Reply to Paying for fieldtrips for children in need in MCPS

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Don't do this.

Really, it just leads to more increased dependance amongst the parents. It's $8 and the family can come up with the money. The family has to make a choice - buy one less convenience item that week vs. send their kid on the field trip.

It's not sweet, or cute, or helpful. It's the opposite. It creates a constant stream of dependance.

[/quote]

Go take a nap, Ebenezer.[/quote]

Really I think the PP is on to something. Go to school during snack time or go on the fieldtrip and see how many of your kid's classmates bring in snacks-- hot cheetos, juice boxes, cookies, gatorade. I stopped donating to the field trip when I volunteered to go with the class.  I was amazed that kids who didn't pay had several dollars worth of junky snacks, while I made my kid drink from a recycled water bottle and eat a sandwich bag of Kix cereal.  I also was pissed off that a mother came who didn't pay, didn't pay for her kid, and brought a younger sibling who she didn't pay for and she had a nicer smart than I do (she had a smart phone with internet while i still have a flip phone). [/quote]

[b]Well, you know who should be punished for such flagrant displays of wealth as cheetos? The kids' education. By all means, let's make sure the kid gets fewer educational experiences to drive the point home that their parents shouldn't be spending money on juice boxes[/b]. [/quote]

Pp, I love you. I'm in full DCUM love with you! Thank you for being the voice of reason. [/quote]

In general I agree with you, but years of working in a school have unfortunately made me aware of how the attitude of the parent trickles down to the kids. Of course no child should go without food, clothing and shelter but some parents have made it clear to the kids that someone is always willing to provide for them. I've had students actually tell me that their parent didn't send money or supplies in because someone else would pay for them.  Again, not the fault of the kids but it's causing some kids to grow up believing that there is always someone out there who will provide for them without learning the value of providing for themselves.

On the other hand, we also have the parents who, if given a month's notice for a $10 field trip will send in a few dollars a week and then pay the balance of the remaining few dollars on the day of the trip.

I have personally subsidized field trips, after school clubs, snacks and supplies for students. Because whatever choices the parents make, it's not the kid's fault. But it has bothered me a bit when a parent picks their kid up in a late model Escalade when I've just paid for their kid's field trip.

Of course, you never know the real circumstances of anyone's home life. In my experience, the kids who need the real-life background knowledge of a field trip the most are the ones whose parents are most likely not to want to or be able to pay for the trip.  That's why I will do what I can to make sure the kids get the experience. [/quote]

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