I went to Mexico when I was 14 with my Girl Scout troop.

Just don't buy the we're-just-a-regular-family-who-shops-at-Target White House propaganda and then you'll feel better.

Whether you like it or not, this is a very, very wealthy family who send their daughter to an elite private school that costs more per year than most Americans earn per year. It is what it is.

The 25 Secret Service agents that are being used on the trip is, however, excessive by any standard. The family should reimburse the taxpayers for any security for the trip that is beyond what is normally spent to protect this child on a daily basis. After all, this is a completely voluntary trip to a very dangerous country -- we shouldn't have to foot additional security costs for that choice.

Give it a rest OP. I went on a 10-day European trip with my French class as a HS sophomore or junior, and that was a million years ago, in nowheresville USA and the trip was the only time any of us had ever left the country. For kids growing up today in this country and particularly in any major metropolitan area, they routinely get exposed to international issues and communities. I have friends whose kids have done Habitat for Humanity projects in Africa, other community service in Central America, and others who did volunteer work in the former Soviet Union. I think it's wonderful. And anyone who trashes the President or his family because his daughter was doing charity work in Mexico is truly awful.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I was 15 I went on a school trip to Paris over spring break and I wasn't the youngest one.

MYOB OP.

It becomes my business when my 14 year old wants to participate because all her friends do it....

Then complain to the school that sponsors the trip. What can I tell you?

But let this be a lesson, OP - in the future, you shouldn't trust the conservative propaganda you usually rely on. If they got this wrong (school trip v. spring-break-with-friends in Mexico), imagine how badly they screw up truly important stuff.

Not OP but I actually had no idea that 13-14 went abroad on school trips. I am guessing that is a private school activity so not one we will likely have to deal with. Do parents go along or is it teachers providing supervision?

I think traveling is a fantastic experience - just not sure about how young is too young.

I went to Spain over spring break with a school trip when I was 15. Public school in NJ, not private.

And Malia has secret service whether she's in Mexico or not. Would you really want the president's daughter unprotected?

You're an idiot, OP. Plenty of kids go abroad at 14 with school sponsored, chaperoned trips, including my own. Where have you been?

When I was 14 I went on a school trip to Italy with a bunch of my classmates. It was amazing. I'd never had food like that, and I remember looking at the statute of David by Michelangelo and the world around me just went silent for about 30 seconds.

Anonymous wrote:When I was 15 I went on a school trip to Paris over spring break and I wasn't the youngest one.

MYOB OP.

It becomes my business when my 14 year old wants to participate because all her friends do it....

when I was 12 (yes, 12) my parents let me go to Canada for 2 weeks as part of a sports exchange. Beyond awesome.

When I was 15 I went on a school trip to Paris over spring break and I wasn't the youngest one.

MYOB OP.

Anonymous wrote:Would you let your 14 year old daughter join the "group of friends" who went with Malia Obama to Mexico for spring break? Yes, yes, I know that 25 secret service agents went with them. (And of course, we the taxpayers are footing the bill, so I might be tempted to send DD along just to get full value for that.)

But still. 14 years old and going with a group of friends to Mexico for a week? Did they rent a place on their own?

No way, in my world.

Even the Freepers say leave it alone.

Leave the kids alone.

Stop. It.

Do your research, dear. It is a school sponsored trip, not a booze cruise in Cancun.

Would you let your 14 year old daughter join the "group of friends" who went with Malia Obama to Mexico for spring break? Yes, yes, I know that 25 secret service agents went with them. (And of course, we the taxpayers are footing the bill, so I might be tempted to send DD along just to get full value for that.)

But still. 14 years old and going with a group of friends to Mexico for a week? Did they rent a place on their own?

No way, in my world.