4th grade field trip angst

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let her go. It's different going with a bunch of peers, your classmates, friends. It could be boring but it's part of the kid experience, growing up.

Why don't you care if your nine year old has no supervision on a 7 hour bus ride?

Wha? No adults on the bus besides the driver? No way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let her go. It's different going with a bunch of peers, your classmates, friends. It could be boring but it's part of the kid experience, growing up.

Why don't you care if your nine year old has no supervision on a 7 hour bus ride?

Wha? No adults on the bus besides the driver? No way.

The "chaperones" are required to drive themselves in their own cars.
Seems mighty suspicious, OP. Is the teacher a young 20-something without much experience? Something is not right....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thing is, who exactly is supervising the kids on the bus?? Hate to tell y'all, but this is the age when some of them are doing oral sex on the school buses, before and after school.
Listen to your gut here, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let her go. It's different going with a bunch of peers, your classmates, friends. It could be boring but it's part of the kid experience, growing up.

Why don't you care if your nine year old has no supervision on a 7 hour bus ride?

Wha? No adults on the bus besides the driver? No way.

The "chaperones" are required to drive themselves in their own cars.
Seems mighty suspicious, OP. Is the teacher a young 20-something without much experience? Something is not right....

Yeah, that doesn't sound right. This can't be a public school. And a private school is asking for a lawsuit if something happens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let her go. It's different going with a bunch of peers, your classmates, friends. It could be boring but it's part of the kid experience, growing up.

Why don't you care if your nine year old has no supervision on a 7 hour bus ride?

Yes, because we all know the kids are gonna be alllll alone on the bus. No adults whatsoever!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let her go. It's different going with a bunch of peers, your classmates, friends. It could be boring but it's part of the kid experience, growing up.

Why don't you care if your nine year old has no supervision on a 7 hour bus ride?

Yes, because we all know the kids are gonna be alllll alone on the bus. No adults whatsoever!

You sound like a nine year old yourself. What's your point?

[Anonymous]

You can't argue with Oprah, OP. Listen to your inner voices. Someone will be pecked to death by eagles, if they even make it up the windy slopes and survive the oral sex fest on the bus.

[Anonymous]

OP here, I meant parent chaperones would have to drive seprately. The teachers, who have to go, will be on the bus.

I am likely going to wait for the principal to answer my questions then dd and I can decide together.

[Anonymous]

With so many educational programs in the DC area it seems crazy to put them on a bus for a trip to the Poconos. So many of the buses are unsafe and have drivers with questionable driving records I would say no.

[Anonymous]

So OP, the field trip is for something like this? http://www.peec.org/programs/school-programs My 4th grader would be out of his mind excited for something like this.

I can't believe that all of these anxious posts here are for real. First the horror at the Poconos field trip is that it's a long trip with no discernible educational value. Then, once the educational value has been established, you're petrified of winds knocking the bus over? Or 9yos engaging in sex acts on the bus? Or too much use of electronics? Or the fact that there are no adults on the bus so it's Lord of the Flies time? What else?

I don't think my kids are at the same school, but here's how it worked for my 4th grader's recent field trip: they assembled at 7am and returned close to 6pm (later than planned.) Most parent chaperones are required to drive since they can only fit a certain number on the bus (the first few parents to sign up get to go on the bus, although as the teachers explained, it gets really loud and most parents prefer to drive themselves.) Kids are not allowed to bring or use electronics. The field trip cost included a stop on the ride home for snacks, and kids were encouraged to pack AM snacks/breakfast in addition to lunch. They had an amazing day doing science/environmental related learning that included a museum as well as a marsh expedition (or something like that) led by naturalist. My kid had the time of his life and enjoyed every moment including the long bus rides where he read books and presumably acted like a goofball with his friends. (No sex though, I'm quite sure - he's still in the girls-have-cooties phase.)

I'm hoping some of the hysteria here is posted by trolls, or at least FTMs of infants who don't get it. My son is pretty immature, and we're not free range parents by any means, and it would just never occur to me to fear a long field trip with 9 and 10yos. Worst case scenario is that they are bored but I can't understand parents who concoct such ludicrous reasons to protect their children from...boredom. And( the truth is that most kids find a field trip more fun than sitting in a classroom all day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I don't think my kids are at the same school, but here's how it worked for my 4th grader's recent field trip: they assembled at 7am and returned close to 6pm (later than planned.) Most parent chaperones are required to drive since they can only fit a certain number on the bus (the first few parents to sign up get to go on the bus, although as the teachers explained, it gets really loud and most parents prefer to drive themselves.) Kids are not allowed to bring or use electronics. The field trip cost included a stop on the ride home for snacks, and kids were encouraged to pack AM snacks/breakfast in addition to lunch. They had an amazing day doing science/environmental related learning that included a museum as well as a marsh expedition (or something like that) led by naturalist. My kid had the time of his life and enjoyed every moment including the long bus rides where he read books and presumably acted like a goofball with his friends. (No sex though, I'm quite sure - he's still in the girls-have-cooties phase.)

PP, I'm not the OP, but I have suggested that she keep her child home if she doesn't feel the trip will be valuable.

What you describe, above, sounds like an appropriate, and well though out and well planned field trip that had educational value! I'd have no hesitations allowing my child go on such a trip.

Unfortunately, I have been a chaperone on some field trips where it was obvious that the trips were NOT well planned. It was disorganized, hectic, lots of standing around waiting as there was confusion about where the bus would meet us after the program; lack of clear time tables and lack of clear instruction to the parent chaperones (all of whom had technically been cleared for being chaperones due to lack of being a registered child sex offender, I guess, but several of whom lacked good judgment and the ability to handle the kids they were assigned to supervise) We did not stop for snacks or pack snacks; kids were cranky, teachers got cranky. And this was just for a LOCAL field trip to a place I could have just as easily taken my own child, leading me to be a lot more particular about which field trips I allow her to go on.

Since then, my kids have been on some great, well planned field trips, but I need to have some assurance in advance that this teacher knows what he or she is doing.

[Anonymous]

I'm thinking if the bus doesn't have a restroom, the bus will stop along the way so the kids can stretch their legs and use the bathroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 9 year old daughter came home with a permission slip last weekfor me to sign for a field trip to the Poconos this spring. Commercial bus picks them up BEFORE 6 a.m. and returns home at least as late as 7:30 p.m. That is about 7 hours on the road for the day. Don't know yet if bus has restroom as principal has not returned my call.

I am not an overly protective parent but both DH and I are inclined to not let her go. Our rule of thumb is that we would not let the kids do something at school we would not do as a family. Never would we put our kids thru such a long time in the car for such a trip. We would stop and spend the night.

Chaperons will be there but they have to drive their own cars.

I just see a lot of waiting around for others and not being able to really enjoy the nature in such a big group. They recently went to the state capital and it sounds like it was a pretty miserable experience for everyone. No walking around, no seeing anything, just listening to a lady talk.

What do you think?

What did they tell you the plan would be once they get there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm thinking if the bus doesn't have a restroom, the bus will stop along the way so the kids can stretch their legs and use the bathroom.

Of course the bus will have a bathroom.

[Anonymous]

I went on every field trip for school and girl scouts. No thought was put into by my parents except that they would be rid of me for the day.

Looking back, lots of the trips were fun, but many were not. I would have probably gone on most but I think if someone had explained the actual logistics and what we were going to do on the trip, I would have skipped some of them no matter what friends were going.

I think it's fine for parents and kids to evaluate a field trip and decide not to go. The truth is - with very rare exception - no field trip is going to be a once in a lifetime opportunity and it's silly for adults and kids to have that premise.

I recall vividly one girl scout field trip were I got my first migraine. I was in serious pain and wanted to go home but we were on our way to West Virginia and there was no option. Looking back, I realize that the two troop leaders were somewhat stuck - they couldn't leave the group so had I actually need medical attention they would have had to take the whole troop of girls. Yes, it was poor planning on their part but who knows? maybe that morning another adult canceled? But this incident gives me pause when talking about field trips, etc. There needs to be enough adults - and not just any adults - but to be frank, educated adults who can take charge of situations. I can't say that I will allow my now 3rd grader to go on every field trip or outing. It's not about being a helicopter parent. It's about just being a parent in general.