Reply to Do parents take off work for field trips?

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[quote=Anonymous] I have two children, both in middle school now.  I have never, never been required to attend a particular field trip in order for my kids to participate.  If anything, all of our schools have had too many parents wanting to attend field trips, and have needed to divide up the trips so everyone has a chance.  There are plenty of trips a school can arrange that does not require this kind of parental involvement on a mandatory basis.

In terms of time off from work, I generally take about two days off each year for field trips. This may be in half days or full days.  Plus, I take approximately four to five days off each year for events at school, whether they be  teacher conferences, graduations, school plays, holiday performances, or the like.   Plus approximately three-four days per year due to snow or other unexpected closures (sometimes my office is also closed if the weather is very bad, but usually not).   In short, for two middle school kids, it winds up being about 10 days off per year, not including sick days.  At our children's school, I'd say I am about average in terms of this type of participation/attendance.

A few things I have found helpful.  First, sign up as early as possible for field trips that work with your schedule and the location of your office.  Second, sign up for parent teacher conference is at the earliest possible moment so I has to get the most work friendly times.  Third, plan in advance with neighborhood families swapping caretaking on snow days,  or at least get a group together who can email the morning of and figure out how everyone can have time to get some of his or her work done during the day.  Better yet, arrange for a neighborhood high school student to automatically come to your house to babysit the kids on snow days (even if just for a few hours if that will let you move projects forward and still get time sledding with the kids) if that will allow you to work from home.

Also, speak up at your childrens' school. The administrators may not realize the aggregate number of days you are expected to take off,  and they have no way of knowing  how parents feel, and what time they realistically have available, if we don't tell them.  Often times, a school can decide to do a trip simply because it has been done in the past and was fun. No reason the school can't think of another program that is equally enjoyable and instructive, and that doesn't require parents to use potentially limited days off from work.   To me, there is nothing key to your child attending a pumpkin patch with his preschool. That is something you can do as a family, or with a group of friends over a weekend.   And I am guessing that the preschool teachers are not particularly excited about a field trip where all of the parents are there. Honestly, what a pain for them.  
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