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AIBU?

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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:
ilovesooty · 01/10/2015 07:52

Of course it's about "sod the rest"

As long as your previous child gets the experience from you, you'd be happy for less privileged children to get nothing if the only place they were going to get the experience is school.

Mehitabel6 · 01/10/2015 07:53

Regardless of what you do at home FC is part of the culture. Wherever you go farms, canals, trains etc FC will be there at Christmas. He is even likely to turn up outside your house with the Lion's Club. He certainly made an appearance at every toddler group/NCT etc party that mine went to and every Christmas fete. You have to learn to adapt in the way that children manage it. The school art work will centre on it at that age.

BoboChic · 01/10/2015 07:54

School isn't daycare or a holiday camp.

Sapele · 01/10/2015 07:55

What?

Is seeing santa an experience you feel every child needs to have?

I care that they all have enough to eat and some love in their lives. I don't give a stuff if they get to go to something like this, because frankly I doubt it will be terribly magical or special.

Maybe for some it is the best thing that will ever happen to them but I'm not sure I believe that.

BoboChic · 01/10/2015 07:55

FC isn't "part of the culture" in all those places. He's a commercial opportunity.

totalrecall1 · 01/10/2015 07:55

wtf ..... Santa came to my kids pre school and gave them a gift. What is your problem?

hairbrushbedhair · 01/10/2015 07:55

Teachers shouldn't be wanting to make a difference to DC with inadequate parents. They should be wanting to teach them.

Part of teaching is not only teaching academics but also teaching and nurturing appropriate behaviour, emotions, friendships and such

Schools are often the place cases of neglect and abuse are discovered and for many it's their teachers that have helped them escape awful situations

ilovesooty · 01/10/2015 07:55

So you don't think there should be any school trips at all Bobo? Or only curriculum ones?

Sapele · 01/10/2015 07:57

The Lyons club one was particularly shit IIRC

they drove past the front door at about 40mph, stopped in an obscure car park 200m away, and refused to drive any slower on their way back so I refused to hand them any money as my child didn't even SEE it.

They were arseholes.

Mehitabel6 · 01/10/2015 07:58

Thank goodness I am not BoboChic's child and that teachers do not fit her brief. The children would be the losers and I wouldn't want my 4/5 yr old in with a teacher like that. Luckily I don't know a single teacher of primary (over 40 yrs and a lot of teachers) who feel like that. I am shocked by the attitude.

ilovesooty · 01/10/2015 07:59

Presumably some parents would like there to be no theatre trips in case those underprivileged children were allowed to get any experience of life or culture outside the classroom.

Mehitabel6 · 01/10/2015 08:00

I used to keep mine up especially for the Lions- beautifully done and all for good causes. (You wonder why they bother with some attitudes).

Sapele · 01/10/2015 08:00

I see no evidence of that here sooty

Sapele · 01/10/2015 08:01

Mehitabel, they didn't bother with us at all. They clearly just wanted to get it over with and fuck off to the pub.

I wonder why they bothered with that attitude. Maybe you were lucky with your local branch.

BoGrainger · 01/10/2015 08:01

Was in need of a laugh this morning. Love the poster who wants to vet Santas in advance. Thanks :D

ilovesooty · 01/10/2015 08:01

I'm sure if they'd seem it Sapele you'd have deemed it inadequate anyway.

You mean you didn't get the chance to vet it first?

Mehitabel6 · 01/10/2015 08:02

Some parents want children at school all hours to fit in with work- shorter holidays-chained to desks with no light relief and definitely no teachers who care for the child. Hmm

BoboChic · 01/10/2015 08:02

Teaching DC to understand the difference between a commercial rip-off and genuine kindness would be an excellent idea.

ilovesooty · 01/10/2015 08:03

I suspect Sapele doesn't live in an area where children get very little nurture at home.

Groovee · 01/10/2015 08:03

Maybe this trip is in place of a trip to the theatre which older pupils are going on. I think it's a non issue but it's obviously an issue for the OP.

Sapele · 01/10/2015 08:03

By all means create your own mental image of what I am like sooty, and use it to your own ends. I won't engage with your sarcasm, I have said what I think and described my experiences. You can take them at face value or embellish as you wish

Mehitabel6 · 01/10/2015 08:04

My neighbour is a Lion's FC - gives up his spare time, is great with children and is not a pub person. Maybe you were just unlucky.

Sapele · 01/10/2015 08:05

I think we were, Mehitabel. I'm not exaggerating. I am sure there are some lovely people who do this elsewhere.

Only1scoop · 01/10/2015 08:06

The Lions club Santa was most likely not an 'arsehole'

Most likely been out on many routes giving all their time free and raising a hell of a lot of money for many worthy causes.

But revved up a little fast past you so you didn't donate.

How giving

Mehitabel6 · 01/10/2015 08:08

I love the way that this farm FC is called 'a commercial rip off' when even OP knows nothing about it.

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