To think that if the school says no mobile phones to be teken on trip then everyone should respect that.

[kreecherlivesupstairs]

DD went off for her first school trip, she'll be back on Thursday. She is/was thrilled about the whole thing since she found out about it three weeks ago. I dropped her off at 7.30 this morning, saw her onto the bus, had a quiet grizzle to myself then went for a cup of coffee with another mum. She asked me how much cash I'd given dd, I said none, she didn't need it, she then asked about whether I'd topped her phone up for her. It turns out, she's given her son 100 francs (about 60 quid) and sent his iphone along with him. I am sitting here seething with anger which I know is unreasonable, but ffs, the school made some rules that, imho are worth keeping.

I'm off to bed so this is my last word!- I feel very sorry for children who are are made to feel that the world is unsafe unless they are with their mother! I want my DSs to be able to risk assess for themselves and feel free to explore and take up opportunities that come their way-I don't want them to be prisoners in a guilded cage. The latest is that parents are even going on the Gap Year with their DC!!

Eyeballs, if I thought the supervising staff on a trip were going to be incompetent, I don't think that I'd reason from that that all would be well because my dc had a mobile.

The legitimate use of a phone by dc on a trip(to contact parents if a major problem, or receive incoming messages if ditto) is easily covered by sensible use of emergency staff mobile.

The 'I know, let's all text Hannah in the next dorm & tell her we've seen Freddie Kruger climbing the tree outside her window!' nonsense, is wearing on staff already doing 16 hour days +.

'So why should schools and teachers bother?'

Exactly-one more last word! This thread has made me realise, as a teacher, that I shall refuse to go on any trip where mobile phones are allowed.(unless it is to a place with no signal).

woohoo Piscesmoon i hope you teach my kids!

life is for living not screening or checking in with mummy

My eldest DD had a week residential trip at the end of Year 6 (this summer). The children were all told not to take a mobile, and most of the parents agreed that this was a sensible idea from the point of view that they were at risk of being broken, stolen, used to ring mum when homesick etc etc.

I did have a brief wobble (DD is diabetic - what if she was taken ill??) but in the end she didn't take a phone; however her first aider did and he texted me every day so I could tell him how much insulin she needed (and I did get a little news update too lol).

FWIW she matured so much that week - doing her own insulin injections as well as the physical/emotional challenges of being away from home for the first time. I was really proud of her

No staff, no trip. Heads cannot order teachers to go on residentials.
You may not send your child with an iPhone, but others will.

But you're assuming you'd know they were incompetent. We have had countless examples of schools leaving the building having left students behind, one memorable time it was a group of seven SN children in a minibus that returned to school a good hour or so away and didn't realise that they only had 6 children. No one knew until the poor child was found bewilderedly roaming round the building. Teachers have left groups of children in the building and gone off site somewhere else entirely, assuming that staff in our place would look after the children . Fat lot of use their emergency mobiles were then.

Now of course that's only a tiny tiny number of teachers do this, I'm by no means tarring the whole profession. But I've seen enough of it to make me more cautious when the time comes for dd to go on trips.

It's getting increasingly difficult to staff residentials, too. Personally, I really enjoy them, but many of my colleagues would rather gouge out their eyes with a rusty spoon.

Don't forget we're putting in 6am - 10pm days, minimum.

If it's term time, we're setting work then picking up the fallout after 5 days of our classes running amock under cover supervisors.

If it's at half-term, we're giving up our holiday.

Either way, those of us who are parents are missing out on precious time with our own kids.

OK, phones on trips are a PITA for teachers, & I'll be honest, that's a consideration. But more to the point, I truly believe, from extensive experience, that they cause the kids in my care aggro which massively outweighs the possible benefit.

If you can't get your head round the notion of your dc being away for a couple of days with no moby, then please, don't send 'em.

Don't undermine the ethos of the trip - we don't have to run them & your dc don't have to go - but if they do, they need to follow the rules.

RESPECT teachers for those residentials i would not do it i tell you!

Keep up the great work - 3 small ones coming though!

I agree, NotAnOtter. My mum used to do them when she was teaching, and always said the kids were much worse after calling home. I really appreciate teachers staffing residentials.

So the consensus seems to be IANBU. Dd is 8,4 and I trust her teachers and the staff at the outdoor centre implicitly. I was just so insenced with the mother who sent the phone and cash.
Last night and this morning have been so strange without her, just me and the dh to consider.
Today she will be absailing and rock climbing, in the reverse order obviously.

She will have a great time, kreecherlivesupstairs, and the greatest value will be that she was self reliant. Coming home will be really exciting because 1. she will appreciate you more! and 2 she will have lots of exciting news that she hasn't been drip feeding you at the time.

I was a Brown Owl years ago. I am quite insulted by the fact that I put in hours of my own time, not only the weekly meetings but extra weekend activities, area meetings, district meetings and training, but although OK as as cheap babysitting service ('and maybe a nice enough person' to quote)I was not to be trusted for more than a 2 hour stretch without the DD having a direct line to her mother! And yes-I feel that my opinion is worth more than the parents Ruby and I would simply refuse to take your DD away with her phone. I feel so strongly about it that I would dig in my heels and not go at all if parents insisted. They can't make me go-it is voluntary.
I think that it is wonderful, in this day and age, that the Scout and Guide movement still take responsibility for taking DCs away for adventure-parents who insist on mobiles may be the final nail in the coffin as leaders think-why do I bother?
Teachers take trips away on a voluntary basis and they can't be made to do it-it isn't part of the contract. It is hard work-but enjoyable as long as you are not battling with the helicopter parent.
I wouldn't even allow a Brownie age child a phone in the first place. It is far more of a health danger to a young child than a Brownie camp.
Children get to the age where they need some independence and parents have to accept that they can't control every move-and it isn't healthy for them to do so.

We have some parents up in arms because dd's Scout Leader has banned mobile phones at meetings - and two girls have stopped going because of it.

If they've got them they use them - if they haven't, they find other things to do and discover that there is fun to be had without electronic assistance1

"But what if I need to get in touch in an emergency?" wail parents!

It's 2.5 hours on a Friday evening - Skip has a phone that all parents have the number of in case they are going to be late picking up or something.

If parents don't like it, and/or don't trust the leaders, they shouldn't send their DCs.

To send them with a phone gives a completely false sense of security anyway. When my DS cut his hand badly there was no point in telling me. I was 200 miles away with 2 young children-all I could possibly have done is ring the leaders -and they were actually aware that he was dripping blood everywhere! They dealt with it and told me when he got home and passed on the instructions about having the stitches out. DS was quite happy. I fail to see what use the mobile would have been, except to worry me!

If my dd had taken her phone on her first two trips she would have been on the phone to me in tears every evening. As it was, she got the support she needed from teachers and friends and was incredibly proud of herself for dealing with a situation she found difficult. Having her phone would have cheated her of an experience she still remembers with pride.

If they have phones most of them (not all of course) will play on them. If they haven't they will broaden their horizons.

Telling them they need them for emergencies (your case is different of course, Riven, and I'm sure exceptions would be made for your boys) is reinforcing the subliminal message that society is giving our children that the world is a dangerous place and adults are not to be trusted.

I fear for my grandchildren (if I get any),by then probably all they will do is sit in their bedroom and have a virtual adventure. Mum will be happy they are safe! I think there will be a back lash, but unfortunately it will split into 2 camps and those with fearful, suspicious parents will miss out. I don't want my DSs to go on trips where DCs have mobiles.
You can trust leaders. DS2 was always a homebird when he was younger and several times I have had phone calls to collect him. We never made a fuss, just collected him and then tried again at a later date. He is a different DC now-he just took longer than the other 2 to build up confidence. When he was around 10,11, 12 I used to have a quiet word with teachers so they were aware that he might have problems. Giving him a mobile would have been a disaster!
Just as well that you HE Riven if you see it as an adult power thing! It isn't anything to do with power or rules-it is for all the common sense things mentioned earlier by Goblinchild.
I am thrilled with all the trips mine went on, with generous teachers who gave their time. It was the best part of their school days and they gained so much from it.School would be very dull if we stopped all school trips.
The only time my DS1 wanted to speak to me was on a French exchange and that was only because he wanted to talk in English to someone. I rang the house, he didn't need a mobile. (I dare say that many people on here wouldn't let a 13 yr old do a French exchange because they have to trust the school to find the family!).

"If the adults can take phones and call their families in the evening when they want they why cant the kids? I hate this 'adult power' thing."

So should children be allowed to do everything that adults are? It isn't about power, it is about the adults having to be responsible for the children while on the trip.

I didn't have a mobile phone until I was 21 and I survived.

And tbh I would feel very uncomfortable about a young child being given bad news away from home over a personal mobile phone.

FWIW the last residential I went on (as a teacher) the kids had to hand their mobiles in at night.

I agree, brettgirl

Our teachers take a phone to use in an emergency.

Children can call home-a phone card is taken for this.