teachers. Easily spending $25.

Maybe it is a cultural thing and they will spend lavishly on their kids and the teachers. But - I would prefer that they contribute instead to things like field trips.

Here is my suggestion. Make each family donate $1 to the school fund every week. That will be enough to fund many things in the school. Almost $40 per family per year or more. Multiply it by 300 and you have $12,000 for a lot of academic clubs, a lot of enrichment - and it empowers everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't do this.

Really, it just leads to more increased dependance amongst the parents. It's $8 and the family can come up with the money. The family has to make a choice - buy one less convenience item that week vs. send their kid on the field trip.

It's not sweet, or cute, or helpful. It's the opposite. It creates a constant stream of dependance.

You are an idiot.

I grew up poor (especially right after my parents separated/divorced) and thank god people at my school were looking out for kids like me when it came to field trips, sports uniforms, etc. And it in no way created a dependence issue for me or for my mom, who eventually got back on her feet. Now let's say the poor kid's mom decides to go out and buy cigarettes with the money she could have given her kid for the field trip...so the kid should be punished?

People like you make my skin crawl.

I think the poster has a good point, no need for vitriol. Look when we were kids the welfare state wasn't as ubiquitous nor generous. For instance today, poor families get food stamps, so why do we subsidize breakfast lunch and dinner at schools when the parents are given welfare to provide? Could it be those food stamps are spent elsewhere? Also when we were kids and there was no welfare, communities were very charitable and did provide for their neighbors who were in wont. Also it was expected that the neighbors would try to improve their lot and most did.

This doesn't happen any more and it could well be due to the fact the original poster mentioned, people have become dependent on on the guaranteed dole coming their way. And if that is the case it should not be encouraged. A tough love approach is much better.