Alcohol on school trip

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Going back to the OPs question (not whether there should be a rule against drinking on the trip, but whether having a glass of wine is a fireable offense even if there is such a rule):

There are a lot of possible disciplinary steps before firing, and a glass of wine at dinner should be met with any of those steps, not dismissal.

Nope. I am 0% ok with the teachers watching my child on overnight school trips have any alcohol.

My kid and their class actually *did* experience an emergency while on a middle school trip, with a hotel fire at about 1 am. Fortunately very minor, and all guests were let back in within an hour, but I am thankful that the teachers caring for 25 pre-teens full of adrenaline were fully alert. And I’d happily treat them to a bottle of whatever they’d like after they got home, they earned it.

At 1am, I expect the chaperones to be asleep, and to be awakened by the fire alarm like everyone else. A glass of wine with dinner is not going to prevent them from responding appropriately to this emergency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. Any adult willing to take kids overnight should have a glass with dinner, let alone after hours and off duty.
But if you’re the teacher and you’re worried then err on the side of caution and don’t. If you can’t stop at one, then definitely don’t.

+1. An adult chaperone of legal drinking age certainly can have a glass of wine with dinner or when off duty. Being drunk when chaperoning is very different and not acceptable.

+1,000,000

I agree with a previous poster who stated the obvious - there is no "off duty" until the trip itself is over and students are no longer in the care of the school or chaperone. Therefore, the policy should be no alcohol - wine or otherwise.
For those of you who disagree - don't ever volunteer to be a chaperone!

Teachers are humans and deserve to be treated with respect.

Of course they are and of course they do. What's your point? Requiring a teacher chaperone to refrain from drinking while on a school trip is not signaling that teacher's are not human nor is the requirement a sign of disrespect.

Maybe in your mind but I'm getting they're "servant" vibes with some of the ways you are framing things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At my school (where I am a teacher and occasionally chaperone school trips) we are required to sign a form stating our responsibilities, and one of the requirements is to not drink alcohol while on the trip.

same at our school. Although we don't sign anything, we are reminded that the employee handbook states that a field trip, regardless of length, is considered an extension of the school day. Therefore, teachers may not drink alcohol during the trip, just as they cannot do so during a school day. And, no, you are never "off duty" during an overnight trip.

Are you accruing overtime for that "extension of the school day?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Going back to the OPs question (not whether there should be a rule against drinking on the trip, but whether having a glass of wine is a fireable offense even if there is such a rule):

There are a lot of possible disciplinary steps before firing, and a glass of wine at dinner should be met with any of those steps, not dismissal.

Nope. I am 0% ok with the teachers watching my child on overnight school trips have any alcohol.

My kid and their class actually *did* experience an emergency while on a middle school trip, with a hotel fire at about 1 am. Fortunately very minor, and all guests were let back in within an hour, but I am thankful that the teachers caring for 25 pre-teens full of adrenaline were fully alert. And I’d happily treat them to a bottle of whatever they’d like after they got home, they earned it.

At 1am, I expect the chaperones to be asleep, and to be awakened by the fire alarm like everyone else. A glass of wine with dinner is not going to prevent them from responding appropriately to this emergency.

And if the fire alarm happens at dinner?

You’re really ok with the chaperones of young children drinking while caring for those children? I will repeat many other posts: there is no “off-duty” while chaperoning an overnight school trip, even if the kids are not currently physically under that adult’s supervision. An emergency could happen at any time at every adult is responsible for those children.

If I hire a babysitter, I am not ok with that person having a glass of wine after the kid has been put to bed, even if the babysitter is over 21. Same thing for adult chaperones of school trips.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Going back to the OPs question (not whether there should be a rule against drinking on the trip, but whether having a glass of wine is a fireable offense even if there is such a rule):

There are a lot of possible disciplinary steps before firing, and a glass of wine at dinner should be met with any of those steps, not dismissal.

Nope. I am 0% ok with the teachers watching my child on overnight school trips have any alcohol.

My kid and their class actually *did* experience an emergency while on a middle school trip, with a hotel fire at about 1 am. Fortunately very minor, and all guests were let back in within an hour, but I am thankful that the teachers caring for 25 pre-teens full of adrenaline were fully alert. And I’d happily treat them to a bottle of whatever they’d like after they got home, they earned it.

At 1am, I expect the chaperones to be asleep, and to be awakened by the fire alarm like everyone else. A glass of wine with dinner is not going to prevent them from responding appropriately to this emergency.

And if the fire alarm happens at dinner?

You’re really ok with the chaperones of young children drinking while caring for those children? I will repeat many other posts: there is no “off-duty” while chaperoning an overnight school trip, even if the kids are not currently physically under that adult’s supervision. An emergency could happen at any time at every adult is responsible for those children.

If I hire a babysitter, I am not ok with that person having a glass of wine after the kid has been put to bed, even if the babysitter is over 21. Same thing for adult chaperones of school trips.

young kids don't have overnight school trips

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Going back to the OPs question (not whether there should be a rule against drinking on the trip, but whether having a glass of wine is a fireable offense even if there is such a rule):

There are a lot of possible disciplinary steps before firing, and a glass of wine at dinner should be met with any of those steps, not dismissal.

Nope. I am 0% ok with the teachers watching my child on overnight school trips have any alcohol.

My kid and their class actually *did* experience an emergency while on a middle school trip, with a hotel fire at about 1 am. Fortunately very minor, and all guests were let back in within an hour, but I am thankful that the teachers caring for 25 pre-teens full of adrenaline were fully alert. And I’d happily treat them to a bottle of whatever they’d like after they got home, they earned it.

At 1am, I expect the chaperones to be asleep, and to be awakened by the fire alarm like everyone else. A glass of wine with dinner is not going to prevent them from responding appropriately to this emergency.

And if the fire alarm happens at dinner?

You’re really ok with the chaperones of young children drinking while caring for those children? I will repeat many other posts: there is no “off-duty” while chaperoning an overnight school trip, even if the kids are not currently physically under that adult’s supervision. An emergency could happen at any time at every adult is responsible for those children.

If I hire a babysitter, I am not ok with that person having a glass of wine after the kid has been put to bed, even if the babysitter is over 21. Same thing for adult chaperones of school trips.

That explains everything.

Teachers are neither babysitters nor your employees. As long as they're not getting sloshed it's none of my business if they have a glass of wine with dinner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. Any adult willing to take kids overnight should have a glass with dinner, let alone after hours and off duty.
But if you’re the teacher and you’re worried then err on the side of caution and don’t. If you can’t stop at one, then definitely don’t.

+1. An adult chaperone of legal drinking age certainly can have a glass of wine with dinner or when off duty. Being drunk when chaperoning is very different and not acceptable.

+1,000,000

I agree with a previous poster who stated the obvious - there is no "off duty" until the trip itself is over and students are no longer in the care of the school or chaperone. Therefore, the policy should be no alcohol - wine or otherwise.
For those of you who disagree - don't ever volunteer to be a chaperone!

Teachers are humans and deserve to be treated with respect.

Of course they are and of course they do. What's your point? Requiring a teacher chaperone to refrain from drinking while on a school trip is not signaling that teacher's are not human nor is the requirement a sign of disrespect.

Maybe in your mind but I'm getting they're "servant" vibes with some of the ways you are framing things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Going back to the OPs question (not whether there should be a rule against drinking on the trip, but whether having a glass of wine is a fireable offense even if there is such a rule):

There are a lot of possible disciplinary steps before firing, and a glass of wine at dinner should be met with any of those steps, not dismissal.

Nope. I am 0% ok with the teachers watching my child on overnight school trips have any alcohol.

My kid and their class actually *did* experience an emergency while on a middle school trip, with a hotel fire at about 1 am. Fortunately very minor, and all guests were let back in within an hour, but I am thankful that the teachers caring for 25 pre-teens full of adrenaline were fully alert. And I’d happily treat them to a bottle of whatever they’d like after they got home, they earned it.

At 1am, I expect the chaperones to be asleep, and to be awakened by the fire alarm like everyone else. A glass of wine with dinner is not going to prevent them from responding appropriately to this emergency.

And if the fire alarm happens at dinner?

You’re really ok with the chaperones of young children drinking while caring for those children? I will repeat many other posts: there is no “off-duty” while chaperoning an overnight school trip, even if the kids are not currently physically under that adult’s supervision. An emergency could happen at any time at every adult is responsible for those children.

If I hire a babysitter, I am not ok with that person having a glass of wine after the kid has been put to bed, even if the babysitter is over 21. Same thing for adult chaperones of school trips.

That explains everything.

Teachers are neither babysitters nor your employees. As long as they're not getting sloshed it's none of my business if they have a glass of wine with dinner.

It is when they are still responsible for the care of children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Going back to the OPs question (not whether there should be a rule against drinking on the trip, but whether having a glass of wine is a fireable offense even if there is such a rule):

There are a lot of possible disciplinary steps before firing, and a glass of wine at dinner should be met with any of those steps, not dismissal.

Nope. I am 0% ok with the teachers watching my child on overnight school trips have any alcohol.

My kid and their class actually *did* experience an emergency while on a middle school trip, with a hotel fire at about 1 am. Fortunately very minor, and all guests were let back in within an hour, but I am thankful that the teachers caring for 25 pre-teens full of adrenaline were fully alert. And I’d happily treat them to a bottle of whatever they’d like after they got home, they earned it.

At 1am, I expect the chaperones to be asleep, and to be awakened by the fire alarm like everyone else. A glass of wine with dinner is not going to prevent them from responding appropriately to this emergency.

And if the fire alarm happens at dinner?

You’re really ok with the chaperones of young children drinking while caring for those children? I will repeat many other posts: there is no “off-duty” while chaperoning an overnight school trip, even if the kids are not currently physically under that adult’s supervision. An emergency could happen at any time at every adult is responsible for those children.

If I hire a babysitter, I am not ok with that person having a glass of wine after the kid has been put to bed, even if the babysitter is over 21. Same thing for adult chaperones of school trips.

young kids don't have overnight school trips

Interesting. My kid had overnight trips starting in first grade. I’d consider 6-7 years old pretty young.

But I don’t think teachers chaperoning MS or HS trips should be drinking in the job, either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Going back to the OPs question (not whether there should be a rule against drinking on the trip, but whether having a glass of wine is a fireable offense even if there is such a rule):

There are a lot of possible disciplinary steps before firing, and a glass of wine at dinner should be met with any of those steps, not dismissal.

Nope. I am 0% ok with the teachers watching my child on overnight school trips have any alcohol.

My kid and their class actually *did* experience an emergency while on a middle school trip, with a hotel fire at about 1 am. Fortunately very minor, and all guests were let back in within an hour, but I am thankful that the teachers caring for 25 pre-teens full of adrenaline were fully alert. And I’d happily treat them to a bottle of whatever they’d like after they got home, they earned it.

At 1am, I expect the chaperones to be asleep, and to be awakened by the fire alarm like everyone else. A glass of wine with dinner is not going to prevent them from responding appropriately to this emergency.

And if the fire alarm happens at dinner?

You’re really ok with the chaperones of young children drinking while caring for those children? I will repeat many other posts: there is no “off-duty” while chaperoning an overnight school trip, even if the kids are not currently physically under that adult’s supervision. An emergency could happen at any time at every adult is responsible for those children.

If I hire a babysitter, I am not ok with that person having a glass of wine after the kid has been put to bed, even if the babysitter is over 21. Same thing for adult chaperones of school trips.

young kids don't have overnight school trips

Interesting. My kid had overnight trips starting in first grade. I’d consider 6-7 years old pretty young.

But I don’t think teachers chaperoning MS or HS trips should be drinking in the job, either.

What kind of overnight trip is a 1st grader going on? Sorry, that’s nuts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Going back to the OPs question (not whether there should be a rule against drinking on the trip, but whether having a glass of wine is a fireable offense even if there is such a rule):

There are a lot of possible disciplinary steps before firing, and a glass of wine at dinner should be met with any of those steps, not dismissal.

Nope. I am 0% ok with the teachers watching my child on overnight school trips have any alcohol.

My kid and their class actually *did* experience an emergency while on a middle school trip, with a hotel fire at about 1 am. Fortunately very minor, and all guests were let back in within an hour, but I am thankful that the teachers caring for 25 pre-teens full of adrenaline were fully alert. And I’d happily treat them to a bottle of whatever they’d like after they got home, they earned it.

At 1am, I expect the chaperones to be asleep, and to be awakened by the fire alarm like everyone else. A glass of wine with dinner is not going to prevent them from responding appropriately to this emergency.

And if the fire alarm happens at dinner?

You’re really ok with the chaperones of young children drinking while caring for those children? I will repeat many other posts: there is no “off-duty” while chaperoning an overnight school trip, even if the kids are not currently physically under that adult’s supervision. An emergency could happen at any time at every adult is responsible for those children.

If I hire a babysitter, I am not ok with that person having a glass of wine after the kid has been put to bed, even if the babysitter is over 21. Same thing for adult chaperones of school trips.

young kids don't have overnight school trips

Interesting. My kid had overnight trips starting in first grade. I’d consider 6-7 years old pretty young.

But I don’t think teachers chaperoning MS or HS trips should be drinking in the job, either.

What kind of overnight trip is a 1st grader going on? Sorry, that’s nuts.

Especially without their parents!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. Any adult willing to take kids overnight should have a glass with dinner, let alone after hours and off duty.
But if you’re the teacher and you’re worried then err on the side of caution and don’t. If you can’t stop at one, then definitely don’t.

+1. An adult chaperone of legal drinking age certainly can have a glass of wine with dinner or when off duty. Being drunk when chaperoning is very different and not acceptable.

+1,000,000

I agree with a previous poster who stated the obvious - there is no "off duty" until the trip itself is over and students are no longer in the care of the school or chaperone. Therefore, the policy should be no alcohol - wine or otherwise.
For those of you who disagree - don't ever volunteer to be a chaperone!

Teachers are humans and deserve to be treated with respect.

Of course they are and of course they do. What's your point? Requiring a teacher chaperone to refrain from drinking while on a school trip is not signaling that teacher's are not human nor is the requirement a sign of disrespect.

I’m a teacher who chaperones overnight trips. I have no problem refraining from alcohol for several days.

And parent chaperones are also supposed to follow the rule. I’ve had to remind some in the past that they were clearly told that policy extends to them, too.

[Anonymous]

This thread has continued to debate the RULE, which most people agree with: no drinking while chaperoning.

But the question was about the CONSEQUENCE FOR BREAKING THE RULE. And I for one think firing for the OP example of one glass of wine “after hours” is disproportionate. Though lesser consequences make sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread has continued to debate the RULE, which most people agree with: no drinking while chaperoning.

But the question was about the CONSEQUENCE FOR BREAKING THE RULE. And I for one think firing for the OP example of one glass of wine “after hours” is disproportionate. Though lesser consequences make sense.

It would be absolutely absurd to fire someone for one glass of wine “after hours.”

It’s already near impossible to find people willing to chaperone. Teachers have to arrange their own childcare. Often they are leaving responsibilities at the school, so they have to make arrangements ahead of time to accommodate this absence. And, let’s not forget, they aren’t paid very well and these trips are 16 hour days.

So to come down hard on the angel doing so much already? Yeah, that’s too harsh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread has continued to debate the RULE, which most people agree with: no drinking while chaperoning.

But the question was about the CONSEQUENCE FOR BREAKING THE RULE. And I for one think firing for the OP example of one glass of wine “after hours” is disproportionate. Though lesser consequences make sense.

Good luck finding people to chaperone without significant additional financial incentives.