To think that this isn't fair (school situation)

[whyisswangnotaword]

To cut a long story short, my child's school is holding a whole school trip to a beach to mark the end of the year.
It's been highly encouraged for all students to attend, albeit a little too encouraged and has come across to many as very pushy, which has been off putting.
We are not attending, due to my child's horrific travel sickness. I was called and asked if we were attending after already saying we are not - and then was further questioned as to why we are not going. That's not the point though -

We have today been told that any children not attending will be set online work to complete for the day that the school is closed for the trip.
I will be taking my child out for the day, most probably to the cinema due to bad weather .. because although she is aware of the reasons we are not attending and did not want to go due to travel sickness (it would absolutely NOT be enjoyable for anybody) it's still not nice for her to think of all of her friends out having fun whilst she is stuck at home.

Is it silly of me to think that it's unfair that the school are setting an online work day for the children that aren't attending?
I would agree with it totally if she were missing an educational trip, but it's not that. It's a whole school trips for the children and their parents to have a fun day at the beach.

They probably have to be seen to be doing something otherwise they are denying your child a day or education. Also to stop people deciding they would rather use it as a day off rather than send their child on the trip Just don't do the work and have a nice day I doubt anyone will care.

Could you not use medication or those travel bands to combat the travel sickness? How far is the beach?
Anyway, it's possible the children who do attend will be given or do some work - whether it's activity sheets, or making stuff with sand, observing the creatures in a rock pool etc. Our school take the kids to the beach in KS1 & whilst part of the day is fun, they do factor in some learning.

Yea that work wouldn't be getting done if it was me op. Just ignore it and enjoy the cinema 😃

No one will be marking that work, just ignore it.

So does your child never travel anywhere?

Of course going to the beach is educational.
Your child will also miss out on all of the follow up work and the talking about it. Shared experiences are important

If your child cant use buses/public transport then they will have a very limited childhood.

Maybe they walk to the cinema?

My two aren’t going on the end of school year trip this year. It’s to a cathedral….what primary school kids do you know want to go to a cathedral?

Im keeping them home instead. Seems a stupid place for a trip. YANBU

The deal is for the children to go on a day out together instead of school work, which clearly they feel is a good thing for them (fresh air, different location, beach games, bonding etc) otherwise they could have just given them all the day off. That's the offer and to me, it's take it or leave it and do what you'd otherwise be doing (ie school work), not take it or go off and do your own thing.

Day out with their friends, trip on a coach, tombs and graves, no doubt a ghost story or three.....the trips what they make out of it! Kids love a class trip!

My 15yo has decided not to go on the whole year theme park trip because he hates theme parks. The alternative is that he attends school and gets given work to do with Y11. It never even crossed my mind to be annoyed...

Can she take Stugeron? I've always suffered from disgusting motion sickness so she does have my sympathy, I can't manage more than 15 minutes as a passenger in a car without Stugeron, but it does work. Depends how well she does with the side effects. It does seem such a shame to miss the trip!

Amazing old buildings to develop a love of History, usually in an ancient city
Learning about other faiths
Seeing some ancient relics

Wtf 😳

Cathedrals are incredibly interesting

They probably have to be seen to be doing something otherwise they are denying your child a day or education.

This. Just ignore the work - I'd be astonished if anyone actually checked whether she'd done it or not.

Gawd this is a depressing attitude - it’s the fun of going on a trip with your mates. Chatting on the bus, being out of school. Cathedrals and all their history, gory and interesting stories as well are fascinating for kids and grown ups especially with an expert showing you round. What a depressing attitude you have.

Are you serious? Seems a bit short sighted- there must be a reason why the cathedral has been chosen, it’s probably the “in depth” part of their learning this term. A well pitched tour around an interesting cathedral (treasure hunt/ interesting deaths/ fighting) is actually a really good trip for most kids- often the sheer size/ space of the building is quite exciting in itself (especially if there’s some music/ an organ playing).

Plus my kids would happily go on a trip to watch paint dry if they got a packed lunch and a trip on the coach with their friends.

School can't just say have the day off.

I would have taken her myself though so she didn't miss out, or sent her to school with everything she needs - loaded her up on antihistamine, travel sick tablets/ travel bands. Taken a bucket and a change of clothes and towel.
Travel sickness is awful but it shouldn't impact her life so much, you just cater for it and leave plenty of time the other end for her to perk up and have something to eat. Children are sick all the time on school trips she won't be the only one.

Cathedrals quite often often have exhibitions/events on, so might involve that too @Soubriquet

@Soubriquet most primary schools do trips to varied places of religious worship. Children want to go because their friends are. Plenty to learn and do at a cathedral and lots of outside space to play after. It's very rarely any different to going to a museum. They can see the stained glass and hear the organ being played, various events and exhibits. Religious or not cathedrals are an important part of our cultural heritage especially important when they start learning about Tudors and the Reformation and the tearing down of places of worship - they will have some related knowledge and lived experience to pull on.

Not the end of year trip but my kids did an outing to a cathedral recently. They really enjoyed it. They taught the kids a few Gaelic songs and some traditional folk dances in school and then put on a performance with two opera singers at the cathedral. If done well old buildings are fascinating for children.

We were sent on every school trip, loved them - even the power station! As others have said I’d be making every effort to get kids to both those mentioned on this thread…

I was made to suffer travel sickness- so miserable- but on a school trip a friend had children’s travel sickness meds
She gave me one
What a revelation!

No being sick and no nausea

In my opinion it’s actually cruel to let kids suffer motion sickness when there are efficient meds that treat it , taken at the right time.

My children were given the option to go. I encouraged them to go even, because it’s with friends. Both were adamant they didn’t want to go, so I saved myself £38

We are in a similar situation as my ds4 is potentially having an operation just before the year 7 camp. If he can't go he will have to do learning at home.

Have you done anything to combat travel sickness? seems incredibly limiting of she is going to miss out on every trip? do you not go on holiday or days out as a family?