Voluntary contributions for school educational trips?

[Swankyswishing]

Do you always pay these? I always have done but I was talking to a friend who said that she never pays a penny as they are educational visits, those on benefits get them for free and she doesn't see why others should have to pay too if it's to do with the curriculum.

I have to say, I do agree with her. Lots of school trips do seem overpriced too. I'm wondering if those that do pay are charged a bit extra to pay for those that don't pay?

Mind, at the PTA (used to be secretary) memebers suggested that the kids whose aprents didn't pay should be prevented from going to see father Christmas (infant children, would include for example the child whose mum had just died, we charged £4 per visit, not sure why school set fee)

That opinion was silenced by me and the Chair saying we would walk rather than be associated with that crap

Nobody is ganging up on you. People are just disagreeing with you. I stand by the view that your friend is an arse for holding the view that she shouldn't pay simply because those in need do not have to. That really isn't a nice way to look at things and she should be grateful not to be in that position. I'm not really sure that constitutes a personal attack on you.

Fine! You asked if you were being unreasonable, which you must know you most certainly are.

If you re-read my posts you will see that I explained clearly why schools cannot pay and why it is important that those parents who can afford to contribute, do so.

I'm off for a cuppa!

You said you thought your friend had a point, so you agree with her.

We are just disagreeing with you. I dont know why your picking on Loving.

altinkum

Just looked back at the post, your right. Should have mentioned that schools don't always have money in the coffers to cover it so add a nominal subsidy on. But I think if you are struggling you can decline this by asking? You could at ds's nursery.

However I still think that those who refuse to pay on principle ought to consider the value you are receiving. And the schools need to give more notice to pay.

duvet that's too bad.
And that's why I often give a little extra because there are some people who simply can't afford it,or all of it through no fault of their own and it sucks quite frankly that the kids can't go.

OP friends attitude is really shitty and self-serving

Entrance fees / special workshops are expensive, but the main cost of these trips are the coach fees. Because of these costs we never have 'fun' trips and there has to be some curriculum link to get them approved.

Children cannot be excluded from the curriculum because their parents can't afford to pay for trips. So in the example above where someone says parents who couldn't pay had to take their children home - if the trip was part of the delivery of the curriculum that warrants an official complaint, first to the Headteacher, then possibly escalating. (Get a copy of the school's statutory complaints policy).
Some of the schools I work with are in quite disadvantaged areas and manage to get hold of small grants which they sometimes use to subsidise trips. They can also use PTA money and the school revenue budget as mentioned above. The bottom line is that if a school budget is tight and they know that parents are unlikely to contribute, there won't be many trips.

Because it's a public forum, AVoidka.

I should preface by saying that I am a newcomer to the UK schools system and culture - and frankly, I find a lot of it pretty disturbing. (I'm more familiar with the way things are done in the States and in Canada, although I also am not saying that those are better systems; just that my experience with the UK version is a recent thing.)

But I think this thread is a classic example of division and scapegoating. In a perfect reasonable world, the schools would plan trips with the economic reality of poorer families in mind. And the government would use our taxes to pay for every child to participate in reasonable, educational school outings. No parent should have to reach into their pocket to fund these, because we shoud ALL (parents and nonparents) be paying for them at the point of taxation.

DH and I live off a ragged combination of benefits (tax credits, child benefit), a pension, and part-time work. We really can't afford to make the annual voluntary contributions to the kids' school, but we go without in other areas to pull it off. We absolutely can't afford the absurdly expensive and far too frequent school trips. (DSD's geography class going to Iceland to look at the volcano? Ski trips to Germany? Trips to France for art class?). I resent the way it sets us up to have to say no to the kids, when their classmates get opportunities they don't have. I also don't think all of the trips are of enough educational value; some seem to just be expensive upper-class excursions for those that can afford it. Which has no place, IMO, in the schools. Outside of school, obviously, kids learn about the harsh reality that some children get more than others - but within the classroom, shouldn't there be more effort to give each child an equivalent experience?

I don't want my DD (just a baby now) to even go to school here, I find it so class-ridden.

YABU.

If people who can afford to pay don't, then the curriculum will simply be covered in less interesting ways without the trip.

DDs school also asks for voluntary contributions for tech (£10 a year) - if no-one paid they'd still do tech but presumably have less interesting materials and kit.

I see paying as 'enlightened self-interest'.

The library's public too, but I don't march in their and tell everyone to fuck off because I don't like what they are reading

there

brdgrl if the government wanted to raise taxes people wouldn't be happy about that either. The fact is that our schools have very limited budgets and have to manage accordingly. As I said above, no child can be excluded from the curriculum because their parents can't afford to make a contribution to the cost.
If you can't afford to send your child on a ski trip I think that's something completely different. That's life, some have more money than others. There will be children in school who can't afford to go. Unless anyone is suggesting that schools should pay for school ski trips?

It's quite amusing reading the little tiff going on between the discussion about the topic. Sorry, but it is.