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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Teachers go on a school trip for a jolly

122 replies

User135792468 · 05/10/2022 19:09

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

OP posts:

Pigsears · 05/10/2022 20:42

How awful for the child's family.

MsTSwift · 05/10/2022 20:46

A child died on a school trip at a local school. The lovely teacher who organised the trip had a breakdown. It was an accident there was no liability they were older teens but it still happened on her trip.

I always collect from trips with a few bottles of wine for the staff.

Doowop1919 · 05/10/2022 21:03

I had to organise and take twenty 5th graders away for 4 nights. Knowing I was in charge of other people's children solely for 4 nights and 5 days was such a huge responsibility I didn't take lightly. Definitely not a relaxing holiday. Although it's a great way to get to know the kids properly!

itsjustnotok · 05/10/2022 21:08

I’ve helped out on school trips and found the days awful. There is no time to ‘enjoy’ anything because you know you’re responsible for a small group of kids that you keep counting to ensure all are still with you! No way would I want to be a teacher. Honestly such a stressful day.

WonderingWanda · 05/10/2022 21:09

School trips are very draining and you can never fully switch off, they are far from a Jolly.

twocatsandtwokids · 05/10/2022 21:10

Trips are one of the most stressful things in teaching… constantly head-counting, worrying about everything … they are as far from a jolly as you could possibly get!

JustLyra · 05/10/2022 21:18

I’ve never seen any posts calling teachers taking school trips as a jolly. Only ones with people saying that’s what people think.

I’ve never known anyone think a trip was a jolly. When I worked in schools it was common for even regular parent helpers to decline helping on trips because they know how difficult they are.

RaraRachael · 05/10/2022 21:24

Our school parents used to drop them off for a week's residential with a "Right that's us off to Asda for the booze - party at X's house to celebrate". When they returned, there were possibly three who bothered to say thank you out of 60 parents.

Pigsinmuck · 05/10/2022 21:27

I’ve taken numerous school trips aboard and I’ve been following the trial about the teachers. I am so relieved that they were found not guilty. The prosecution were pushing for 3 years in prison.

I refuse to take school trips now, it’s not worth putting myself at that level of risk.

heartbroken22 · 05/10/2022 21:34

I wouldn't feel safe sending my kids on a school trip abroad. I'm a teacher myself and have heard horror stories. We had a whistleblower a couple of years ago saying staff for extremely drunk when they should have been looking after the kids.

MsTSwift · 05/10/2022 21:35

I have seen various posters complaining about having to pay extra to cover the teachers trip costs and justifying this by saying it’s not fair the teachers get to go the trip “for free”.

imsanehonest · 05/10/2022 21:35

A jolly? Just filling in all the paperwork, booking documents, permission slips, ID documents, payments and a million risk assessments would weedle out any member of staff who thought they were going on a holiday.

SleeplessInEngland · 05/10/2022 21:35

I don’t know a single teacher who would regard looking after a group of children
abroad as a jolly!

Luckycatt · 05/10/2022 21:45

No one in their right mind thinks it would be a fun holiday with 30 odd kids to look after, surely!

FridayTheThirteeth · 05/10/2022 21:50

Depends. Teachers at little ones school organise trips to watch Premiership matches. The organisers happen to love football and so get to pick teams and venues and love it. Free activity for a Sat. The cost to parents is so expensive so out of the reach of lots of families

Itstarts · 05/10/2022 21:51

TwoWrightFeet · 05/10/2022 19:27

If anything this proves teachers don’t take it seriously enough.

Care to explain?

glamourousindierockandroll · 05/10/2022 22:04

I've known colleagues have to pay for their own hotel on school trips including over the weekends. Weren't even allowed to claim back food expenses.

sweeneytoddsrazor · 05/10/2022 22:11

Not just teachers, its the same for people that run scout, guide or other youth groups. A lot of these volunteers even pay all or a certain amount of entry fees cost towards the event out of their own pocket.
Recently a local zoo held a,special Brownies weekend, the girls had slightly reduced entry cost and activities arranged that tied in with badges. However only 2 leaders per 20 girls went free the rest had to pay. The official ratio we have is 1 adult for 8 girls and usually 1 spare adult so 4 adults. Which means 2 have to pay, so we just split the cost of the adult payment between the adults so we didn't make it more expensive for the girls. Likewise when we take them to PGL only a couple of leaders go free, the rest have to pay.

Staygoldponyboystaygold · 05/10/2022 22:13

Do people really think it’s a jolly and teachers should pay? You could nt pay me to do it!

bloodyunicorns · 05/10/2022 22:15

This is a real shame. The owners of the swim park should have been found guilty if there weren't enough chains holding the pontoon down. Not the teachers. Not the lifeguards.

But it doesn't look as if anyone has been found guilty.

And seven years later!! Wtf??

bloodyunicorns · 05/10/2022 22:17

heartbroken22 · 05/10/2022 21:34

What? Extremely drunk in the day on a trip? Or drink in the evening when kids were in bed??

It's different.

LucyLastik · 05/10/2022 22:18

@bloodyunicorns but still not ok imo

Oinkypig · 05/10/2022 22:25

I did some time as a cub leader and had to take annual leave for 4 night 5 days to take a group to London. My child was in beavers who were doing a 2 night 3 day trip as part of the same group. For me to stay I had no choice but to keep my child for the other 2 nights, which I paid for in addition to their own trip. I would much rather have dropped them off for two nights. The snide comments I got from other leaders and parents about it made me leave scouting. I was up until 1/2/3 am singing and comforting children who were just not ready to be away from home it was not a jolly and there was definitely no alcohol.

I think it’s unfair of a pp to reference a trip were teachers were drunk as there is no suggestion or hint there was anything like that in the case this is about.

MarigoldPetals · 05/10/2022 22:32

I am a TA and have had to do school residentials. At school I work part time, mornings only. When on a residential I don’t get paid any extra despite working pretty much 24hrs a day for 5 days - I still am only paid for mornings.
On a residential you are dealing with challenging behaviour, homesickness, tears, arguments, minor illness, friendship issues. Most nights I have children knocking on my door. It’s full on hard work all the time. Constant stress and anxiety worrying about children getting lost or injured, trying to get them to wash, eat and behave.
It’s really really really really hard work.
I can’t remember ever being thanked by parents either. I can remember plenty of parents complaining about trivial things though. It’s really a thankless task.

Waspo · 05/10/2022 22:44

As a young teacher I'd always volunteer for the year 5/6 residentials! I would honestly enjoy them and it felt like a nice break from the classroom!

Now I'm in my 40s, however, I'm less keen 😂

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