To think the school should not be organising an art trip to New Bleedin' York?

[BitOfFun]

The latest from dss (14)- "Dad, can I go on a trip with the Art class to New York next year?"...at an approximate cost of £800

The teachers have apparently said they expect him to sign up for it as his dad is an artist...

Incidentally, he is also going on a school ski trip at a similar cost, and has more holidays than Alan Whicker as it is (although his dad and I haven't been away for three years).

AIBU to think that as we live in a city with an amazing galleries, including the greatest collection of Pre-Raphaelite Art probably in Europe, not to mention a superb branch of the Tate, that the school is taking the bleeding piss?

Who dreams up these crazy ideas?

If they want a jolly for the Department, what's wrong with Paris, even?

Blimey...

I do think there is more to edcation than reading books and passing tests. THere are parents who cold not afford £20K a year in school fees but could afford a few thousand for the types of school trips that independant schools run.

reality - I like it

I would just say no, but yanbu it seems silly they are offering it and especially if they are expecting the child to go because his dad is an artist
I dont think the trips are necessary

tbh I was delighted when I heard (tho' just a rumour at the mo') tghat DS is going to NY for a history trip, as he's always wanted to go by dh isn't keen on going as he spends half his time in the US as it is.

Way I see it, ds gets to go somewhere he really wants to , we get a week or whatever free to go somewhere we want to.

Everyone's happy!

I think a lot of schools are doing NY for history as American History forms quite a big part of the GCSE curriculum

A muriel, perhaps? I love it

Our history students are getting a Russia trip, they are very excited.

I bet they frickin are- we went to Wigan Pier

BOF, we went to the Maritime Museum. And it hadn't even opened yet. (I mean as in "for the first time ever" sense, not as in the time of day). God knows what the level of planning the teacher had put in to manage THAT! We had to sit in Speke Airport watching the planes take off and land instead......Hmmmm.....

Um is your DP Damien fricking Hurst?

Hehehe, he's been in shows with Damien Hirst, but he is not as rich, and can also paint

As for the rest, I hope not

Schools can't justify them int hat sense. But there must have been demand for these kind of trips int he first place. Clearly some parents are not anti them. Also, some schools thing these kind of things look good in propectuses in terms pf "looka t all the things on offer here" kind of thing.

Personally my DD won't be going on every big trip that comes her way. We will simply say no and explain why.

I don't want to diss any teacher's contribution to a broader education. I do think that it MUST be possible to widen children's horizons by spending less money than this.

I'd agree Hula that an art trip would be preferable to a skiing trip, but maybe they weren't told there would be both?

I like "N.Y.? N.O. more like"- I shall be lobbying for DP to use that one

DD (age 12) came home last night with a letter about a trip to France costing freaking £400. It's only for 4 nights and they will be staying in a hostel 'student accommodation'. All 5 of us could probably go for less than that! Bloody pisstake .

She will be going though as I am just a weakling and could not let her miss out (even though we went to France last month and she went on a two day trip there in June ).

lol BOF we went to Wigan Pier as well!

Our students are quite clued up and will do one trip a year, maybe one smaller one and a larger one.

I was listening to my tutor group this morning discussing trips. One was talking about Russia and asking if another was going and he said we are holding out for New York, another one said my money is for Iceland at which point another one said don't forget China!

Coaches and insurance tend to make the trips expensive.

I want to be your dc! (in all sorts of weird and inappropriate ways)

Don't start me on insurance...a plane load of Scouse teenagers aimed at the heart of the capitalist world? Has New York not suffered enough?

I don't remotely begrudge teachers' places being paid for on these trips, certainly not my idea of a holiday to have to supervise hordes of kids! but I do think trips to NY are excessive. And very silly comment made to BOF's son - do they think all artists earn as much as Damien Hirst

I bet the same school has a green policy. tells kids to turn off lights and walk or cycle to school. I'm actually pretty appalled at proposing a long distance flight when they're in London ffs and Paris just a train ride away.

Step-son, TotalChaos- he has plenty of rich family on his mum's side, who often take him away: he's just got back from France, due to go to Egypt in a few weeks, managed Dubai and Las Vegas and a cruise in the Caribbean, plus some others I've probably forgotten about over the last twelve months. No wonder he assumes it's no problem. DP stumps up a contribution where he can, but we can't afford to go away ourselves.

My dd1 is similar (though not as extreme)- my ex is a consultant in Oz now, and is funding her all but the £150 deposit for the same ski-trip, and paying for her to fly out and see him at Easter. She probably feels hard done to in comparison to dss!!

Meanwhile we get letters from bailiffs fairly regularly, but dss in particular seems to have absolutely no idea of the value of money.

I chose the school because there were opportunities for trips. I know they ran one to New York but it wasn't DSs subject. I have always tried my best to manage it if they wanted to go. The long haul ones are supposed to fund raise as part of the trip.

I've had several (unsolicited) fliers in the last couple of years offering package school trips to NY for us to offer to our students (on History, Art, Religious Studies, you name it). Never used to get those. Mine went straight in the bin recycling bag.

That's interesting- how are they trying to pitch these trips, Iggi?