to expect a thank you after a school trip?

[KingscoteStaff]

We got back today after a week's residential trip, camping with Year 6s.

Out of 60 children, 3 said thank you, one mother asked why her child's sleeping bag had not been rolled properly into its bag and one dad complained that we were late. This was true (30 minutes), but we had called the school office regularly throughout the journey back, giving up to date news about the shocking traffic.

It's my job, I know, but I haven't been paid any extra for the nights or been reimbursed for the extra childcare needed for my own children while I've been away.

We had a fantastic time, and I loved watching our classes pushing their limits when abseiling or canoeing, and just hanging out around the tents in the evening.

So should I just accept that the reward is the job and not expect a thank you from the children or their parents? We got a big one from our Head Teacher, by the way.

These comments are interesting, I'm not a teacher so haven't experienced organising the kind of trips you all describe, but I DO identify with the types of parents you talk about!

A few years back I agreed to do a favour for a friend who couldn't really afford childcare while she worked. I work during school hours, term time only so I'd pick her two kids up with mine if she was working late, (happened quite a lot!). Also I'd look after them one full day each week every school holiday, she had another friend to do the other day luckily as it was HARD WORK!

Her two didn't behave that well, were argumentative and wouldn't be told No. Dh used to often arrive home from work and find me exhausted! I know my friend was grateful but as time went on I felt increasingly taken for granted. I sometimes got a Thank you but not every time, she was visibly annoyed if one of her kids had come back to mine minus a school jumper, PE bag etc, making it quite clear it was MY fault and I should have checked. I did do checks at school gate that everybody had everything, but with 4 children in total to collect inc. mine, sometimes from different parts of the school, and her two not being clear about what they had or hadn't brought to school that day it wasn't surprising that things sometimes got missed!

School hols I'd have them all day and give them lunch too, they never wanted to go home when she arrived to collect them so I was sort of pressured into having them for longer

My dh had to tell them off once and I got a phone call that evening from their mum, that she wasn't happy about her children being 'picked on'. She also wouldn't be happy if their clothes had paint or food on them when she picked them up. I felt like shouting at her sometimes, "What about a simple Thank You after what I've had to put up with today?!"

I don't do it now, they moved away and although we're still in touch I feel such less pressure!

I've taken year 6 residentials to Dartmoor, London and Paris. All were shattering and stressful - I end up eating little and barely sleeping as I am worrying about all the children eating/sleeping/wearing appropriate clothing etc on top of the calls in the night about arguments, homesickness, actual sickness from eating too many sweets ... I love them too though :)

It never occured to me that parents would think I was paid for this pleasure!

I also didn't get many thankyous but on the last trip back from London a group of the children bought a thankyou card at a service station we stopped in and signed it with a lovely message. I still have it, it made my week

Can't believe parents don't say thank you, to me it is manners.

When dc go on these trips I will make sure they only take things I am prepared to lose :)

Rude! DS went on a day trip (9-5) with his Beavers group yesterday. All the boys said thank you to the leader as they left (mainly unprompted by parents) as did DS. We then followed up with a thank you email last night. He had a wonderful time and we wanted to say thank you. Although this was partly selfish - he loves their trips so much we wanted to make sure the leaders knew so that they continue doing them.