Anonymous wrote:Not the school culture: The PA Board's culture. And actually only 3 out of the 4 Board Member's culture. Change is a comin'....

Next year's president refused to participate in the 5th grade fund raising or help in any way. Her son is going on the trip and benefitting from the $50,000 given by the board but yet she didn't lift a finger to help the other parents raise any money. It might mean "change is a comin'" but that doesn't sound like it is moving in the direction you think it might be going. I can only hope the new members of the board will be able to keep the momentum going and not allow a few loud parents to run the show.

I fail to see why it's a great idea to take two weeks off for a tour to China but a terrible idea to takes two weeks and do volunteer work in Chinatown or enrichment activities at school.

We could debate which has the best educational benefits. Why not just let families decide for themselves? Some will choose one, some another. No one would feel left out, and everyone would get a special experience.

seriously? you want the school to offer two weeks off? do you think the PCSB or the Board would ever sanction this? Get real. Either go with the school or don't go. and think about how much you could offer on a trip to the rest of the class.

I've been lurking on the outsides of the trip discussion for a while, as my child is not yet a 5th grader, but I want to bring up one factor that has not yet been mentioned here, as far as I know.

Our child has one parent with a Chinese background and one parent who is not. We have in fact already been to China, to visit relatives and to see the sights. If I was going to take my 10 year old on a trip in the middle of the school year, it would NOT be go on a group tour of Tian An Men Square, forbidden city, great wall, etc, although these are certainly worthy places to see. Rather, my kid would be running around with cousins in the housing estate, or the alley, playing games, using the language, and generally absorbing the culture more so than any group tour would provide. Or perhaps they'd see how much their cousins have to study and memorize for school and wouldn't complain so much at their homework. And of course they'd be learning proper manners and enjoying local dishes at banquets.

As the 5th grade trip is currently planned, I'm not so sure it would have much value for my family or child. If we were to spend $7000 or more on a trip, we would do it very differently and get a lot more out of this.

Please don't get this wrong. I'm not suggesting the school drop off kids at a random Beijing hutong and have them go at it. And I realize most parents and kids have never seen China and a trip is a great opportunity for them to do so. But, for quite a number of us, if we were to make such a trip at all, we would do it very, very differently.

Perhaps the school could take us into account? Perhaps 2 weeks out of the 5th year could be for "independent study". Some students would go on a group tour to China as is being planned now. Others might go to China, but with family, as I mentioned. Still others might do local events -- such as outdoor education week, or volunteer at a Chinatown nonprofit, or other things still.

Having a "independent study period" would take the pressure off those who cannot afford an international trip or whose kids aren't ready for one. EVERYONE would do a fun, "cool", educational activity and tell everyone about it when they all returned. It would allow more options to accomodate the concerns and needs or all parents, without dictating one set-in-stone agenda to the whole group.

Thoughts? Who would like to see the school offer something like this?

and for pete's sake let's drop it! It's done. You may not like it, but it's done!! Start saving up for the trip if you want your kid to go. End of story. Move along, please!!!!!!!!!

Actually, one very important reason why many of us have problems with this trip is the distinction it creates between those who go and who don't go. Some of those studnets "don't go" for financial reasons, some for other reasons. The PA decided to its funds to support ALL the students, and not the handful go on this trip each year.

The parent association made a very wise decision even amidst a vocal group who wanted to fund the trip. Let's thank the PA for their courage, and support the PA as it helps to enhance technology at the school.

Anonymous wrote:"The PA won't support poor kids. End of story."

Please do make sure this motto is prominently displayed (in English and Chinese) throughout the school and on all literature and the website. It truly sums up the entire school culture.

Congratulations!! A 27 page thread and THIS is the winner for the absolute stupidest. Hooray for you!

Perhaps someone with more patience than I, can explain to you in the painstaking detail that your feeble brain apparently requires, the PA choosing to support projects that benefit the entire school (as opposed to 2/3 of the 5th grade class) is, in fact, supporting "poor kids." End of story.

Fool.

Anonymous wrote:Not the school culture: The PA Board's culture. And actually only 3 out of the 4 Board Member's culture. Change is a comin'....

Oh for pity's sake. It's an expensive international trip and it only benefits the students who go. Most parents want the money from the gala to go to benefit the whole school and the email specifically stated that they were talking about 10% of gala funds going to the trip. What $1000? Won't make a dent when you divide that among students anyway. The younger classes will have lots of time to fundraise for the people who need to be subsidized. The classes are pretty tight and I can see people going all out to help others in their class raise money for the trip.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The survey last week asked if parents support the PA using some of the Gala proceeds to go to the China trip. I have heard from a trusty source that something like a third of the parents voted against funding the trip. That combined with the hyper-competitive fund raising that is flooding my inbox shows how polarized people are about this trip.

I agree, people are polarized. The survey seemed rather unscientific to me as it appeared that anyone could vote as many times as they wanted to (not that I would do such a thing, but there was a link at the end to take the survey again). Still, I'd be curious to see what the individual responses were and to be part of the discussion on how the PA should spend its funds.

The

The survey was only up for three days.

Anonymous wrote:I'm sure it will level out, and I'm sure a fund-raising system will fall into place. I think those of you who can comfortably afford to send your child and an adult should realize how blessed you are and perhaps think about trying to help out those who aren't. Instead of being annoyed, maybe understand this as an opportunity for you and your family to help kids who are part of your chosen community. Great lesson for kids and adults, right??

I was going to lend my support via the gala. I Am not into all those tiny tiny yard sale fundraisers. Oh well, there goes my support. Those who cannot afford to partake in the trip, are on their own. Oh wait. It has always been that way.

I disagree. I think not supporting poor kids very much reflects the culture of the school leadership.

Not the school culture: The PA Board's culture. And actually only 3 out of the 4 Board Member's culture. Change is a comin'....

"The PA won't support poor kids. End of story."

Please do make sure this motto is prominently displayed (in English and Chinese) throughout the school and on all literature and the website. It truly sums up the entire school culture.

Great. Now can we all stop talking about it?? The trip will happen. Parents either will or won't decide to send their kids. The PA won't support poor kids. End of story.

FWIW, the PA president has announced that no Gala funds will go toward the China trip, citing the parent survey.