Anonymous
12/09/2023 11:41
Subject: No field trips so far this year?
Anonymous wrote:We are in DCPS 1st grade. No field trips so far this year. Last year in the fall they did the farm field trip.
I'm okay with it. I think field trips have a lot more meaning for slightly older kids. By 2nd or 3rd, it can be memorable and kids really get something out of it. In early elementary, I think it can actually be stressful for some kids and even the ones who do fine don't really remember most of it.
In DC I think a couple early field trips where they take the metro to places like the MLK library or to visit Union Station are good -- they learn to ride the metro and start to see what the city has to offer. Then add some museums in mid grades. By late elementary they can be doing stuff where they listen to talks by professionals and experts, see plays at the Kennedy Center or Shakespeare Theater, etc.
Also after that incident last fall with the bus driver who was drunk, I have limited interest in putting my kid on one of those buses for a field trip.
Agree. The pumpkin patch field trips are absurd. There’s so much stuff easier to get to in DC that can also fit into what kids are studying.
Anonymous
12/09/2023 11:36
Subject: No field trips so far this year?
APS and my kindergartener has not gone on a field trip yet. I think one per year is usual for our school.
Anonymous
12/09/2023 11:34
Subject: No field trips so far this year?
2nd Grade DCPS has been to two Smithsonian museums so far (one was metro one was bus - VA). I chaperoned one. It's a LOT of work. My group was 5 girls and 3 of them didn't listen and kept running off. One of the boys in another group was swearing at a chaperone and tried to steal something out of the gift shop!
Not enough volunteers has been the problem in my older kids class (they had to beg - they switched a date so I was able to help out there too).
Not enough volunteers has been the problem in my older kids class (they had to beg - they switched a date so I was able to help out there too).
Anonymous
12/09/2023 10:17
Subject: No field trips so far this year?
We've been in two FCPS schools - the first one did a lot of field trips before Covid and was just starting to ramp up after Covid (I hear most grades have done one already). Our new school has done them for a few grades but not the grades my children are in. Not sure if they will happen in the spring or not.
Anonymous
12/09/2023 10:14
Subject: Re:No field trips so far this year?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Field trips suck! They are a ton of work. Teachers have to do these enormous packets for the field trips. What time do we have to do them? I do not think people truly understand the work these packets entail.
Tell us, please.
Different teacher. First we have to actually plan it and get the tickets. We have to provide the district a full itinerary and how every part of it aligns with standards. A permission slip for every single child. Then the nurse has to review every single attendee and give us their health plan and medications and epi pens to ensure they’re safe on the trip. We have to arrange for the cafeteria to provide bagged lunches. Then we have to get chaperones. Then arrange transportation. Then assign chaperones and groups and keep track of everyone. Then ensure we get the money from the kids whose parents signed them up. Then remind the kids whose parents haven’t signed up of the deadline multiple times. It’s a LOT of moving parts.
Thank you - I had no idea the teachers were responsible for all of this. I thought our PTA did a lot of the coordination - do they only provide the money?
Anonymous
12/09/2023 08:14
Subject: No field trips so far this year?
FCPS - 3rd grader has had none yet this year but Had 2 total last year in 2nd. 6th grader has had 2 this year. On full-day trips we have to pay for coach buses bc of bus/driver shortage but usually get school bus for 1/2 day trips.
Anonymous
12/09/2023 07:56
Subject: Re:No field trips so far this year?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Field trips suck! They are a ton of work. Teachers have to do these enormous packets for the field trips. What time do we have to do them? I do not think people truly understand the work these packets entail.
Tell us, please.
Different teacher. First we have to actually plan it and get the tickets. We have to provide the district a full itinerary and how every part of it aligns with standards. A permission slip for every single child. Then the nurse has to review every single attendee and give us their health plan and medications and epi pens to ensure they’re safe on the trip. We have to arrange for the cafeteria to provide bagged lunches. Then we have to get chaperones. Then arrange transportation. Then assign chaperones and groups and keep track of everyone. Then ensure we get the money from the kids whose parents signed them up. Then remind the kids whose parents haven’t signed up of the deadline multiple times. It’s a LOT of moving parts.
Anonymous
12/09/2023 07:53
Subject: No field trips so far this year?
It’s hard to get buses these days. The driver shortage means rarely do they have anyone available to drive field trip and be pulled from the regular route. I have tried to plan field trips and they keep getting kicked back to me for this reason. Lack of transportation.
-teacher
-teacher
Anonymous
12/09/2023 00:37
Subject: No field trips so far this year?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Field trips are a lot of extra work for teachers to plan. I work in a school and they are one of the only optional things that school staff can remove from their plates right now.
+1- We can’t control the kids in the schools, much less out of them. We don’t have cell IPads to keep the kids busy while they wait in line like they are used having when they go out with their parents.
Some of our students were out of control at the Smithsonian in October. I feel bad for the out of town tourists who may have been impact on a once in a lifetime visit with their young children. Prepandemic, we didn’t take our worst behaved students with us on field trips. They stayed at school with worksheets and a teacher who volunteered to take one for the team. Now, it’s unacceptable to exclude them. They predictably ruin the experience for others, including the general public.
Anonymous
12/09/2023 00:30
Subject: No field trips so far this year?
We are in DCPS 1st grade. No field trips so far this year. Last year in the fall they did the farm field trip.
I'm okay with it. I think field trips have a lot more meaning for slightly older kids. By 2nd or 3rd, it can be memorable and kids really get something out of it. In early elementary, I think it can actually be stressful for some kids and even the ones who do fine don't really remember most of it.
In DC I think a couple early field trips where they take the metro to places like the MLK library or to visit Union Station are good -- they learn to ride the metro and start to see what the city has to offer. Then add some museums in mid grades. By late elementary they can be doing stuff where they listen to talks by professionals and experts, see plays at the Kennedy Center or Shakespeare Theater, etc.
Also after that incident last fall with the bus driver who was drunk, I have limited interest in putting my kid on one of those buses for a field trip.
I'm okay with it. I think field trips have a lot more meaning for slightly older kids. By 2nd or 3rd, it can be memorable and kids really get something out of it. In early elementary, I think it can actually be stressful for some kids and even the ones who do fine don't really remember most of it.
In DC I think a couple early field trips where they take the metro to places like the MLK library or to visit Union Station are good -- they learn to ride the metro and start to see what the city has to offer. Then add some museums in mid grades. By late elementary they can be doing stuff where they listen to talks by professionals and experts, see plays at the Kennedy Center or Shakespeare Theater, etc.
Also after that incident last fall with the bus driver who was drunk, I have limited interest in putting my kid on one of those buses for a field trip.
Anonymous
12/09/2023 00:25
Subject: No field trips so far this year?
Meh, I don’t care if field trips never happen. I think there is absolutely value for less fortunate kids who would otherwise never go to the Kennedy center or the spy museum, but for the middle class school my kid attends they’re pointless. My son actually asked to stay home next week when they go on the field trip because he doesn’t want to sit on a bus for an hour each direction just to spend 75 minutes at their destination (a place we’ve already been as a family).
Plus then maybe the PTA could stop working themselves into a frenzy to raise money for these trips (that still cost all the kids $15 to attend)
Plus then maybe the PTA could stop working themselves into a frenzy to raise money for these trips (that still cost all the kids $15 to attend)
Anonymous
12/09/2023 00:23
Subject: No field trips so far this year?
Private school and my 3rd grader has never been on a field trip! Their school has a huge campus with a lot of natural areas, but still. The grades above and below theirs went on field trips last year but for some reason theirs didn’t. Started K in Covid times so maybe the staff decided they wouldn’t know the difference and so they’re not worth the effort for that grade?!
Anonymous
12/08/2023 23:52
Subject: No field trips so far this year?
My DC is in 2nd grade. Farm trip & imagination stage trip in kindergarten, different farm trip & baltimore aquarium in 1st grade last year, and Strathmore & Baltimore zoo (will happen in spring) this year.
I volunteer to be parent chaperon once per year. Kids enjoy field trips.
I volunteer to be parent chaperon once per year. Kids enjoy field trips.
Anonymous
12/08/2023 22:01
Subject: Re:No field trips so far this year?
Anonymous wrote:Field trips suck! They are a ton of work. Teachers have to do these enormous packets for the field trips. What time do we have to do them? I do not think people truly understand the work these packets entail.
Tell us, please.
Anonymous
12/08/2023 21:39
Subject: No field trips so far this year?
My DD is in 2nd grade. LCPS. No field trips in Kindergarten, one field trip last year to a local park, none so far this year. I think she is supposed to be going on one in the spring.