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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be unhappy with this school trip?

487 replies

IWannaHoldYourHand · 30/09/2015 22:29

Ds2 is in reception and has come home with a letter advising us of a school trip to a farm in December. The cost is a reasonable amount for the farm that will be visited, however the main focus of the visit is having lunch with Santa, and receiving a gift.

It is the visiting Santa that I feel odd about. I see this as a very family based event, and not something I would expect to do with anybody else, or without his sibling. We wouldn't even refer to him as Santa at home, and it just feels strange to me.

I have spoken to the head who informed me that this will be backing up their learning for that term, and advised that I have the option of attending, but it still feels wrong to me. So is this normal, do schools regularly take a trip to visit Father Christmas?

OP posts:
BoboChic · 02/10/2015 15:51

ilovesooty - I can assure you that there are lists of those parents at the schools our DC have frequented/frequent and that we are definitely not among them!

hairbrushbedhair · 02/10/2015 15:52

I'm sorry Sir

I'm still giggling over y'all being told to calm down by Bobo

ilovesooty · 02/10/2015 15:54

You might well be surprised BoboChic

hairbrushbedhair · 02/10/2015 15:54

ilovesooty - I can assure you that there are lists of those parents at the schools our DC have frequented/frequent and that we are definitely not among them!

Just how is it you know this? Did you legally request a copy of who the signposted parents are? Doesn't data protection prevent that?

NaughtToThreeSadOnions · 02/10/2015 16:00

I can assure you honestly you will be pretty much top of the signposted lists your attitude to teachers will be reflected in the way they approach your children they will hate teaching them and be very weary of putting a step wrong!

abbieanders · 02/10/2015 16:02

Oh of course you're not one of those parents, Bobo.

Don't call the John darmz on me.

Floggingmolly · 02/10/2015 16:03

Grin at school providing Bobo with a list of the problem parents! Now I know you're on the wind up.

BoboChic · 02/10/2015 16:03

Don't extrapolate from the culture you know to one you don't ;)

SirChenjin · 02/10/2015 16:05

Data protection?? Shock

This is a scandal of national proportions, and Bobo (and her legal team) is quite right to have exposed the illegal goings on in schools across France. Data protection has been ignored in order to protect les enfants - do not concern yourself with such trivialities. A medal from Le President would be a fitting reward, I think.

abbieanders · 02/10/2015 16:07

I'm just relieved that someone with the best legal mind in France is on it.

SirChenjin · 02/10/2015 16:10

France salutes you Bobo.

NaughtToThreeSadOnions · 02/10/2015 16:10

Then you'll get more sympathic hearing on French boards then because to our English ears you sound like a bloody pain in the arse who every teacher will dread completely!

Which is why your getting such short sheift here. Why are you asking for advice like you did on your other thread if we don't know the culture apparently how can we help!

Why don't you go to the French version of mumsnet where apparently you'll be apluded! (I doubt it)

MrsUltracrepidarian · 02/10/2015 16:12

Is there a French mumnet?

SirChenjin · 02/10/2015 16:13

Les mamans do not have time for La Mumsnet - they are too busy at the lawyers.

abbieanders · 02/10/2015 16:15

The thing is, I do know the culture. I lawyer up every time I visit. There's a skilled negotiation every time I buy a bus tour ticket. They welcome my custom and treat me like a native.

Bunbaker · 02/10/2015 16:19

"Don't you ever feel the urge to improve your DC's lives?"

Yes. I became a member of the governing body and have now joined a parent group at DD's school. I feel that working with the school and supporting it from within is a better resolution than conflict involving lawyers.

I am somewhat taken aback at how Bobo deals with school issues. I would love to be a fly on the wall if she ever had a meeting with DD's headteacher, who can hold her own with the best of them.

BoboChic · 02/10/2015 16:23

Bunbaker - what we do is exactly the same as what you do - it is working within the parameters available to parents to help the school. No governing bodies here.

Shopping the school to the authorities would be conflictual. And pointless.

ilovesooty · 02/10/2015 16:24

I'm sure most of them can Bunbaker and would have little time for manipulative, meddling parents. My former Head was utterly spineless. He caved in to parents and routinely hung staff out to dry. It meant that the most ridiculous parental demands had to be accommodated. It also meant that certain pupils were advantaged and staff were bullied.

SirChenjin · 02/10/2015 16:26

Not at all pointless Bobo. The illegal goings on at schools (plural) that you've described are so serious that you and your legal team owe it to all France to highlight it to Le President.

Bunbaker · 02/10/2015 16:26

Your posts don't give that impression Bobo. DD is at a state comprehensive - a rather good one as it happens, but it isn't perfect. I want to support the school and represent other parents, and give constructive criticism where required. I don't involve lawyers or any other form of authority because I don't need to.

LucyBabs · 02/10/2015 16:27

Abbie I am loving your comments. You're hilarious Grin keep em coming!

abbieanders · 02/10/2015 16:28

Conflictual is quite a good word. I wonder if lots of teachers know it?

abbieanders · 02/10/2015 16:29

Thanks, Lucy!

SirChenjin · 02/10/2015 16:30

Of course teachers don't know the word conflictual - don't be ridiculous. They have low IQs, remember?

abbieanders · 02/10/2015 16:32

Low iqs in low places. That's the tragedy of schooling in France.