to be shocked by worldwide school trips?

[DelhiCalling]

In the recent teacher and pupil grooming case, it mentioned they had been on a school trip to los Angeles this year?! Since when did educating children require trips across the globe? When I was young, a day trip to a museum was the norm and the absolute most we did was an overnight trip in a youth hostel in wales.

Aibu to think these trips are a ridiculous idea and a jolly for the teachers, as presumably their ticket is included in the fees paid by the parents? Secondly, shouldnt these trips be stopped now that teachers can't be trusted not to groom our children on such trips?

And while we're at it, let's ban pack holidays for brownies/guides, camping for the scouts. Because it's not just teachers we leave in the care of our children for prolonged periods. FFS. I agree that distance/cost could be a factor to consider capping but why ruin a perfectly good experience for the many due to the actions of the few. I stayed a week in a youth hostel in Germany when I was 12. It was a fantastic trip, seeing the sights driving the teachers potty and credit to our teachers as over the course of the week everyone went down with a vile stomach bug. It certainly wasn't a jolly for them.

? really?? you think that if your child goes on a holiday far away they will be groomed by a teacher?? oh come off it!!! this is in the news because it IS NOT a day-to-day occurance - yes it happens - but your child could be groomed by anyone - next door neighbours - friends - family members - do you have a child protection officer at all times just in case?

Teachers get training in child protection. And the training includes all manner of inappropriate behaviour we might see from other members of staff. It doesn't just focus on parents/abuse at home.

We also get told to report anything that concerns us - including disclosures made by the children and anything we observe from other members of staff that give us cause for concern.

But if you don't see it. What can you do?

And that would apply to any 'Child Protection Agents' independent or otherwise.

I don't think school trips are jollys for teachers at all. My DD has recently returned from 5 day residential, it must have been really hard work for the staff looking after 50 children 24 hours for 5 days. my idea of hell

When did you go to school, DelhiCalling?

Our (crappy) comp had trips abroad every year. Not many of us went on them (I certainly didn't) but they were there if you had the means and the inclination to go on them.

And what is this now that teachers can't be trusted bollocks? Is it because there were no dodgy teachers in the 70s? Because there were you know, probably many, many more than there are now.

It doesn't matter where in the world your child is, grooming can take place anywhere, possibly in his/her current school. So school trips shouldn't be banned because of this. They can be very expensive and unfair to children who cannot afford them. You should home school your child if you feel ALL teachers are predators.

I trust the teachers as did the other 50 children's parents who let them go.

Oh yes, and these type of trips are incredibly stressful for teachers.

It's stressful doing a day out at a museum - the sense of responsibility for other people's children can be almost overwhelming.

They're hard work, exhausting but a fantastic opportunity for staff and pupils to develop positive relationships.

That very occasionally someone might abuse that privilege is not a reason to cancel them for everyone.

I loved going on residential trips with school when we were younger. It's great getting to know teachers as people and not just members of the establishment.

dehli the only way to ensure this never happens again is to have an 'agent' supervising, one on one, every single adult who is ever in charge of children. So as well as teachers you would need to supervise all childminders, nursery workers, scout/brownie leaders, sports coaches, music tutors, private tutors, babysitters, adult relatives, dance teachers. Even then you are taking the risk that the agent is completely trustworthy.

You must realise thats impossible, invasive and just plain bonkers?

Is your username ironic, OP? Given you don't seem to think overseas trips can be educational...

Trips are in no way a jolly for teachers. Would you volunteer to go supervise dozens of overexcited children for a week?

The trip to LA was irrelevant. If the teacher in this case was grooming the girl, he would have been able to do it just as easily here, it's got nothing to do with the trip. The school itself clearly has safeguarding issues, but that's a seperate point. I notice you aren't agitating that we don't send our children to school?

The problem with the supervising agent is that they might also be a dangerous predator. Perhaps a voyeur who is happy to let it go ahead and observe from a distance.

So they too would need to be supervised.

As would they...

But then there would come a point where the Bystander Effect might occur...

But who will chaperone the child protection officer? And who will chaperone that chaperone? Who will chaperone the chaporone of the chaperone? Ad infinitum,

You can see the problem?

OP I think you are being deliberately offensive in saying teachers can't be trusted.

But trips to tourist destinations on the other side of the world are wrong. Particularly when some parents are having trouble finding the money for uniforms or art materials.

And of course there are any number of CPOs available to go on every school trip. Get a grip!

MrSunshine at least it would solve the unemployment problem....

Honestly the opportunity to spend time alone on 52 seater coaches and rooms shared between 3 or 4 is somewhat limited.

Preparing for trips is very hard work, huge reefs of forms, they are often in the holidays so childcare needs to be found, after all this my friend was ill and couldn't go.

Can you imagine how offended a highly trained, experienced and qualified teacher would be if they had to be followed by a CPO in case they were inappropriate with a pupil? It is beyond insulting to treat teachers like paedophiles who can't be trusted.

This is hysteria at its worst and very damaging.

The majority of child abuse cases take place in the home or by a relative. Don't even think about targeting all teachers and treating them with suspicion.

Op I agree completely. Only you need to look at the wider picture. Fathers also groom their children and step fathers and uncles too. Cousins and brothers. We should round up all the children and send them to a female only island. Oh, no, hang on, that won't work. Some females also groom and abuse children, we should round up all the children and send them to a child only island and.. oh, wait, that won't work either. Sometimes even children groom other children.

Just shoot everyone, that'll work.

Or you could try calming down and accepting that the chances of it happening are negligible. 99.99% of adults and children do not want to groom your child. Educate your child and have an open and honest relationship with them. Let them know that they can trust you with anything and you will always believe them, no matter what. That is all you can do to protect your child.

DelhiCalling.

I knew someone given to irrational hysteria and illogical thinking, like you appear to be displaying today.

They were perceived as a bit of a nob.

Well I think that sums it up nicely!

And to think I have sent my dc on school trips telling them it is a great opportunity to get to know their teachers as real people and not just 'Sir' or 'Miss'.....

So the grooming takes place on school trips not during the 6hrs+ a day that the child is in school nor on social media.

The number of cases of children having relationships with teachers is incredibly small considering how many children are in school. Rather smaller than the number of children being abused by family members etc.

The predatory stranger / authority figure scenario often distracts from the real area of risk which are people well known to the child.

Have some smelling salts and a

I think it would be much more sensible if we put our children under house arrest. Ideally as soon as they can walk and until they are at least 20. Certainly it'd be very unwise to allow them to attend school since all teachers are merely waiting to pounce on them. They can get all the education they need by making "Death To PEEDOS" posters which can be attractively displayed behind the barred windows.

Or perhaps we should just stop having children altogether.

There'd be no one to groom then.

And all teachers should have their children removed from them.

To all the teachers that are having to read this shite, please be aware that the vast majority of us parents are extremely thankful for the fact that you will take our children to these places, and most of us do understand that it is hard work for you.

It's also worth saying that many of these holiday companies do not expect payment for the teachers, so parents are not paying for their holiday. The teachers go for free and the cost is swallowed by the companies because they are being paid for the students to travel.