To think the school should not be organising an art trip to New Bleedin' York?

[BitOfFun]

The latest from dss (14)- "Dad, can I go on a trip with the Art class to New York next year?"...at an approximate cost of £800

The teachers have apparently said they expect him to sign up for it as his dad is an artist...

Incidentally, he is also going on a school ski trip at a similar cost, and has more holidays than Alan Whicker as it is (although his dad and I haven't been away for three years).

AIBU to think that as we live in a city with an amazing galleries, including the greatest collection of Pre-Raphaelite Art probably in Europe, not to mention a superb branch of the Tate, that the school is taking the bleeding piss?

Who dreams up these crazy ideas?

If they want a jolly for the Department, what's wrong with Paris, even?

Blimey...

[southeastastra]

ooh ds(15) said last year, they were going to NY (£800 too) though for business studies.

haven't heard anything about it this term yet though.

[Portofino]

• I agree Paris should suffice at that age!

[Sagacious]

Crikey
At my school we went to Wales to study drumlins

And I thought that was exotic

[pigletmania]

YANBU its just silly when we have so many art galleries here, why should your ds go just because his dad is an artist

[Lizzylou]

Wow, that is bonkers.

I really need to make some money before my two go to High school

YANBU, is there likely to be a big take up of this trip? Are all the other parents wadded?

at him being expected to take up the trip because of his Father's profession.

[peppapighastakenovermylife]

I strangely walked past someone earlier who was exclaiming 'they are going on a trip to new york for history class'

Must be some kind of trend?! Madness.

[MrsVik]

Paris, London, Florence... WHY would they come up with New York? No offense to New Yorkers, I'm sure it's wonderful, but don't these people realise that parents may be working to a budget?

[FlamingoDuBeke]

YANBU - what a ridiculous sum of money for a school trip!

[OrangeFish]

I would say yes, if he was in university studying art. At 14... well I think I wouldn't even pay for such a expensive ski trip.

[jetonthedancefloor]

Yup - my DD was offered New York as well, but at £1400 That was for a music class and for just 4 days

I explained to her that me, her little sister and herself could go to florida for a fortnight fornthat price

Its a scam if you ask me - the teachers must just think, "ummm, where would we the pupils like to go this year

[Hulababy]

I don't think the school is wrong to offer these trips.

I do think the school is wrong if it puts pressure on parents to let their children go. That is definitely wrong.

School trips, especially ones abroad, are not "jollies for the department" IME.

Presumably you allowed your child to sign up for the skiing trip he is going to, also at the same cost? Why? And why is that one any more acceptable than the Art one?

[Astrid28]

My niece is going on a trip to New York next year having just come back from a week in Rome. My sister is tearing her hair out to come up with the money for it so soon after with Chrsitmas in between.

I think if it were me it would have to be less a case of N.Y, and more N.O you can't bloody go.

[BitOfFun]

It isn't, to me, Hulababy, but it's not my decision! We are raising a bunch of over-privileged little oiks IMO

[BitOfFun]

Heehee, I like that one, Astrid

[CatchaStar]

How much?

The fact the economy's in the toilet, lots of people are out of work and people are struggling financially enough as it is hasn't registered with the school then huh?

You can get really cheap flights over to paris, why wouldn't they just take them over for a day or two? Or like you said, take them into the city they live where there are plenty of galleries etc.

I think that's bonkers! You could go on a family holiday for that!

[StrictlyAvadaKedavra]

My DD has a £400 college trip next year to Italy to do hiking not like we don't have hills and mountains here for goodness sakes.

[lavenderkate]

I for one, would not pay it.

[mazzystartled]

You're in Liverpool like me aren't you BoF?

I agree there is an amazing amount on offer here and if they aren't using that first then it is indeed taking the piss and London is only 2 1/2 hours away

NY is of course fabulous, but IMO much of it would be lost on a bunch of 14 year olds

[Astrid28]

Just to add, I do think that the school is wrong to offer up these trips. It causes yet another divide between children - those who can afford to go, and those who can't.

However, I think an alternative would be to hand out a list when children begin the school of costly trips may come up to at least give parents a chance to sit and discuss with the child which would be best and maybe save up a bit in preparation. They get letters & lists for everything else after all....

[mazzystartled]

and shouldn't schools be thinking about the old carbon footprint? massively at odds with all their "sustainable schools" strategies

[said]

These trips are really beginning to make me angry. Agree about NY being completely wasted on (most) school kids. But there's also trips to Thailand as well now (local schools). Apart from the obvious cost and division this will cause in schools, what is left for kids to discover as they get older?. Why is it essential that they need so many and so many far-flung trips abroad? We need a campaign to stop this.

[SqueezyCheese]

Jesus, New York When I was at school we got to go to Windermere for 5 days and it was £95 (admittedly this was in 1986) and even then I had to behave myself for a year to be allowed to go

My little brother (13) is going to Paris next year with the school and it's £600

[Hulababy]

By BitOfFun on Thu 24-Sep-09 18:03:01 It isn't, to me, Hulababy, but it's not my decision! We are raising a bunch of over-privileged little oiks IMO

But my point is: if a skiing trip at £800 is okay, why is an Art trip at the same cost not okay?

[saintmaybe]

Do the staff pay to go, I've always wondered?