To think this school trip is badly misjudged

[MaoamAddict]

Have name changed as the situation is very specific. DC is in year 1 at a lovely school, but we've just received notice that a school 'trip' will be taking place to a local food bank. The school have asked for us to pay for transport (not a problem) and have gone on to say that the children will be packing food, handing out food parcels and seeing behind the scenes of a large local food bank.

We live in a middle class area with a minimal number of DC on pupil premium but there are certainly families within school community who are on the breadline and may have used food banks. I think it's fucking crass for the school to be using a food bank as a spectacle?! We donate weekly financially and feminine hygiene products, but the school don't seem to have thought this through at all, what if one or more of the DC in the 3 year 1 classes have visited that food bank?! How do I word these concerns without being 'that' parent? Or AIBU and overthinking?

The 'trip' is designed to fit in with a superhero topic at school - the food bank volunteers are being framed as the superheroes (tenuous link?) the food bank volunteers are amazing, but this feels wrong on so many levels.

I agree OP, it seems wrong on many levels. The children should absolutely be learning about food banks, even visiting behind the scenes or having a talk from one of the volunteers to better understand. But helping hand out the parcels is totally wrong on so many levels, it is of upmost importance to preserve the dignity of the service users. If they are 5/6 years, there are better ways to approach this important leaning. I’m a social worker by the way so completely understand the reality.

I understand. Its a kind of poverty tourism . I wouldnt like it either. For context im now wealthy but a former food bank user. My kids know about food banks, we donate, but a school trip to one is 'off'.

It’s a great trip, educational and perfect for indulged kids

Ps also how the heck are they going to manage confidentiality. 5/6 years would not understand this! And safeguarding. So many red flags here.

I agree with you op.
I’m a ks1 teacher and think this trip is an odd idea.
There are so many ways to help charities, but to make some children at this age feel like they are the charity is badly thought out.

Also, is it a just me, but is the term ‘superhero’ being completely devalued these days?

It’s a terrible idea. Poverty is a complex issue that definitely could not be understood by children that age. At that age my children thought money was just supplied by an atm. If I had tried to explain that some people don’t have enough they would just wonder why they didn’t go and get some from the machine.

My children’s school have been talking to them about not giving homeless people money in case “they make bad choices with it” because of course people without a home just make shit choices don’t they.

My eldest child didn’t go on the 1.5k trip to Africa to help build a school because taking a group of completely useless teenagers overseas at great cost to go and have a look at poor people(who are still so so happy!!!!) so they can come back and feel better about their lives is vulgar. Vulgar and inherently wrong.

There are things that can be learnt in theory. One can understand the trauma of illness without spending a day on a hospital ward.

Entertainment? Are you fucking mad? It's educational, showing kids what goes on out there and showing them compassion and understanding, maybe you should ask if you could go along to see if you can learn anything from it??

Does feel a bit poverty porn doesn't it?

A lot of people are in great distress attending food banks the last thing you would want to see is 30 school kids gawping at you.

My worries would relate more to safeguarding. You can only use the foodbank so many times so what if someone turns up without a voucher and they say we can't give you anything and they get angry? Can be some unsavoury characters there...
I've been on a school trip to a big tesco before where they talked about fish, fruit and veg, recycling and where food comes from

God forbid the children learn something about real life

Terrible idea, especially since they will be handing out parcels. Many using a people using a food bank want privacy.

It also just feels in poor taste to me, like poverty tourism.

It's a great way to talk about volunteering and community charity. Wondering how many people worrying about this have actually been to a food bank?

Completely agree with this. People who need to use a good bank are not a 'teaching opportunity', they're people at a vulnerable moment in their lives who probably do want to get in and out with as little fanfare as possible.
OP I think you're right, totally off to have it as a school trip

Visiting the food bank and learning what happens there? Fine.

Meeting clients/service users? No.

Why aren't they visiting outside of food collection hours? They can learn and meet staff and volunteers, without breach of confidentiality. At a minimum people need to be given a choice to collect their food without having to see the children.

Unless white saviourism is finally on the curriculum?

Argh sorry meant to quote and say I was agreeing with @Etinoxaurus

The children won't be judging anyone 😀, they are volunteering and will make lots of people smile.

Awkward potentially for any child in the class who's been for need.

They're 5 and 6. They don't need to know that some people can't afford food. Knowing than many families can't afford basics won't magically make 5 year olds, worthy members of society. It's more likely to worry about what if WE run out of money and Daddy has to go to the food bank, etc. There's plenty of time to batter them with reality.

Unless white saviourism is finally on the curriculum?

I was nodding in agreement with your post ... until this bit. You do realise that white people use food banks too? And that the visiting children may well be of various ethnicities?

Yes, This.
It's appalling that we need foodbanks. The government should be ashamed.

"Hey lady, here's your good, how come you don't have any money?"
Is it just me that would worry about something like thing escaping them mouths of young kids? Not meant badly, just childhood curiosity but still

You're making a presumption on the ethnicity of the teacher and whomever has approved the trip. You do realise not all teams and SLT are white right?

Many of the children on the trip will already know stuff about 'real life'. Just because a school doesn't have a high number of pupils on pupil premium doesn't mean there are no children in poverty.

I do not think this is appropriate for a school trip. At this age children's understand that some people are less well off and need help but I think visiting a food bank is not appropriate.