Teachers go on a school trip for a jolly

[User135792468]

I have read numerous threads about teachers recently regarding school trips. Some suggest it’s just a jolly, others are outraged that teachers get a free holiday and don’t have to pay for going on the trip also.

The teachers in the article below have just been acquitted of manslaughter and have been through 7 years of hell. It was an absolute tragedy for the child and family involved. Every single parents worst nightmare. However, next time you think teachers are off on a jolly, think again.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-63150259.amp

I can’t imagine anyone thinking it’s a jolly but there’s absolutely no connection between that topic and the case in the article.

This is why trips and opportunities will get phased out.

Teachers give up their time for free for their pupils to get experience they may not well otherwise get to the chance to have.

They RA. But like everything in life that doesn't prevent tradegy. You reduce risks - you can never remove them.

7 years if hell waiting to see if you are going to jail for an accident.

I use to work as a ski rep and had the utmost respect for the teachers bringing their pupils skiing.

I've worked in education for the last 15 years and have upmost respect for teachers just doing their actual job - without all the extras they provide for free.

I saw this story OP and it made me go cold.

To those saying they never see posts about it being a jolly, I have certainly heard that comment - in fact the librarian at the school I taught at said she wasn;t going to send her kids on the school french trip as the teachers just used it as a chance to have a free holiday. 😮

Obv it is anything BUT a jolly. It's amazing to take kids to another country and some of my very best experiences as a teacher came on school trips, but it is also very hard work and at the root, very scary.

My heart goes out to all involved in this tragic case; I cannot imagine what they must all have felt and must continue to feel.

How about a school trip to Butlins because that's what I did several years ago. I've never been the same since........

I have taught for 20 years and have managed to get away with never doing a residential. I would actually pay money not to have to do it. It's stressful enough doing a day trip.

I read that article and itbis heartbreaking.

There does seem to have been poor management of this activity and as water was involved the result was catastrophic.

My children have been on some fantastic school trips skiing, to New York, the Camino, and there is no way I would think it is an easy holiday for the teachers involved.

Enormous planning goes into these trips and huge paperwork.

In all cases the trips were by invite only as the teachers simply wouldn't entertain the livelier students that might give them grief.

Harsh, but as it is their time and heads on the line, perfectly understandable IMO.

If I was a teacher I doubt a free holiday with 30-60 students my responsibility would lure me to be involved.

I am hugely grateful to those that gave mine a fantastic experience with memories they will never forget.

I feel for those teachers, what a guilt to carry.

I’ve been on day trips as a parent and was exhausted when I got home. It is relentless. Definitely not a jolly!

This.

Does anyone know if in the 7 year wait they have been able to work but I suppose not as teachers?

I don't think teachers going on holidays are a jolly at all. I generally think any profession where you are 'caring' for someone is a giant PITA.

Plus some staff members will have to pay for additional childcare when trips run outside of school hours, so it actually costs them money to do this.

The thread and the article are two separate things.

The accident the article refers to was tragic and awful and I expect all parents get upset at the thought of it.

I recently took out my two dc and one of their friends. That was just three children and nothing about it was a jolly (although it cost me a small fortune).

If the teachers took you on a school trip as a child or take your children on trips now - just take the time to thank them. They give up their time, their evenings and do not relax throughout the visits - with the risks involved it's amazing anyone takes school visits anymore.

It makes my blood run cold at the thought of it. Tbh it puts me off running school trips, because no matter how vigilant you are, something completely unexpected could happen. This case seems like a terrible, tragic accident and not a case of negligence.

I've definitely read comments about it being a jolly- two specific examples that stand out were when someone's dh was doing a residential as a teacher and another was when the op didn't like the manner of one of the teachers and there was loads of comments about teachers on residential getting drunk and not giving a f* and in it for a jolly. Both of which surprised me at the time because it would be my worse nightmare. So it's definitely said.

DH has already said he won’t be doing any more residential trips after what happened to that poor child in France.

Too much responsibility, not paid for it, stuck away from home with a load of children when I’m struggling at home with ours by myself. He used to do loads as he works in a school where a lot of the children had very little opportunities but the school have phased the majority of the trips out.

I wouldn’t be surprised if many more teachers followed suit.

I've been on a few residentials and it's far from a holiday! Being responsible for 36 children for a week with homesickness, moodiness and then staying up all night is not my idea of relaxing. We don't get paid any extra to do it.

Teachers at my DS school went on trips to india WITHOUT the kid's and expected parents to fund it because they'll 'teach' the kids about what they saw and learned when they get back.

I work in a school and actively avoid trips. More trouble than they’re worth!! I’m always exhausted at the end of them

There is so much missing from that claim. Or, more likely, it’s an out and out lie.

A student died on a trip organised by my former employer some years ago. Just awful. Such a responsibility. Definitely not a jolly.

I’m not unsympathetic to the teachers, but the victims here are that poor girl and her family.

MIL was a teacher and was telling me about a school skiing trip where a child died after getting their bag tangled in the ski lift. I just can't imagine the stress of being responsible for so many children and the guilt and trauma if something goes wrong. Fuck that.

This story is awful. I read it in detail and was so shocked those teachers have been in limbo for 7 years. So awful for the family too. A tragic accident and the reason I don’t ever volunteer for any trips.

Our HT thought it was a great idea to take the entire infant department - around 120 kids on 2 buses to the pantomime over 2 hours away. I was put in charge of a class I'd never been with before so didn't even know their names. We came out of the theatre in the dark - trying to find our buses was a nightmare amidst about another 10 other schools doing the same.

Absolute nightmare. On the Monday morning I told the HT not to ever send me on any form of school trip again. Even on a day trip you're on tenterhooks the whole time.

Ugh, a jolly! Yeah it’s great fun when you have 60 ten/eleven year olds to take away. An alarming amount still wet the bed, homesickness, illness, bullying, and once, the accommodation had bedbugs which meant our group was scattered over a huge site with all the kids belongings needing steamed. Sharing rooms with colleagues, months of planning, risk assessing, not being able to switch off from Monday morning til
the Friday night then back to school the following Monday.

But for those kids who never get to do anything, it’s golden and that why we do it
it.

I felt for those teachers this week and thought what I would have done.