To think they could ski in Europe?

[Panting]

NC’d as this is outing.

Got a letter from DD’s school with details of the school ski trip.

They’re going to the USA. Cost £1500.

AIBU to think they could just go to Europe for about half the cost so that people could have a chance of affording it? There’s no way we can stump up that much.

State school in London btw.

Sorry - fly short haul again this summer. So yeah, I could/should do better. It’s just curious that even people who worry about recycling/driving less/not wasting heat don’t see flying as a moral issue. Whatever else you do or don’t for the environment (aka your kids’ future) is drowned out by flying.

I sent my ds on a similar trip last year. I'd never want to take the family skiing (hate the idea) so much more cost effective to give each kid one opportunity to go with school.

It's not like his generation will otherwise be able to afford it before they're 40...

Oh & as a teacher who runs regular residential, am but also at the idea that the best way to enjoy a jolly skiing in the States would be to organise a trip for 50 kids! If that was my ambition I'd sign up for exam marking this summer, earn £3k & take a mate ffs. Tiny proportion of the hassle!

My school does this. It’s largely to do with availability of alcohol.

When did all these mad school trips come into being I hear about on MN? I'm 43. The only school trips at primary school were to zoos, safari parks or places of historical interest and never more than two hours away by coach. At secondary school we did a three night trip to France, a geography field trip to the Forest of Dean for three nights (about 40 miles away) and a four night outward bound thing in the Lake District for sixth form.

We take a group to Europe for about €700 per child.

Far more reasonable, although I appreciate lots couldn't afford it. It's not obligatory though!

1500 seems way too expensive, and I don't think the alcohol laws justify asking families to pay it. If you don't want your students drinking/getting drunk then you lay down the rules beforehand and punish misbehaviour.

When did all these mad school trips come into being I hear about on MN? I'm 43.

I'm also 43 and went on a ski trip to France in S6. It was £400 then so £1500 to the US doesn't seem a massive leap over 25 years.

Primal Maybe it varied from county to county? I have friends of similar ages to me whom I met in later life, so didn't grow up in the same area as me, and none of them ever had these sorts of trips either.

We went skiing with school back in Days of Yore (the nineties)

Some families will find trips like this create opportunities for their children as they can manage the cost for one child at a time compared to the cost of taking the whole family. Or there may be other issues like organising leave or being interested.

My holidays after the age of 12 were all school trips.

The school will be going for the USA for a practical reason such as travel arrangements or timings.

pipistrell Blimey. All my friends and I really missed out, clearly. I'm sure we're mentally scarred. Can I sue the LEA for depriving us all of these opportunities?

Mind you, my parents wouldn't have been able to afford it anyway

Cost of Ski trip at DDs school is about £1,000. They usually go to France or Italy by ferry and coach taking 24 hours there and back which seems horrendous. So yes, trips within Europe are less expensive but in my experience certainly not half the cost of the US trip.

We did too, back in the 80s. Normal comp with a manly lowish income intake.

Very few kids went, so those of us who couldn't didn't feel left out.

I agree with you OP

Skiing will never be a cheap holiday but the school could easily do a trip to France or Austria for significantly less than that

School trips should be banned. It is just so unfair for those who cannot afford it for their kids, and the kids who cannot go end up being bullied because they couldn't go. Lose, Lose

What about the kids that don't want to go? My DS loves skiing but refused to go on them because he would miss out on his Ice Hickey training and that was more important. The cheeky devil did try and ask for the cash we would have spent on him! No incidents of bullying and none towards his friend whose mum couldn't afford it.

Other kids asked if they were going on the trip(s) and those that didn't just said 'nah mate not this one' and that was that!

All my friends and I really missed out, clearly. I'm sure we're mentally scarred. Can I sue the LEA for depriving us all of these opportunities

Sorry where did I say I thought kids would be mentally scarred if they didn't go? I made the point that I went when I was at school in answer to the lady who was 43 and thought it was a new thing. It isn't.

Otherwise I think I may have misunderstood your post?

School trips should be banned. It is just so unfair for those who cannot afford it for their kids, and the kids who cannot go end up being bullied because they couldn't go. Lose, Lose

The school skiing cup was the only bloody thing I won in school in the entire time I was there! Why should some kids miss out? The argument can work both ways.

Why do schools organise holidays? Skiing is not an essential part of education.

Just seems a lot of work and hassle, and will be pricier due to admin burden of supervising other peoples kids.

Let the parents take them, or they go when they can take themselves.

pipi There was a wink at the end of that. I was being ironic. I'm just not entirely convinced these extremely expensive school trips are necessary. And I'm not a lady, actually.

Jesus Christ there's some miserable fuckers on this thread!

Not skiing but a high school in my area is offering a 4 night trip to Borneo for 4K. I should add that it's a pretty deprived area. The mind boggles.

Sorry Shatner I missed the wink and couldn't remember who admitted to being 43 :)

School trips generally probably aren't necessary. They're fun, they broaden horizons, they're an adventure for the kids and they cement friendships.

And yes, some are bloody expensive :)

Four nights in Borneo??!! That's a fuck of a trip for four nights!!

It would be a shame for kids whose parents can't take them on trips like this to miss out. Lots of families can manage one big trip per child per school career - these are the ones who'd miss out if schools stopped offering them.

Not skiing but a high school in my area is offering a 4 night trip to Borneo for 4K. I should add that it's a pretty deprived area. The mind boggles.

Are you absolutely sure of those details? That’s a 16 hour flight.

Borneo is quite a popular destination for World Challenge trips, for which pupils are encouraged to fundraise.

Where in the USA is it? East Coast or West Coast. If its East Coast, depemding on the resort, there still maybe a long coach ride and no guarantee of loads of snow. If its West Coast, that is a crazy long flight from the UK, but you will definitely have fantastic snow.