Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 ··· 7 8 9 ··· 19 20

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 08:08

Exactly Mehitabel

And some parents have far too much time on their hands enabling them to be one of those parents complaining on a regular basis, often about utter trivialities.

Which sort of takes staff away from actual... you know.. teaching stuff.

Spartans · 01/10/2015 08:08

bobo so we should only stuff that kids 'need'? Are you the grinch?

Sapele · 01/10/2015 08:09

Oh stop it. I saw something whoosh past, not stopping for the entire length of the road until he got to a deserted shop carpark, in the dark, no children had any chance to see him at all (honestly), he just waited there for the guy who was knocking on doors asking for donations. I think I gave them 20p as it was all I had to hand but I asked if they would wait for me to get ds (who was 1yo) and they said no, sorry, they had a lot of ground to cover, they could not wait.

arsehole was unnecessary, but it was not a pleasant experience and did not involve any children seeing santa.

ilovesooty · 01/10/2015 08:11

At least if he didn't see it it didn't damage him.

Mehitabel6 · 01/10/2015 08:13

The part of the thread that has annoyed me is the view that teachers are there just to teach and shouldn't care for their pupils, want to make a difference or even expected to have fun.

The rest is just funny! I shall get on with my day imagining the poster who goes around Christmas fete making sure her DCs avoid FC!

You will now be known by all the staff, OP, I expect it brightened their day with a good laugh. It has brightened mine.

Sapele · 01/10/2015 08:14

Yes, it can't have damaged him at all really. Maybe I ought to be grateful for that. Seriously, perhaps it was a lovely get-up and perhaps it would have been magical if it had just stopped briefly. We will never know.

starlight2007 · 01/10/2015 08:15

*Plus, PLUS I don't get how this is 'educational'. Christmas is a personal, special and magical thing for children and school should not cross that line.

It would be like school making their birthday cake or giving them money from the tooth fairy.

If they can't come up with something more properly educational than a jolly trip to see Santa then I find that a bit odd.*

These are reception children we are talking about 4 /5 year olds...... Let them have fun..

As for Op..I have never seen someone go oh ok I am BU and then getting slated for it...Sadly some people are never happy.

As for Panto our school do it some years not other. I always go to the theatre with DS Xmas Eve so I have to make sure they aren't going to Panto before I book what we do...However I am sure he loves going with his mates

Only1scoop · 01/10/2015 08:17

'Debenhams was crap'
'Wyevale was crap'

And the charity 'arsehole' couldn't wait long enough for you to present your family and entertain you all on your own doorstep.

Oh for the joy of giving and magical times with the Santa screener analysing every hair in his beard.

let's hope he never gets stuck down your joyless chimney.

LittleLionMansMummy · 01/10/2015 08:17

Bah humbug. That is all.

Sapele · 01/10/2015 08:18

To be fair mine did enjoy the school trips to pantomimes, which I detest, and so that saved me taking them myself which I would not have done if I could possibly have avoided it.

That worked well all round.

Mehitabel6 · 01/10/2015 08:18

I would certainly never have chosen a school for my DCs where the teachers thought they were there just to teach- especially when they first started.

(I think you were just unlucky, Sapele, maybe you had a press ganged man who didn't really want to do it)

BoboChic · 01/10/2015 08:19

Teachers ought to respect professional boundaries.

It is of course much easier for teachers to behave like nannies and take DC to see FC than to impart knowledge and skills.

Sapele · 01/10/2015 08:19

He was really rude. Honestly. He was rude and impatient and I was utterly pleasant to him.

I'm sorry if you don't believe me. There are some unpleasant people in the world and some of them work or volunteer for charities, I suppose.

Calling me joyless is a bit much. You weren't there and you don't know how rude the guy was.

hairbrushbedhair · 01/10/2015 08:20

Oh heavens Bobochic

Have you read any of the EYFS framework? Are you aware that children learn most through play???

ilovesooty · 01/10/2015 08:21

I expect bobo doesn't think the teachers should be taking them to the theatre either.

ArcheryAnnie · 01/10/2015 08:21

Mine didn't have a trip like this at that age, but I'd have loved it if he had. I really, truly can't see the problem. YOur DC is a very lucky child that this is a school trip.

Spartans · 01/10/2015 08:21

sap so what about the families that feel pa to is a family event and experienced shit ones and don't want their kids traumatised by a shit panto?

BoboChic · 01/10/2015 08:21

I'm all for learning through play. But taking the DC to see FC isn't play.

Mehitabel6 · 01/10/2015 08:22

Good grief BohoChic words fail me!

Time for me to log out.

pictish · 01/10/2015 08:23

Oh give over, you misery.

HearTheThunderRoar · 01/10/2015 08:23

Oh yes because the teacher is going to have a barrel of laughs taking 20 odd 4 year old's to see santa FC.

Why is it such a bad thing for teachers to give dc a treat one in a while, especially to those less privileged in life. It would probably make their day.

Spartans · 01/10/2015 08:25

What is then bobo? Because it's not work for the kids.

hairbrushbedhair · 01/10/2015 08:25

Well taking children to see FC is fun, where im sure through this fun many children will be learning

BertrandRussell · 01/10/2015 08:26

"School isn't a top-up scheme for inadequate parenting."

I have very rarely read a sentence I disagree with more.........

BoboChic · 01/10/2015 08:32

Just because something is not work does not make it play!

Flip

1 2 ··· 7 8 9 ··· 19 20

Swipe left for the next trending thread