To wonder who funds a teacher's school trip

[iwasjustwonderingreally]

My daughter went skiing with her school in February half term.

Four teachers accompanied them.

Do teachers pay for themselves, or a contribution, (I appreciate they are working though), or is the cost to the pupil inflated to cover the cost of the teachers?

I just want to ensure I've got my facts right!

Why would you want to put your name to a complaint about a teacher when you weren't there and it wasn't your child? That's truly bizarre.

The facts are that a teenager said a teacher was drunk. That could or could not be true but it's highly unlikely that all teachers had a drink.

I just want to ensure I've got my facts right
Good idea.

Dp once got to go as the additional adult on a cricket tour in the West Indies. Spent 2 weeks supervising anyone with sprained ankles or whatever as they lay by a pool. Said it was a great gig.

I've done a Europe city trip with 6th formers and it was great fun but bloody hard work and a tonne of responsibility. It's certainly no holiday for teachers!!!

I just want to ensure I've got my facts right

Sure, love

One of these posts reminded me of my last trip 😬

Year 6 return and 8 hour Calais delay due to protests. Total nightmare.

Managed on the way back really late to stop and get a McDonald’s and arrived at school at 3am.

Two parents complained we’d got McDonald’s, despite being no other options and staff being so tried they could cry. Also spent the next week with a maxed out credit card until I reclaimed it from school.

I organise foreign trips.
Travel company give one free teacher place for every 10 child places. (that is the ratio needed abroad) If I had say 34 students I would get 3 adult places free but actually need 4, so one adult place would be paid for. This would be divided into the total cost of the trip.
However, when on the trip staff would routinely pay for their own drinks and snacks while out and about if they wanted extra to the hotel meals.

As for drinking, one member of staff was 'on duty' every night and stayed on soft drinks. Other staff may have a couple of drinks but certainly no one ever drunk.

'Do teachers pay for themselves?' 😂

Obviously the parents pay. Even the "free" places from travel agents are in effect paid this way.

One adult per 10 to 15 kids is usual

In seriousness though, the teachers usually take it in turns to abstain from drinking in the evening. How do you know that ALL of the teachers were 'drunk'? How do you even know that any of them were drunk?

Your 'evidence' is a photo/video taken by a teenager.

These teachers won't give up their half term again and I can't say I bloody blame them! Use your own holiday and take your own kids skiing in half term. Better not have a drink

I worked at a private school and the teachers handpicked stupid expensive destinations that they basically wanted to visit! Like they had to go all the way to Costa Rica for a geography trip... Takes the piss, parents footing the bill.

@WildImaginings

In seriousness though, the teachers usually take it in turns to abstain from drinking in the evening. How do you know that ALL of the teachers were 'drunk'? How do you even know that any of them were drunk?

Your 'evidence' is a photo/video taken by a teenager.

These teachers won't give up their half term again and I can't say I bloody blame them! Use your own holiday and take your own kids skiing in half term. Better not have a drink

I wonder what replies like this would be if instead of an ill child not being appropriately attended to, the thread was about a child coming to serious harm due to lack of supervision/drinking.

If a teacher had to pay to go and work on a school trip there would be no school trips!! It’s covered by the parental cost - think if it as 24/7!childcare costs!

ldontWanna

I suspect that the sensible replies would be that the situation should be fully investigated and anyone found to be negligent in their duties would be suitably sanctioned or punished.

I also know that the less sensible replies would be from those on here expanding the narrative and they would call for the teachers head to roll without any evidence.

I'm the situation you describe I wouldn't be considering adding my name to a complaint based on finances.

The consideration should be based on whether you think there is reasonable evidence to prove that no teacher was able to deal with the situation and you believe an investigation for duty of care is needed.

Remember there would have been more than 1 teacher and they may not have been the one on duty.

OP it's worth being sure about the drunk thing. What happened in the 80s and 90s definitely doesn't happen any more. Some of the schools I've worked in have had rules about drinking on school trips (there's no drinking). But mainly the culture has just changed. Teachers don't go out on Friday lunchtimes and have a few pints anymore. They adhere to health and safety rules, they consider safeguarding. The 'getting drunk' vibe just isn't there any more.

.....but that doesn't stop kids getting excited and exaggerating because they live drama.

@MySecretHistory

This is the reason that so many schools have stopped residential trips Too many teens with cameras Too many keyboard warrior parents who think their little angels can do no wrong.

This exactly this! I hate the whole let's film every situation culture among teenagers and some adults tbf.

I would hate to be a teacher now, I have worked in a school and it's hard bloody work!

@iwasjustwonderingreally

For those surprised that I ask ...

The teachers aren't with the children during the day as they are off skiing on their own (as the children are in ski school).

They are all also drinking at night and one got particularly drunk.

It has been raised as a complaint and, before I decide whether or not I want to put my name to any complaint, I want to find out if it's been paid for by parents or not!

Why don't YOU take YOUR kids skiing in the holidays. Would you have liked to be one of the 6 teachers on the Thomas Mills Ski trip in 2006 when a child was killed in a motorway accident? Dp complain but don't be surprised if next year there is no ski trip.

I am enraged by this thread.

If your complaint was about one teacher allegedly being drunk why did you ask who pays?

School trips are an absolute nightmare for teachers. They are held on our holidays. Our other commitments, including family / childcare have to be looked after by somebody else. We get to the end of term, go home, pack a bag and get straight back out to work. This is after fitting meetings in during our lunchbreaks, before school or after school.

In my first year of teaching I was practically forced to go on the school trip. One week of herding teenagers through airports, checking bags, sitting on buses, staying up late at night to check on ill students, day and night there was no off time. It was horrendous. Yes my hotel, meals and transport was covered but the trip still cost money with day-to-day expenses. I missed my family dreadfully and I was exhausted.

Apparently I was hammered drunk at the airport. I was swaging and slurring and laughing like a maniac by all accounts which came back to students not in attendance. In reality I drank nothing alcoholic whatsoever on the trip.

I hated every moment of it and refused to even consider it the next year. I told them I will consider going once a decade as it's such a valuable experience for students and without volunteers it won't happen.

Was your child taken care of adequately? Your lack of gratitude is truly truly staggering.

Pretty sure no one oays for their work trips , its not a jolly

It is such a huge responsibility being a teacher, just look at the current threads. We are human. I have been teaching for over 30 years but have never agreed to do 'a trip', except obviously during school hours. I remember being on one as a 15 year old, and yes, the adults had a few drinks in the evenings. It was crazy, and in the 70's so not what would happen now. I take responsibility for your children during the day. The rest is up to you. Be grateful that teachers are still willing to do such trips and obviously if you feel you have to complain do so. Just don't expect any further trips!!

@IWasFunBeforeMum

I worked at a private school and the teachers handpicked stupid expensive destinations that they basically wanted to visit! Like they had to go all the way to Costa Rica for a geography trip... Takes the piss, parents footing the bill.

I've worked in a private school too. That type of trip was expected by the parents, with details published several years in advance. They also took place in the holidays and were optional. Staff did choose the destinations to a certain extent but why not, when they are giving up their holiday? Personally I would rather pay for myself to have a proper holiday in Costa Rica than go for free but spend it supervising 30 kids.

I wonder what replies like this would be if instead of an ill child not being appropriately attended to, the thread was about a child coming to serious harm due to lack of supervision/drinking.
Well they'd be the same really wouldn't they, investigate the claims of drunkenness and have some proof before damming the supervising staff on the basis of hearsay.

If your complaint was about one teacher allegedly being drunk why did you ask who pays

I'd guess it's so they can add clout to their complaint, by saying something along the lines of '....on a trip that we pay for, for you'

Whole thing absolutely snacks of entitlement doesn't it!

Well the parent complaining is unhappy as their teenager was unwell and the teachers who were meant to be caring for them were all tipsy (one particularly drunk)!

It's irrelevant who paid (the teachers obviously won't have), they were drunk in charge of the group. You don't need to bring payment in.