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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Drinking on a school trip?

333 replies

Flower64 · 03/09/2019 16:19

I contacted my child's school after a camping trip to ask about the teachers drinking on one of the evenings. My child said there was a lot of laughing, screeching and in her opinion the teachers were drunk. She's 13 so not a young child and I think she'd recognise someone drinking. I got an email reply today and part of it says "some staff did stay up later than the children one night, but at no point were any staff drunk. As an additional precaution two staff members consumed no alcohol at all".

AIBU to surmise then that the remaining staff members did have a drink - but in their opinion they weren't drunk - and is this actually acceptable? I don't think any teachers should be drinking on a school trip but now I am doubting myself and looking for opinions please!

OP posts:
TragicallyUnbeyachted · 03/09/2019 16:55

That's the standard for school trips. No teachers drink more than a couple of drinks and there are always two who have drunk no alcohol at all.

They aren't being paid to be there; they are giving up their own free time.

OMGshefoundmeout · 03/09/2019 16:56

That’s perfectly normal and perfectly reasonable. YABVU.

ShadyLady53 · 03/09/2019 16:59

I should add that both of the places we were staying made it clear that no alcohol was to be consumed by any adults and that if alcohol was found, the schools were not to be allowed to return in future.

I was strongly encouraged to “get pissed”. I refused because I knew someone had to be alert for the safety of the children even though I wasn’t even a qualified teacher. I found both incidents to be very concerning.

Saddler · 03/09/2019 16:59

Don't see the issue

lalafafa · 03/09/2019 17:00

get a grip you misery

woodchuck99 · 03/09/2019 17:00

You are being ridiculous. Why do more than 2 teachers need to be sober if the children are 13 years and are in bed?

kaytee87 · 03/09/2019 17:02

Get a grip ffs

mumtomaxwell · 03/09/2019 17:02

OP parents like you make me feel like not running any trips!

YABVU

Aragog · 03/09/2019 17:02

AIBU to surmise then that the remaining staff members did have a drink - but in their opinion they weren't drunk - and is this actually acceptable? I don't think any teachers should be drinking on a school trip but now I am doubting myself and looking for opinions please!

I personally have no issues with some of the teachers sharing a drink or two, providing that
(a) they weren't drunk - a bit of loud voices, according to a 13y, doesn't mean the teachers were drunk. Some people are louder than others just naturally, and
(b) at least one member of staff was totally alcohol free each evening, incase of emergencies

Please also bear in mind that whilst those teachers are on the school trip 24/7 there are actually not being paid for any of that extra time. TBH its no wonder so many schools are scrapping so many residential and school trips!

There’s a ratio of teachers to children.

For secondary the legal ratio of adult to child is pretty high. Most, if not all, residential school trips more than cover this, with extras.

Why does it bother you so much OP?
There were alcohol-free teachers around, and the children were not sat with the teachers observing them drink.

TBH my own DD wouldn't have complained about it at all. She'd feel perfectly fine with her teachers having had a drink or two and were chatting and enjoying themselves. She might mention something to me but not in any negative way.

Heck, when DD went on a residential in Y3 and Y4 the parents sent some wine to the teachers to enjoy!

BasilTheGreat · 03/09/2019 17:03

I agree with OP. There are kids who have to live with alcoholic parents, wouldn’t it be great if they didn’t have to see drinking on the school trip? Why is it so hard to leave it for a few days?

Tableclothing · 03/09/2019 17:03

How did you thank the staff for giving up their holiday so your daughter could go on the trip?

Crazycrazylady · 03/09/2019 17:04

Gosh
They were giving up their free time to take your child on a trip and this is how you respond. Yabu and have definitely been labeled 'that' parent by the school.

Livebythecoast · 03/09/2019 17:05

Bet you're glad you posted this now OP ? Blush

duffyluth · 03/09/2019 17:05

You contacted your 13 year olds school because some of the teachers had a drink and enjoyed themselves Hmm

Wow. Is your life very empty?

TheFallenMadonna · 03/09/2019 17:06

When I started teaching back in the 90s, my whole department would go to the pub for lunch on a Friday.

rwalker · 03/09/2019 17:06

And this is why school trips are dying out nobody will staff them due to shit like this.
Unless the staff were paid 24 hrs then they are entitled to time off .

Pancakeflipper · 03/09/2019 17:07

Hope you said thanks to the staff as these events wouldn't happen without their goodwill and free time.

SparklyMagpie · 03/09/2019 17:07

I've read similar if not the same beforr and YABU

Tbh I'd want more than 2 glasses 😂

AlexaAmbidextra · 03/09/2019 17:07

And the staff room award for the most popular parent goes to ..............

What an unreasonable idiot you are OP. And I would suggest a thirteen year old is not the best judge of drunkenness. Unless she’s seen it at home of course. Hmm

QueenH · 03/09/2019 17:08

When I was teaching, I always had a glass of wine or two with a meal on a residential trip. In my experience, it’s the younger teachers who are often pressured into the overnight trips as they don’t have their own family commitments. They don’t get paid anymore money even though they’re effectively on duty for 48+ hours so a couple of drinks is the least they deserve! It’s very very unlikely they’d put themselves in a position where a child could come to any harm.

shithappens123 · 03/09/2019 17:08

This is why I refuse to use my FREE TIME taking other people’s children on overnight trips. I cannot and will not deal with entitled ridiculous fish wives.

rededucator · 03/09/2019 17:10

OP I hope you realise that you will have been named and shamed to the entire staffroom? I'm a teacher and I can guarantee every member of staff knows about your email.

WhatNowDH · 03/09/2019 17:11

thefallen I find it incredible how quickly Friday lunchtime drinking seems to have stopped. I was working in a pub in 2001 and Friday lunchtimes were heaving with teachers, nurses and various other employed people who would neck drinks and then go back to work. I can’t imagine anyone thinking that acceptable now.

OP you’ve been hugely unreasonable. Is it the first time your dc has been away on a school trip? Maybe an apology to the school is in order, blame it on being worried about your dc or something.

shithappens123 · 03/09/2019 17:11

When ever I asked other people to babysit my children I would leave a nice bottle of wine in the fridge. Everyone is entitled to relax on their evening and unless your 13 year old breathslised then she shouldn’t make wild accusations.

Lovemusic33 · 03/09/2019 17:12

Yes, I remember my teachers (in the 90’s) smelling of booze during lessons and the smoke coming from the staff room 🤣

Also went on a residential trip when I was 16/17 with 6th form/college where we went out drinking with the teachers and smoked weed whilst playing poker in the evenings (don’t think that would happen now).

I think as long as they has someone sober incase of an emergency then there isn’t really a problem.