Do you thank other parents for chaperoning field trips?

[Anonymous]

It would never occur to me to thank a chaperone. I chaperone because I want to hang out with my kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think in the high participation schools, where parents pay to chaperone, any parent who wants to chaperone should be allowed to.

Sometime there is an artificial limit on number of chaperones and that means that one parent is toting the packed lunches for 4 and 5 kids. This is ridiculous. Are you listening MCPS?

Really, carrying 5 bag lunches is a burden for you PP? Give me a break. I chaperone occasionally in my kids' MCPS classes, and there are way more chaperones than necessary in most cases. I'm always happy if I can do something useful on these trips, since it usually involves me taking the day off work. Last year I bought a kid a pizza lunch after he didn't like the sandwich he'd selected; he was crying (a fourth grader!) and that tiny bit of effort and a few dollars turned his day around. Made my day too. I don't need his parents' thank yous, or anyone else's.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are so many parents that want to chaperone in DC's classroom, that it is rare to be picked for any field trip. Even when we are paying to chaperone. The teachers will actually say that they want to give all parents a chance to chaperone!

So, no. I don't want to thank them, I want to slap them silly!

Me too. I tried to sign up to chaperone, and the teacher said all 6 slots were filled. I like to go because my dd has food allergies, asthma and ADHD (which means sometimes she gets distracted and wanders off). She is 8.5 though. Her teacher said she would keep dd in her group, and I will have a serious talk with dd before she goes about not eating any food or wandering away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think in the high participation schools, where parents pay to chaperone, any parent who wants to chaperone should be allowed to.

Sometime there is an artificial limit on number of chaperones and that means that one parent is toting the packed lunches for 4 and 5 kids. This is ridiculous. Are you listening MCPS?

Really, carrying 5 bag lunches is a burden for you PP? Give me a break. I chaperone occasionally in my kids' MCPS classes, and there are way more chaperones than necessary in most cases. I'm always happy if I can do something useful on these trips, since it usually involves me taking the day off work. Last year I bought a kid a pizza lunch after he didn't like the sandwich he'd selected; he was crying (a fourth grader!) and that tiny bit of effort and a few dollars turned his day around. Made my day too. I don't need his parents' thank yous, or anyone else's.

Have you toted them? Each bag has a juice box or water, plus sandwiches and snacks. Once you get over 3, the bags get stacked on top of each other, drinks smash sandwiches, and bags rip. Really, not optimal. I don't think of it as a "burden", but it would be nice for the lunches to make it to the lunch table intact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thank any parent volunteer -- chaperone, coach, scout leader, religious ed teacher, etc. I have volunteered a lot and some kids are just awful so it is always nice to hear a thank you.

+1. A little bit of kindness between people is always a good thing. I've been thanked for coaching and for being a room parent. I've thanked other parents for taking on responsibilities or organizing things or simply volunteering to be present.

It doesn't always need to be political. A thank you never hurt anyone!

[Anonymous]

I view chaperoning as a fun thing I get to do when my schedule permits - not a hassle - so it would not occur to me to thank the moms that chaperone on days I can't go.

I do thank the PTA volunteers that take on the obligation of organizing the less fun things that take a ton of work and nobody wants to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think in the high participation schools, where parents pay to chaperone, any parent who wants to chaperone should be allowed to.

Sometime there is an artificial limit on number of chaperones and that means that one parent is toting the packed lunches for 4 and 5 kids. This is ridiculous. Are you listening MCPS?

Really, carrying 5 bag lunches is a burden for you PP? Give me a break. I chaperone occasionally in my kids' MCPS classes, and there are way more chaperones than necessary in most cases. I'm always happy if I can do something useful on these trips, since it usually involves me taking the day off work. Last year I bought a kid a pizza lunch after he didn't like the sandwich he'd selected; he was crying (a fourth grader!) and that tiny bit of effort and a few dollars turned his day around. Made my day too. I don't need his parents' thank yous, or anyone else's.

I would be pissed if you got my kid extra food without asking me. They eat the packed lunches. We pack disposable lunches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are so many parents that want to chaperone in DC's classroom, that it is rare to be picked for any field trip. Even when we are paying to chaperone. The teachers will actually say that they want to give all parents a chance to chaperone!

So, no. I don't want to thank them, I want to slap them silly!

Me too. I tried to sign up to chaperone, and the teacher said all 6 slots were filled. I like to go because my dd has food allergies, asthma and ADHD (which means sometimes she gets distracted and wanders off). She is 8.5 though. Her teacher said she would keep dd in her group, and I will have a serious talk with dd before she goes about not eating any food or wandering away.

I would keep her home. Either I go or my child does not. It is not worth the risk.

[Anonymous]

No. I don't expect thanks for the volunteer work I do, and I can't possibly keep track of who chaperoned what trip, or who donated what to the class party to thank them. I also don't expect any thanks when I donate tissues and hand sanitizer to the school.