Does your child's school take enough field trips?

[Anonymous]

My DS is in MS and I feel they do not take enough field trips. For instance, they are learning about US Government and they do not have any field trips scheduled to visit the many educational tours I see bus loads of kids attending from out of town each day. I think this is odd, especially for the amount of tuition. I know the local public schools take a lot of field trips and I assumed privates would too. To live in an an area with all of this history and not partake in much of it seems strange. Of course I plan to visit many of them over the break, but it would be nice if the school would arrange a trip to Library of Congress, National Archives. National History Museum or even the Supreme Court. Are other schools the same or is this just my DC's school?

[Anonymous]

I think it depends on the school and the grade. One of our schools used to do more field trips, but they have cut back because of budget issues. Another school has the third graders out on trips almost every other week between the science oriented trips and the US history oriented trips and service oriented trips.

[Anonymous]

Our kids are in privates and publics. The public schools do seem to have more field trips, maybe double the number, and actually I think they choose more interesting trips as well.

[Anonymous]

That's interesting, because you would think it would be the opposite, considering the smaller number of students and the ability to pay. I find it disappointing.

[Anonymous]

If you want your kid to go, take them. Its probably a funding issue as well as time. Our small private does one monthly, but some are inhouse. We have to pay extra for it (required).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our kids are in privates and publics. The public schools do seem to have more field trips, maybe double the number, and actually I think they choose more interesting trips as well.

We have had the exact opposite experience. Our child in private MS has taken lots of field trips. Our child in 8th grade in a W MCPS school has taken just 1 in 3 years. And in elementary school she had only 2 field trips total between K and 3rd grade. It made me sad for the kids. Thankfully the 4th and 5th grade teachers planned several great ones. Interestingly my current 2nd grader at the same MCPS school has several planned this year and seems on par with what our private K-8 school has planned for their 2nd grade.

[Anonymous]

My kids went to CHDS and field trips are a core part of the curriculum. They do somewhat fewer by middle school, maybe 2x/month. The trips are always linked to what they are learning. Typically field trips are short - a couple of hours - so it doesn't disrupt the academic schedule.

[Anonymous]

There is a pretty strong assumption at the privates that children have lots of exposure to the various Smithsonian museums and the institutions of government. At DC's school, there's more of an emphasis on bringing people to the school so its less disruptive of the class schedule. I'm sure my DC would complain that the trips were pointless unless they had special behind the scenes tours or access to big wigs. The teachers all seem to have plenty of budget for field trips but they try to use them in a way that's tightly integrated with the school work. For example, seeing a Shakespeare play at the Folger when they read it, but the coincidence is a matter a chance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is a pretty strong assumption at the privates that children have lots of exposure to the various Smithsonian museums and the institutions of government. At DC's school, there's more of an emphasis on bringing people to the school so its less disruptive of the class schedule. I'm sure my DC would complain that the trips were pointless unless they had special behind the scenes tours or access to big wigs. The teachers all seem to have plenty of budget for field trips but they try to use them in a way that's tightly integrated with the school work. For example, seeing a Shakespeare play at the Folger when they read it, but the coincidence is a matter a chance.

"Access to Big wigs" or "Behind the scenes tours" ... Are you serious? If so, then the school and/or you are raising an entitled child...
Your child needs to understand that many Americans and Int'l people may, if fortunate, get to visit Washington, DC once during their lives.

You're setting your child up for many disappointments in life if he/she sees field trips as 'pointless' unless they involve a big wig. Unless, of course, your child has a huge trust fund.
Time to teach that child about Gratitude.

As to school field trips, our school did more in pre-K ... once in grade school, the field trips were not done often. I don't know why. Possibly 'school' gets more serious and the curriculum calls for the students to stick to their schedules.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a pretty strong assumption at the privates that children have lots of exposure to the various Smithsonian museums and the institutions of government. At DC's school, there's more of an emphasis on bringing people to the school so its less disruptive of the class schedule. I'm sure my DC would complain that the trips were pointless unless they had special behind the scenes tours or access to big wigs. The teachers all seem to have plenty of budget for field trips but they try to use them in a way that's tightly integrated with the school work. For example, seeing a Shakespeare play at the Folger when they read it, but the coincidence is a matter a chance.

"Access to Big wigs" or "Behind the scenes tours" ... Are you serious? If so, then the school and/or you are raising an entitled child...
Your child needs to understand that many Americans and Int'l people may, if fortunate, get to visit Washington, DC once during their lives.

You're setting your child up for many disappointments in life if he/she sees field trips as 'pointless' unless they involve a big wig. Unless, of course, your child has a huge trust fund.
Time to teach that child about Gratitude.

As to school field trips, our school did more in pre-K ... once in grade school, the field trips were not done often. I don't know why. Possibly 'school' gets more serious and the curriculum calls for the students to stick to their schedules.

Different PP. I wouldn't bother getting bent out of shape about that "entitled" post. There is a rampant troll on the threads who has probably got all of zero children and spends a lot of time pushing people's buttons to get them angry and / or defensive.

[Anonymous]

Not at all. We are so close to DC and yet my kids rarely go on field trips of any substance. It's irritating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a pretty strong assumption at the privates that children have lots of exposure to the various Smithsonian museums and the institutions of government. At DC's school, there's more of an emphasis on bringing people to the school so its less disruptive of the class schedule. I'm sure my DC would complain that the trips were pointless unless they had special behind the scenes tours or access to big wigs. The teachers all seem to have plenty of budget for field trips but they try to use them in a way that's tightly integrated with the school work. For example, seeing a Shakespeare play at the Folger when they read it, but the coincidence is a matter a chance.

"Access to Big wigs" or "Behind the scenes tours" ... Are you serious? If so, then the school and/or you are raising an entitled child...
Your child needs to understand that many Americans and Int'l people may, if fortunate, get to visit Washington, DC once during their lives.

You're setting your child up for many disappointments in life if he/she sees field trips as 'pointless' unless they involve a big wig. Unless, of course, your child has a huge trust fund.
Time to teach that child about Gratitude.

As to school field trips, our school did more in pre-K ... once in grade school, the field trips were not done often. I don't know why. Possibly 'school' gets more serious and the curriculum calls for the students to stick to their schedules.

Umm...we live in DC, we aren't tourists. Our child has been going to the FREE museums all the time since DC was a toddler. We are on an independent school forum and in Washington tuition runs $35-40k. So yes, the vast majority of students are from very privileged families who already have easy access and comfort in cultural venues and the halls of government.

Am I mistaken to think involved parents know how to take full advantage of the usual tourist stops?

[Anonymous]

If a school does not have their own buses, that could be part of it. I recently tried to book a school bus for a scout trip and it was over $700 for a single bus for 6 hours (of which total drive time was about 30 mins each way)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a pretty strong assumption at the privates that children have lots of exposure to the various Smithsonian museums and the institutions of government. At DC's school, there's more of an emphasis on bringing people to the school so its less disruptive of the class schedule. I'm sure my DC would complain that the trips were pointless unless they had special behind the scenes tours or access to big wigs. The teachers all seem to have plenty of budget for field trips but they try to use them in a way that's tightly integrated with the school work. For example, seeing a Shakespeare play at the Folger when they read it, but the coincidence is a matter a chance.

"Access to Big wigs" or "Behind the scenes tours" ... Are you serious? If so, then the school and/or you are raising an entitled child...
Your child needs to understand that many Americans and Int'l people may, if fortunate, get to visit Washington, DC once during their lives.

You're setting your child up for many disappointments in life if he/she sees field trips as 'pointless' unless they involve a big wig. Unless, of course, your child has a huge trust fund.
Time to teach that child about Gratitude.

As to school field trips, our school did more in pre-K ... once in grade school, the field trips were not done often. I don't know why. Possibly 'school' gets more serious and the curriculum calls for the students to stick to their schedules.

+100. PP's child sounds like a spoiled brat. It also sounds as if that apple didn't fall too far from the tree.

[Anonymous]

OP, to answer your question, yes my child's school, WES, has many field trips in middle school. At the start of the school year there is an overnight out to the countryside so the teachers and students can bond. Lots of hiking, canoeing, etc.

IN