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?

It would be lovely if schools could afford to pay for all the children to go on school trips but the fact is that they simply can't. So those of us who can contribute should.

That's it really. You're wrong thinking that you're subbing those that can't pay and your friend is wrong not paying because she is resentful that she has enough money to pay while others don't. That attitude really stinks.

If you can afford to pay then why wouldn't you (other than because you are a sponger)? Schools can't exclude a child from a trip if they genuinely can't pay, which is why they ask for 'voluntary contributions' rather than saying 'pay £x'. I thought that lovingit's analogy was spot on.

'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.'

The trouble with this is not only would our taxes for schooling have to be hiked immensely, but you'd also get a kind of government-approved school trip system where schools could only visit certain attractions that met H&S and cost criteria set by the government. Bit 1984!

OP I think you're the one being told a few hometruths and you're dealing with them really, really badly :o

Can you all stop calling each other arse please? You are ruining a good thread. The next person to do so will be asked to make a voluntary donation to the Mumsnet meet up to cover HQs attendance.

I mean it.

I pay. Because I can afford to.

I have no issue at all with those on low incomes/single parents not paying or paying a reduced amount...their kids deserve a trip just as much as mine do.

I am on the school fundraising committee and we subsidise all trips anyway so they are already discounted quite a bit.

Lucyinthepie Right you 50 pence in the kitty for encouraging them, now go and sit in the corner!

Unless anyone is suggesting that schools should pay for school ski trips?

I think brdgrl is suggesting that schools shouldn't really be running ski trips.

My DD is going on one next term, lucky girl - we don't ski but she wants to try - but I do see brdgrl's point. Life isn't fair but running it through the school does rather rub it in.

Swanky you really are one of the most acidic and aggressive posters I've come across recently.

Is it PMT, the impending full moon or are you off sick from school?

Lucy is that the same in wales where we are? I know a lot is different here- eg no time off no matter what except ill (eg, a friend's son could not attend a national sports final he was in, and we could not aprticipate in an assessment for our younget's suspected asd as it meant taking all the boys due to distance)

Not paying the cost means future trips or visits from interesting people won't happen. You won't know they didn't happen because the idea doesn't leave the staffroom. But not paying does have a big affect.

Our school recently cancelled an event for the Junior school because the month before the same event happened for the Infant part of the school and only 50% of the parents paid the £1.00 contribution. It is a very wealthy area with only a few percent on free school lunches. I can only think there was lethargy for the £1 contribution which seems to happen every week.

Say you found yourself on benefits tomorrow, would you think it reasonable that your child missed out on trips as you couldn't afford to pay for the trip?

It's the children of those on benefits who would miss out.

I would like to point out that despite being on a low income we always pay, indeed when ds1 could only attend one day of a resi trip due to his SN we chased them to make a contribution.

But some people just can't find the cash. I know that ds2 will get a bill for £140 for an outward bound style thing in January and 2 week's notice, I know as ds1 was in year 6 last year- it'll be a horrid shock to someone though no doubt (esp. in january)

We had a parent in ds's year who refuses to contribute to the trips, or to the fundraisers. The fund raiser thing would be fine as they are optional but she still expects them to benefit from them.

So when they can meet Santa at the Xmas fair and have an allocated time she just queues up and takes someone else slot and paid for present.

Or when they have the option to send in money for presents to wrap and give to parents. She complained to the school that hers didn't get anything! It's entirely non profit, they money covers the gifts and the helpers are volunteers.

Oh and the school disco, she refused to pay for that too, but turned up with her children and was outraged when she was turned away.
(£2 including unlimited drinks and a hotdog)

She saw the cost in everything and the value of nothing. So glad they left last year....the amount of cats bum mouthing has dropped considerably since they moved

Perhaps Peachy you could ask the Head Teacher/Deputy to introduce a system when weekly/monthly payments could be made from Sept onwards to try to stop the shock of a full payment in 1 go.

Our school has a system like this and it does help. If the kid ends up not going money is refunded.

Actually, Swanky, Lovinthecoast said you would be an arse if you stopped contributing.

altinkum - thats 50p pence from you for further use of the arse word. You were doing so well, right till the end of your post as well

Incidentally, if you do own Mnet can you tidy it up a bit please? Flipping topics all over the place, tch.

Op are you new to mumsnet?

Anyway,benefit claimants don't get the trips free here. Would think that's universal

Once at secondary/upper school, the school trips become bigger ( £180 for 3 night trip to battlefields on history trip) and benefit claimants still won't get it free, merely subsidised. So nearer £70 for the trip.

well they are not free here at all .Its case of you dont pay then your child does not go and some of them at senior school are very expensive

tiffany there not even a discount here i admit i asked as Ds2 was meant to be going ona german history trip to help with the gcse course but nope

same with the compulsary text books no help available at all .Sinc ehe is doing georgraphy/history and Rs they ar enot cheap

Mum and dad told us to pick a trip each in comp (of the resi variety), that seemed fair- I went to France, sisters to Rhineland. I suspect we will do the same when ds2 starts this coming academic year.

Some trips are clearly NOT educational though- just found £30 for ds2 to see Shrek The Musical and stare at the founder's grave in Westminster Abbey; something, may I suggest, that he could survive without if necessary? Although equally I'd be quite happy to contribute to an extra bake sale or two if it hewlped children in such a direct manner when need arose.