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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Being asked to take children back to school trip location

29 replies

ILoveMyKidz · 31/10/2016 18:39

My daughter is in year 7 and went on a school trip to a town 15 miles away for history. Whilst there is started to rain and they were unable to do a part of the trip. My daughter (and the rest of the class) was sent home with a letter from her history teacher asking for the children to be taken by the parents back to the town and to do the activity that they'd not been able to do as it is imortant for the children to do this activity for future lessons.

We had to pay £25 for the trip to cover cost of the coach and then an activity that they were able to complete.

AIBU to think if it's that important then the school should take the children back themselves and not expect parents to take them?

OP posts:
ScarletOverkill · 31/10/2016 18:40

Where are you expecting the school to find the money from to fund a second trip?

civilfawlty · 31/10/2016 18:43

Surely the teacher should just think of another way for them to cover the topic?!?

wonderingsoul · 31/10/2016 18:45

No the parents shouldnt have to pay a second time. The place they visted should let them in for free imo its good buisness or they find a new way to cover the subject

Original poster
ILoveMyKidz · 31/10/2016 18:45

ScarletOverkill The same place the parents have to find the money from for petrol I guess.

OP posts:
Dontpanicpyke · 31/10/2016 18:45

What trip in England depends on it not raining?

FrancisCrawford · 31/10/2016 18:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Out2pasture · 31/10/2016 19:07

Although I realize not everyone will have the time or funds to do it. Education is a partnership with parents, I don't see anything wrong with the school suggesting this.

OlennasWimple · 31/10/2016 19:08

If it's critical, the school need to organise it.

If it's a nice to do, fine for the school to suggest that parents take their children, but should ensure that the basics are covered in school for everyone

listsandbudgets · 31/10/2016 19:15

How heavy was the rain. It must have been hammering down. I'd be querying with the school why they couldn't complete it. Unless the rain actually made it dangerous I'd be seriously unimpressed.

I hope you are not expected to pay entrance fees again for child and presumably yourself

Can you get together with some other parents and take them in grouse to save petrol costs?

bloodyteenagers · 31/10/2016 19:16

The only thing I could see stopping them is if they had to do the paper rubbing thing. Beyond that, erm no. People don't melt in rain.

Original poster
ILoveMyKidz · 31/10/2016 19:16

It was something they needed to do outside that involved using paper and pencils which obviously because it was raining they couldn't do.

OP posts:
listsandbudgets · 31/10/2016 19:18

Groups... not grouse.

Have to say as a non driver I'd leap at the chance of contributing to petrol costs as it would probably be the only way I could get Dd there again unless it's good public transport

Ohyesiam · 31/10/2016 19:19

I had to hire a small coach, it cost about £350, which is probably why the school doesn't want to rerun the trip. But that doesn't make it any better from your point of view.
There's surely an other way the teacher could cover the topic?

gillybeanz · 31/10/2016 19:20

Completely the schools fault for choosing a trip where they couldn't continue in the rain.
not like it's unexpected in this country, at this time of year.
I'd speak to the head and ask which idiot decided on the trip and reiterate that said teacher needs to choose another way to cover the material.

HummusForBreakfast · 31/10/2016 19:21

I think it's utterly wrong because some childr En will never be able to do it (issue with funds from parents, problems getting there if they don't drive, just can't be arsed etc etc).
The ones who will will be the ones who are already supported at home.

The teacher can't pan her lessons knowing that half of the class will be left behind.
And yes planning an activity that is weather dependant AND essential to the rest of the lessons is bad planning.

insancerre · 31/10/2016 19:21

No
That's ridiculous
The teacher should have been better prepared

gillybeanz · 31/10/2016 19:22

Oh and nothing is that critical in y7 Grin

MsMarvel · 31/10/2016 19:23

What activity outside using oaoer and pencil cant be carried out in the rain? Plastic folders/polypockets, etc can all be used to keep papers dry. A bit more hassle but not impossible.

BeattieBowRisenFromTheDead · 31/10/2016 19:23

Surely it will rain again when at least some of the children return to the location with their parents. They will then be unable to do the activity. Again.

Then what? Confused

harderandharder2breathe · 31/10/2016 19:24

Yanbu

Fine to suggest it but not to insist, how can they do that? Some parents just can't do it, a few just won't, some will stretch themselves to the limit to make it. School should cover the essentials in lesson time, and rethink the trip for future years.

ijustwannadance · 31/10/2016 19:25

What was the actual activity? Is it something you can look up on internet?

Surely nothing is that important in year 7 to make parents take their children back somewhere. The teacher should just give them something else to do.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 31/10/2016 19:27

YANBU, something that is critical for learning in school should be provided by the school whether that is School trips or materials or whatever.

Hulababy · 31/10/2016 19:29

What is the activity?
Does the activity carry a charge?
Can it be recreated locally?
Is there decent transport to the town 15 miles away that the children (secondary school age) could get to with a couple of friends? Thereby reducing the cost loads?

Ineededtonamechange · 31/10/2016 19:29

YANBU - there needs to be another way to teach it, and if there isn't then that was poor preparation by the teacher (brollies/coats/wellies should have allowed any wet weather not to halt play).

OlennasWimple · 31/10/2016 19:30

I'm going to guess it's something like a brass rubbing, that you really can't do if it is raining

I don't see how this is critical, however, to any project