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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

School Trip to Morocco

412 replies

Goldsand · 17/10/2022 19:00

My DDs secondary school have just announced they will be doing a school trip in the next school year to Morocco for my daughters year.

It’s normally Iceland but they have changed it to Morocco this time.

A couple of other mums have said they won’t be sending their kids as they don’t think it’s safe to send their teen girls there.

Iv never been personally but I thought it was a safe country overall.

However, now I’m doubting myself …. I was going to agree to her going even though i think it’s steep as it’s over £1,000.

So…

YABU - It’s safe, don’t worry about it.
YANBU - I would never send my teen child there on a school trip.

OP posts:
Hayliebells · 17/10/2022 21:36

I can't imagine what the school are thinking tbh. Are they going to be supervised at all times by teachers? If not, and they're going to have free time to do as they please, after the experience of many of my female friends in Morocco, there's not a chance in hell I'd be sending my teenage daughter on that trip. I'm a teacher, and supervising a trip to Iceland sounds quite lovely, whereas supervising a trip to Morocco sounds like a recipe for a lot more stress and hassle. Just why??

Fastandlupine · 17/10/2022 21:37

Keepcalm, believe me, they are not, it's a great place to take kids, female ones too!

toulet · 17/10/2022 21:38

I mean, would you let your kids go to London on a school trip?

🙄

CurlyhairedAssassin · 17/10/2022 21:39

It would be a big no from me. School trips at that age should be more about fun with your friends, having a bit of independence, learning to get on with others, maybe seeing a culture which is slightly different from ours, and doing the odd thing outside your comfort zone, all in as safe an environment as possible. The Morroco trip just sounds way too much for that age group - they won't have the emotional maturity to deal with a vastly different way of life and won't know what to do if they have to deal with inappropriate attention.

I don't understand the people describing successful holidays with their own children. Have you forgotten what a school trip group is like? It's a massive group of excitable youngsters loosely supervised by a couple of teachers. Ratios will be nothing like when ynou only have to look after your own child on a family holiday. Imagine a large group of girls with men near them in a built up area, a couple of supervising adults at the front, perhaps one looking at some papers/their phone at the itinerary or dealing with someone who has started to feel unwell. Would a year 8 girl say or do anything if she was touched inappropriately by a passing man? Or would she be too terrified to say anything or indicate to a distracted teacher that something had happened.

I don't know how a teacher would voluntarily go on something like that and shoulder such responsibility, choosing to go somewhere remote away from any proper medical facilities.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 17/10/2022 21:42

Fastandlupine · 17/10/2022 21:18

Wow there's a lot of racism on this thread. It would be an amazing trip and they'll be looked after by the school. Camping in the desert sounds like an unforgettable life experience.

Is it racism though? DH is Algerian. I have been travelling to Algeria for decades and never had a problem. By comparison the level of hassle I saw women getting in places like Tangier was unpleasant. Even in Marrakesh, it would be quite intimidating if you didn't know the culture. I saw a different side because I was with a native Arabic speaker.

We drove towards Ouarzazate and the lorries were fucking terrifying. One was so overloaded it nearly tipped on a corner. DH was chatting about it to someone at a petrol station and he said it was a common occurrence for them to tip.

I would want to know exactly how the trip was going to be run before I let yr8 girls go there.

CanopusMind · 17/10/2022 21:42

choosing to go somewhere remote away from any proper medical facilities.

Yes expatriate children go camping many weekends, often on week long trips, far away from medical facilities. They do have air ambulances you know? Probably better rural emergency care than most of England in terms of getting people to hospital

keepcalm11 · 17/10/2022 21:44

Fastandlupine · 17/10/2022 21:37

Keepcalm, believe me, they are not, it's a great place to take kids, female ones too!

No sorry it's not fast if they are white British

Hayliebells · 17/10/2022 21:44

Exactly @CurlyhairedAssassin . There's no way on earth I'd be volunteering to staff that school trip. Just no way. Not in a bazillion years.

toulet · 17/10/2022 21:44

@CanopusMind I think it's more subtle here, nowhere near as obvious. Have you been?

CurlyhairedAssassin · 17/10/2022 21:45

CanopusMind · 17/10/2022 21:42

choosing to go somewhere remote away from any proper medical facilities.

Yes expatriate children go camping many weekends, often on week long trips, far away from medical facilities. They do have air ambulances you know? Probably better rural emergency care than most of England in terms of getting people to hospital

Are you saying they have air ambulances in the Atlas Mountains that can take people quickly to a hospital with full facilities?

DizzyR · 17/10/2022 21:45

@Avidreader69 where can I book a family trip to the rockies for £1k pls???

Fastandlupine · 17/10/2022 21:46

Keepcalm, my kids are white british

MerryForestDay · 17/10/2022 21:48

No a chance in hell.

CrookCrane · 17/10/2022 21:48

My cousin and her DP took their DD there at age 13. They were constantly hassled both my cousin and her DD even though they were with her DP. They both felt unsafe and it totally spoilt the trip. I wouldn’t be sending my DD there.

keepcalm11 · 17/10/2022 21:48

Fastandlupine · 17/10/2022 21:46

Keepcalm, my kids are white british

Glad you enjoyed it fast but it's a never again from me

CanopusMind · 17/10/2022 21:48

@toulet have I been what? I've lived in both places - I feel much safer terrorism wise in the Middle East (well most of the middle east), as a woman I get hassle in both countries - hassle to buy stuff in Morocco, more sexual harassment here.

I went out for a coffee a few weeks ago and I had three men approach me to try and join me - this was in Central London, I was updating my CV so clearly not interested in chatting.

In terms of being a woman, I feel much safer in Morocco than Dubai, Qatar etc.

I also feel the terrorism threat in London is much higher.

toulet · 17/10/2022 21:49

Terrorist attacks happen in the UK too.

I'm not really bothered about the terrorism risk.

Hassle happens in the UK too.

Who said otherwise? I grew up in a then rough part of London & was used to pimps & prostitution, but in my experience it's not comparable.

Angelswithflirtyfaces · 17/10/2022 21:50

In 2018 two Scandinavian young women were beheaded by ISIS in Atlas mountains.
If your daughter does go stress to her to stay with the group and not wander off. I was going to go this November but this really frightened me as they were just out hiking.

Fastandlupine · 17/10/2022 21:51

Bad stuff happens every where

Fastandlupine · 17/10/2022 21:52

Angel that was 4 years ago and an isolated incident

keepcalm11 · 17/10/2022 21:52

CrookCrane · 17/10/2022 21:48

My cousin and her DP took their DD there at age 13. They were constantly hassled both my cousin and her DD even though they were with her DP. They both felt unsafe and it totally spoilt the trip. I wouldn’t be sending my DD there.

Exactly my experience, even staying put in the hotel , constant leering, not good at all 🙁

lawandgin · 17/10/2022 21:53

@Fastandlupine oh that's okay then 😂

toulet · 17/10/2022 21:56

@CanopusMind why are you talking to me about terrorism? I've not made a comment on that.
Of course I've been catcalled & harassed in London, I just think it's on a different level & when I travelled there it was with another woman who was muslim & she also found it overwhelming. Perhaps some of us just have different experiences...

Mamai90 · 17/10/2022 21:56

It's a no from me. I'd spend the grand taking her somewhere myself.

MajorCarolDanvers · 17/10/2022 21:59

Sounds great.
The other mums sound prejudiced.

But £1K for a school trip is extortionate