School trips - holidays for teachers

[QueenBing]

I'll just kick this off by saying I am a secondary school teacher and for the third year in a row I am organising the annual MFL trip to Germany. AIBU to request that people/parents/fellow teachers/parents kindly effing STOP referring to this trip as a "holiday". And believe me, they're not joking. The extra work that's gone into organising it. The lack of sleep while I'm there. The pressure of looking after 40 teenagers. None of which I begrudge doing, but it is not an effing holiday.

It is the lack of a simple thank you when you get back that gets me. The amount of unpaid work is the least of it. Last time we got the pupils to text when we were about an hour from school, one parent still didn't turn up for an hour. It was 11pm, I was shattered' as was their DS and I had to be in work the next morning. When they turned up they beeped and completely ignored me. Just rude.

With regards to the 'paying for the teachers' - I've organised a few of these. You go through a specialist company - www.studyexperiences.co.uk are good - & part of the deal is you get x teacher places per y kids, depending on risk assessment. So higher ratio for orienteering than the theatre, say.

Generally they'll book you into hotels, shows etc, provide packed lunches, a coach, flights where applicable & a guide. You'll get a good price because you'll be in some out of town Travelodge on a block booking.

The company then costs it all up per kid. Part of the cost is, yes, the rooms, theatre seats, coach seats & so forth for the accompanying staff.

We obviously don't get paid for our additional time if the trip is taking place overnight/at the weekend/in the holidays. Generally I've ended up out of pocket because of my own increased childcare costs.

They can be quite fun OR they can be a bloody nightmare (last year's IYA expedition, I'm looking at you) but they are always incredibly tiring & you're on constant alert so quite stressful.

Definitely not a free holiday

Any parents that think your having a holiday, perhaps need to be asked along and then the tits could see absolutely everything you do xx

Yanbu. Respect for teachers doing this. You should be paid overtime imo.

It is a great experience and you develop better relationships with the pupils but it is the most exhausting thing ever.
I have just mentored a trainee for a year who I taught years ago - who still remembers things I helped her with in a residential.
The one I hate is when we get asked (sarcastically) how much it costs us.

I can't believe some parents are so rude (well, I can but ought not to).

Ds has been on many trips through beavers (snigger) / Cubs / scouts / explorers and school. He always goes to thank the leaders / teachers as do I. He's off to Mongolia soon with explorers and believe me, those leaders are SAINTS! 19 young people for 3 weeks! My idea of hell on earth! But I thank heavens they are prepared to do it because what an amazing experience for the young people.

after ds came home from a trip, I emailed the school to thank all the teachers involved, I hate to think of teachers giving up their time and looking after my child and never being thanked, thats awful.

I always think teachers who go on overnight trips are bloody heroic. I can't think of anything more exhausting.

Believe me - It ain't no picnic for the teachers.

You get back absolutely shattered after little sleep and being on high alert for 24/7

It's a nice change from the classroom but it's certainly no holiday.

I've spent a large hunk of today preparing for taking my year 6s away on residential for 3 nights tomorrow.
It's shocking the number of parents and members of my own family that keep referring to it as a holiday. Er, no. My idea of a holiday is not sleeping in crappy accommodation eating crappy food and being away from my own toddler DD. I already see your children more than I see my own.

Having said that, it is wonderful to see the kids having such a good time. I do wish the parents would say thank you though.
One year I took a group of year 4s away and nobody told me til we got there that one boy had never slept without his mum. He was awake crying for her until past 4am. When we got back I tried to speak to her about it and she responded that it was my problem and laughed. The exhaustion had got to me by that point and I burst into tears as she left

YANBU. Trips are hard work. Agree also with the appalling levels of parental ingratitude/constant complaints. For that reason (along with workload issues) I no longer help with the Duke of Edinburgh scheme at my school or volunteer for exchange trips etc.

am shocked some parents would ever think of it as a holiday for the poor teachers

I just hoped the teachers involved might get a bit of enjoyment from seeing the football trip my ds's were on, seeing the stadium and all that, but not once did I think they'd have a nice relaxing time!

Holiday for parents??? God no - take my 4 year old as well as my 11 year old next time you lazy so and sos... give me a proper holiday!!

Seriously I've helped at a few Brownie camps and that was exhausting enough for me a whole week must be utterly exhausting.DD went to Yorkshire last year and France a few weeks ago and loved both but the teachers must have worked what felt like endless hours looking after all those children.

Believe me, some people see it as a jolly! And some parents (last year) said it wasn't right how I could take their kids away but they could because they'd be fined and asked me to justify myself. I was dumbfounded.

Holy shit.

That's just...

I have no words...

Oh yeah, the parents that ask for a breakdown of costs so they can only pay for their child and not subsidise the teachers . They're the best!

I've done many trips in my 20 odd years of teaching but I've vowed 'never again'. The endless paperwork, the expectations from parents, the entitled kids - all for no extra pay or even a thank you. It just isn't worth it.

Taking dozens of teenagers to europe for however long would be my idea of hell fair play to teachers who take the time to organise and be responsible for all these kids holiday my arse eye . I always thanked teachers at the end of these trips when dds were in School

I have nothing but respect for teachers who run residential trips. My dc had some amazing opportunities through the trips they were offered and I will be forever grateful to the staff who made that possible.

I actually am of the extreme opposite opinion. I don't understand why schools still do these trips, I really would be happier if they didn't. Thankfully for me my dd declined the two in primary school and hasn't asked to do any yet in high school either. My dd has ASD and the primary school weren't great with her in general so I didn't want her going away with them, thankfully she realised herself that it wouldn't work so at least I didn't have to be the bad guy not letting her go.

I dread when it is my DS turn. I am certain he will go and be fine but I still hate the thought of it. Selfishly, I would feel happier if there were no residential trips in primary school Surely the teachers are bound to feel the same way? The responsibility is immense.

I cannot believe anyone would suggest it is a holiday for the staff

My friend whose daughter went on the same trip recently said there was a boy there (no known SN) who couldn't do anything for himself, another boy had to help him to shower, brush his teeth and dress as he refused to do it alone the teachers had to ask another boy to help, but then THAT parent complained as her ds said he wasn't happy and it ruined his hol, but didn't voice any concerns to the staff at the time so they thought he was happy to help. These children are 10.

Teachers cannot EVER please everyone.......

YANBU. Am always absolutely appalled when other parents mention the teachers' 'free holidays'. So disrespectful of the work and responsibility.

It must be hugely stressful.

I wouldn't consider it a holiday either it must be hard work!!

Buildalegohouse - Get hold of the costs of a boarding school and show them what that costs for a week (probably about a thousand pounds a week for some of them) might put things into prespective for them!

I'm a parent and have done a few day trips as a parent helper. It's utterly exhausting doing it for a day, constantly counting heads, constantly monitoring where they are, keeping them safe, ensuring they behave.

Doing it 24 hours a day for a week does in no way sound like a holiday.

I'm surprised by all the trips and residentials that seem to be the norm now. DD isn't old enough yet, but I was absolutely stunned to be told that the children a few years older than her are off to Ireland for a week on some sort of outward bound activity course. The trip is costing £600 and the mum has spent another £200 on the kit her dc needs. A lot of families must be priced out of such an expensive trip, and while I'm sure it will be great, I wonder what they will learn that couldn't be achieved more locally at a fraction of the cost.

I'm a teacher and HOY. It's not a holiday, there is so much extra work that goes into organising it, it is stressful and scary to be in charge of all ogmf those kids. BUT, it is absolutely brilliant and one of the best parts of the job. I've led residentials at sports centres, taken kids to the west end, been abroad etc and in two years time I'm leading the trip to New York for my year group and I can't wait.