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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not want dd to go on a school day trip that involves 2 trips to McDonalds

142 replies

robinpud · 21/03/2007 09:28

1 for breakfast and 1 for dinner in the evening?

OP posts:
TinyGang · 21/03/2007 09:54

I would let my child go - I'm not too hard line on McDonalds, all things in moderation and all that. Twice in one day seems rather a lot though.

They haven't got a leg to stand on next time they want to start criticising what goes into the lunchboxes though.

stleger · 21/03/2007 09:54

My dd2's school trip went to McD's for lunch last year, to eat, use the toilet and for the teacher to vomit! It was quite the highlight of the day. I suspect all of my kids would love the breakfast visit as they have never had that.

NotanOtter · 21/03/2007 09:55

i can barely believe it
tell me what the school is called and i will ring them and give them what for...

Its wrong...

twelveyeargap · 21/03/2007 09:57

It's only one trip. It won't affect her lifelong cholesterol levels. I'd prefer they didn't do it, if I were you, but bear in mind they're trying to keep the costs down for everyone too. Unfortunately a McDonald's breakfast is much cheaper than stopping for smoothies and muesli so I can see where they're coming from.

geekgrrl · 21/03/2007 09:58

robinpud is a regular

I would be mightily pissed off with the school and complain bitterly, in writing and in person, probably even writing to the chair of governors.
But I would still let my child go because being left out is grim and two McDs in one day, whilst being gross and unhealthy, aren't going to cause any long-term damage as a one-off.

NotanOtter · 21/03/2007 09:58

its not about cholesterol its about messages

school = macdonalds
School= good
Mcdonalds=good

TinyGang · 21/03/2007 10:00

Doesn't it just highlight a gap in the market for a chain on bright attractive fast food restaurants aimed at families etc that offer other kinds of food.

A salad bar/jacket potatoes/wraps. And yes hit 'em with the funny characters if necessary just like McD's do, but make the food tasty and fun.

Original poster
robinpud · 21/03/2007 10:03

It's a trip from Sydney starting at 6.30 am going to Canberra and returning at 9pm apparently.
Of course I will let her go but intend to suggest that she might prefer to take food for one of the meal times.
I am only here for a year so not jumping up and down too much but think it is lazy of the school to organise it in this way.
Also in clarification this is only via dd from the teacher and not in the letter.. yet.. dd doesn't invent things so presume letter will confirm.

OP posts:
ediemay · 21/03/2007 10:05

Lovely. A day trip with crappy food and cultural imperialism thrown in. No, you are not being unreasonable - the school are. Are there no ordinary cafes they could go to?

twelveyeargap · 21/03/2007 10:06

I don't know, I think the message could just as easily be

School trip = rare event
2 trips to McDonalds = rare event

Original poster
robinpud · 21/03/2007 10:08

Should clarify.. am quite happy to let her go on trip but that two trips to Maccas are needed. I will pack her a fruit shoot and some crisps and a lunchable instead.

Just hoping that this bus will have seatbelts and enough seats for the kids.. kids sitting on the floor or 3 to a seat seems quite common here...

OP posts:
ediemay · 21/03/2007 10:10

Don't forget a cheese string, a sausage roll and a diet Coke!

PrincessPeaHead · 21/03/2007 10:11

but it isn#t a one off, it is a two off! and it is the school endorsing mcdonalds as perfectly OK, not just once in a while, but twice in one day!

completely unjustifiable IMO. And completely unlike giving a choc bar as a prize. first, choc is perfectly OK food in moderation, it is eaten as a snack not as a meal, second it is given to one child and not all of them, third it is a one off.

now if they gave them all a mars bar for breakfast and a marsbar for dinner on their school trip you would have something comparable. But even still I'd say the mars bars were better!

Original poster
robinpud · 21/03/2007 10:12

There's a new pasta option here.. being heavily promoted as healthy.. some pasta shapes to eat with pincers.. is that in the UK as well?

OP posts:
belgo · 21/03/2007 10:13

I visited a Macdonalds in central America and there was a group of school children aged about 8 being given a tour of the kitchens in Macdonalds! So much culture and still not only do they eat in Macdonalds but the school trip is to Macdonalds. (that macdonalds had armed gaurds at the door btw.)

stleger · 21/03/2007 10:15

It is a long trip isn't it? I am trying to think of anywhere local to me (Ireland) where they would be happy to have a school trip to cater for. Outside of the junkfood places and the equally dire 'cafes' at tourist attractions I can't think of anywhere.

ghosty · 21/03/2007 10:19

I am completely and utterly with PPH on this one. I would be appalled and disgusted with even one trip to Macd's on a school trip.
And I say that because it is all about messages. IIRC Robinpud has moved to NZ or Aus ... and both those coundtries have appalling obesity problems with young people (almost as bad as the US apparently - US has most obese kids, followed by Aus, followed by NZ - for population).
I take my children to MacDs now and again. I would complain if school took my DS to MacDs as I absolutely DON'T see how any school can make a day trip out of it.

q7 · 21/03/2007 10:22

I think for a one-off long day out it won't do any harm. It's a long time since I went into a McD, but don't they do fruit/salads/healthy things now anyway?

Original poster
robinpud · 21/03/2007 10:22

when are you moving to Sydney Ghosty.. it's different..

OP posts:
Blu · 21/03/2007 10:27

I would let her go, but I would ask the school if the food could be re-thought, and let them know i thought it was a crap arrangement. In the greater scheme of things, I would be more worried about 3 to a seat and sitting on the floor of the bus.

ghosty · 21/03/2007 10:27

Moving to Melbourne, not Sydney Robinpud April 11th

What is the school trip for?

Original poster
robinpud · 21/03/2007 10:32

Sorry Ghosty.. not following things too closely.
hope all goes well and kids settle well.
I have found Australian public schools very different from my expectations..
Trip is to Science Museum in Canberra I think!

OP posts:
ghosty · 21/03/2007 10:38

Oh, tell me how you find them different Robin ... am dying to know.
Am very apprehensive of DS starting new school.
To start with they are trying to persuade us to put him in Grade 1. He is in Year 3 in NZ and so should be going into Grade 2 in Aus. But they say that he will be young for the year (still in the right age group but one of the younger ones). He is bright and has had 2 full years of school ... bit of a dilemma ...

So a normal school trip to a museum. Why do they have to go to Macds?

ghosty · 21/03/2007 10:39

Not being rude if I don't reply though. Am off to bed. Will catch up with this in the morning.

ScummyMummy · 21/03/2007 10:40

I would not be impressed either. I think it's telling that you're not in the UK. I would be stunned if my children's school suggested this- all the state schools here are in total thrall to Jamie Oliver these days. To the extent that it's all a bit over the top sometimes imo. Then again if double trips to MaccyDs can be a routine part of a school trip in Oz perhaps we need to transport him over to you? Seriously, can you talk to the school?