School trip to NYC this Friday.......

[IGETITFROMMAMAMMA]

AIBU ti think School should be contacting parents to advise of the current situation....

Our 15 yo DD is due to travel to NYC this Friday with School for 5 days, given the current state and everything going on involving the US I imagine the threat to the US and certainly places such as NYC will be on extreme high alert.

As it stands I'm not 100% comfortable with her going now and I know I will be a nervous wreck the entire time she is there (if it goes ahead). this is the first trip of this sort I've any experience with, does anyone have any advice on what measures etc School will be putting in place or if this is a risk School will likely even take by allowing the trip to go ahead?

so far we have heard nothing at all from School not even an text or email to state they are looking into it etc.

yes these people and I include all involved and anymore who become involved in this as it is a total shambles and the hundreds and thousands of innocent lives which get damaged by these acts. Pissed with power and total psychos running the world!

my concerns exactly- and like I said these people arn't sane and the those carrying out retaliation attacks certainly are not sane

I don't believe it will be any riskier than any US city at the moment..... the issue is these people doing this arn't sane they have/are and will continue to attack innocent people without any thought.

It's Americans doing the attacking, in case you didn't notice.

500 dead in Iran.

Unless you mean the people in the US doing the attacking aren't sane, in which case, I agree.

The @IGETITFROMMAMAMMA YANBU to be worried about DC travelling to NYC without you but YABU wrt the school “looking into things” etc - what do you actually expect them to do?

There’s literally nothing anyone can do about a potential terrorist attack (except spy agencies/police etc) - the school will be taking the same safety precautions they always do - nothing has changed in that respect.

As PPs have said, as long as FO don’t issue “do not travel” guidance, trip should go ahead as planned.

When did parents become so reliant on the school for everything? Surely as a parent it's your job to protect the safety of your child however you see fit. It's not for the school to keep you abreast of current affairs.

I mean then all that idiot Trump included 100% he is pissed with power and an absolute animal.

I'm concerned more about the retaliatory terrorist attacks and we are all well aware that NYC would be a prime target

I don't see why the school needs to contact you unless FO travel advice changes. If you are concerned about her safety you could contact them and then make a decision about whether to withdraw her.

I'm from New York. Over 8 million people live there, many more work there, millions of children go to school there. People are living their ordinary lives. Your DD and her friends will be absolutely fine.

Do you drive the school run? Her chances of being harmed in a car are infinitely higher than in a terrorist incident in NY.

Take a deep breath and let her go and have a fabulous time.

Adding that I don't disagree with you about Trump!

The school sending a generic, panic inducing email on Monday morning isn’t going to make you feel any better or differently.
what exactly do you think school should be “looking into” that you, as a parent, are not doing?
Risk does not necessarily equate harm- but ultimately it is up to you are your child’s parent to decide what level of risk you are comfortable with. School can’t make that decision for you.

I think that, given the drone attack on the British base in Cyprus & now RAF Fairford now being used by the US to launch attacks from there, that both Cyprus & Gloucestershire are at risk of attack.

Those of us who are older will remember when there were terrorist attacks & risk of bombs in the UK during the 'Troubles' in N. Ireland. It didn't stop people carrying on & going to London & Birmingham, which, amongst others, were places that were targeted.

What are school meant to doing or contacting you about? Do they some intel we don’t?

OP I understand why you are concerned. Posters saying you are ridiculous are not helpful. You are not. You are an anxious mother.

It is highly unlikely that the school will change its plans. It is also incredibly unlikely that any harm will come to your daughter. The risk is minimal. But nothing in life is risk free and ultimately it’s up to you as her parent (in consultation with her other parent and with her too given her age) to make the call on what to do. You as a family are the judge of what level of risk you can accept. Make an active choice. Don’t let it unfold by default.

For what it’s worth, from an internet stranger, I’d be letting her go.

Why would the issue in the Middle East stop a trip to NY? If your worried say she’s not going but your overreacting.

im going to florida next wek cant wait-im sure it will be fine in nyc security is very tight there now

Agreed the biggest risk is the drive to school or airport.

I wouldn't want to go to the states at the moment for other reasons (ICE both the security people and the stuff that forms after snow)

Im a travel agent. Th FCDO advice is fine for America.
What are you wanting school to say? We watch the news and know about the problems in the middle east? How would that help you? The trip will be going ahead as they wont get a refund, if youre that bothered then pull her out of it.
As for her and her friends 'fretting', they will only be bothered if you are so tell her it will be fine and she will have a great time

What risk? They're no more at risk from terrorism in NYC than they are in London. And literally everywhere has security. Even the churches are like airport tight.

But imo I wouldn't send a kid to new york. It has a horrible atmosphere ATM. An uneasiness about it. Or it did last year and I can't imagine it's got better.

The again I suppose it would be an eye opening experience for him. To see that a place that's sung so highly of in the songs is actually just a dystopian, money crazy hellhole with a pretty skyline.

It would be an adventure at least. Something he will always remember for better or worse.
But he's unlikely to be unsafe.

I live in the US and they are saying there is more police presence than ever. Unfortunately NY C will always be a target but they do a good job of protecting people.

OP, I had these fears when my son went to NYC in October- as it is the furthest he had been from me. It was fine.
However, I can't say it will never happen- but like in the UK the Intelligence services know of attacks and manage to stop them all the time. So will be highly unlikely any harm will come to your child. I know worrying, but trying to reassure you.

I am not sure what you want the school to do. Presumably the trip will go ahead as planned unless the FO advice changes which seems highly unlikely.

The trip will have been paid for and any insurance won't kick in unless the FO advises against travel to the US. If you pull you daughter out of the trip then you won't get your money back.

The odds of something bad happening are miniscule. I would probably also be anxious in your shoes but that wouldn't mean the risk of something happening was high.

Really ! Hopefully you are aware of the security threat level here which is Substantial, meaning a terrorist attack on British soil is Likely and i would imagine that in the next few days the level will change to severe Our Government are also stating a terrorst attack is likely in the US as well.

There’s always a risk of a terrorist attack. There has been my entire adult life. It’s never stopped me doing anything. You can’t let fear stop you from living and especially not a young person.

The thing is OP, unless the Foreign Office advise against travel to America, anyone who cancels their trip will be unable to claim on insurance. So there’s really not much the school can say or do. Until they’re told otherwise, they have to assume everything will go ahead as planned.

If anything, I think there’s probably less risk now than usual, because airports etc will be more alert.

It’s been at ‘substantial’ or higher since 2006!

so far we have heard nothing at all from School not even an text or email to state they are looking into it etc.

Looking into what exactly?!?!