to wonder about the value of a school trip to the cinema?

[endlesstidying]

Its for years 1, 2 and 3 to see Walking with Dinosaurs. AIBU to think there are more creative and useful ways for 3 year groups to spend time and money? £10 per child.

DD's already seen it anyway and as far as I can tell it does not fit in with her school work this term (Romans in history, Forces in science not a dinosaur in sight)

Tell them that as your kid has seen it already, you'll take her to see something she hasn't seen on that day.

I bet you'll get an unauthorised absence....

When schools are getting arsey & pedantic about every single absence on the basis that the kids "need educating" they shouldn't be surprised when parents point a critical eye at borderline "educational" activities like this...

schools get "arsey and pedantic" about absence because their LEAs and OFSTED come down on them like a ton of bricks if their attendance figures are not up to par, not because they have nothing better to do than nitpick at parents.

Isn't the idea that film is somehow the intellectual equivalent of junk food somewhat dated now? With so much great work being produced both for the large and small screen, surely it's never too young to get kids interested and engaged with cinema? Your DD might be the next Jane Campion!

Hmm, having read some of the threads regarding absences, I believe that some (if not most) are being more arsey & pedantic than required.

And they'll reap the rewards as parents start to question the value of trips like this (and DVD days)

It will be the first time many of those children have been to a cinema.

It might be a long time before some go again.

It will teach them to sit still in seats, not talk when the lights go down, what a cinema looks like, what things look like on a big screen.

If/when they go to a theatre in for GCSE English lit they will have at least been in a similar situation before and have an idea how to behave.

"It will teach them to sit still in seats, not talk when the lights go down"

Good luck with that!

The work involved in doing the Risk Assessment will be more than any time saved in not teaching for an hour. I CBA to take out my classes after we had to do a 32-page form every time, including copying each student's registration forms etc. It was about the insurance, you see.

On the value of school trips, I recently heard this story from a Haringey councillor. School party from Tottenham went to The Globe theatre, so I guess they'd be 13 or 14+. As they came out of the tube station, one boy asked, what's that there? What, the theatre? No, all that water (pointing at the Thames).

I rest my case.

Blimey, the school I work in (and that my DC go to) does a cinema trip before Christmas every year that costs £3. They get an ice cream too...

We do a cinema trip with a couple of the years at school. We do lots of activities before and after, and the students get a behind the scenes tour at the cinema. We also tie in to the maths curriculum with money (transport costs, snack foods, etc).

Trust me, it would be much easier to put on a DVD and stay in the classroom if I wanted "a break" from teaching. And making money? By the time I dip in to my own pocket to pay for those students who haven't been sent with lunch or a train pass or even bothered to have their ticket paid for at all then it costs me money to put these trips on. We don't do it for the fun, we do it because it is a valuable experience.

My son's class got a visit to the cinema as before the film their own animation was shown. I felt sorry for the general public who'd paid to come in and had us lot there. But it was a big thing for them and they loved it.

Sounds great! It will be educational - even if it doesn't fit in with what they are "doing" this year. Learning shouldn't be all about keeping to a timetable...................

Ooh Groovee I think I might steal your idea. Our session is closed just for us, so I bet I could get the cinema to show something the students made themselves instead of a movie. That would be amazing for them! Thanks!

does it always have to have educational value

Oh well, it sounds like most parents are not in a favour so the trip won't go ahead anyway. Poor teachers, no 'easy' afternoon for them then.

Dinosaurs are always relevant. [gr

I wouldn't bother. Me and ds often go to the cinema, would rather pay to take him myself.

Midnite, it was fab. It was just the bus journey as it had snowed and the road was horrific. The driver turned up the music and the kids were all singing while us parents and staff were clinging on for dear life.

Does your DD want to go on the trip? Any of my three back when they were in Y3 would have been thrilled at the this trip even if they had seen the film before. Under those circumstances I would just be happy they were being given a nice memory of school at a small cost.

I suspect the Y3 may be there more to allow the school to offer the trip at a reasonable cost through critical mass of attendees than because it directly ties to their curriculum, but I really wouldn't have a problem with that. If this is a case it will be a real shame if some parents start griping and withdrawing children as it will deprive the Y1s and any in higher up years who's life maybe doesn't allow for this sort of experience of a valuable opportunity.

DSs school are going to see Walking with Dinosaurs too but ours is costing £5.50 - which covers cinema, transport, drinks and a treat and the tickets for parent helpers.
They are doing dinosaurs as their topic right now so it is relevant and the kids are very excited.
It's a big school with lots of classes per year and they struggle to organise trips due to the logistics and the fact that it's a deprived area and parents often can't contribute, so I'm glad this is going ahead.

Do people really think teachers go to all the effort to plan trips do so to make a profit or have a break from teaching, I'm actually amazed people would say that? When I have helped out on my DC's school trips i have found them completely exhausting.