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...

Hi don't think this point has been made yet.
Who makes these decisions about where the trips will be?
Why isn't there a consultation process whereby the choices your children make at gcse and the possible trips we MIGHT have to fork out are explained (and I'm not saying that that might make me influence them into not choosing a subject because I won't be able to afford the trip that you 'have' to do.)
Why can't we as parents at either PTA or govenor level be part of the process.
It IS an unfair system because as a single mother I cannot afford any trips so what do I do. My dd cried when I had to tell her this.

Your children are so lucky. Do they know that?

I totally sympathise, mamas12. I think it's awful and elitist, personally.

Fine, BoF, you don't want to adopt me. I shall just return to my hard bench at the orphanage...

And I'm not having a go I just wish mine were that lucky.

I think my daughter does know she's lucky- she hasn't grown up with money. Dss, on the other hand, I suspect, doesn't.

Another reason children shouldn't be over-indulged in my opinion, but you try being the spanner in the works when other people are offering to pay...

Obviously they should make fewer trips but pay for me too

I think I've only ever been abroad about four times.

I wouldn't want you to get spoilt, MmeDeFarge

Just lots of glossy shots of NY, BOF, and descriptions of all the stuff you'd see - it's all arrange for you so quite a nice option. Great experience too, but very divisive in terms of who can afford to go, in my school at least it would be. Not convinced I need to take DSS (Darling school students?) to NY to see a synagogue, when there's one half a mile away!

Bloody hell, what's wrong with a yomp round a field, dig up a bit of stoat poo, then back in the bus with a sherbet dib-dab and an orange tip-top?

Luxury! We went to Shoreham Cement Works. How avant-garde is that?

ahhh we had the NY art trip and the ski trip at similar costs... I made DS1 choose which one.. he chose the ski trip.. then tried wangling the art one as well.. I said " of course you can go darrrrlinggg.... go get a job first will you! "

TBH I'd rather quite like to pop over for an arty jolly over there at some point.. maybe I'll see if the school needs any helpers on the next trip

I went on a school trip to India 3 weeks backpacking when I was in secondary school. My mum had to pay £150 a month for a whole year for me to go. It wasnt even linked to a subject we just went sightseeing. All the teachers took there husbands/wives with them, so think it was just a free holiday to them.

I don't see the point in these trips either - my secondary school used to organise trips each year, but only to European countries - but even as a teenager I could see that they were a waste of money - you spent a lot of time travelling and then only have a quick tour of the place. Far more cost-effective to go as a family I would think. I do agree with trips to activity centres once in a while to help the pupils to get to know each other better, etc - as long as they are affordable and parents have the opportunity to pay in instalments.

Mind you the trips are not confined to abroad. So far for drama I have forked out £65 for trips to see shows and plays.
Why can't it be free? Just coach fare?

If my DCs were offered a trip to NYC for £800 I would jump at the chance.

I hate the place and would be very happy for someone else to take them.

The USA is an important place to visit and understand and I think we should give our youngsters every opportunity to experience the USA. I am no artist but I do believe the art in NY is very special (Met, Guggenheim, graffiti on subway...)

Well having been to many art galleries in London, Paris & NY I would say a child won't be deprived by only going to London or Paris...

btw, my DD had a weekend in the Brecon Beacons this year and it cost £250.

I went to school in Liverpool. Furthest most people went was Moel Famau. Or Pwllheli. We did go to Wimbledon once. For the day. Am itching to work out which school it was, BoF!

Think of an Abba song, then find a bog standard non-church comp in the vicinity, and you'll have narrowed it down significantly, Hab...also the name of a crap lower division football team, I think

Someone mentioned China as an exotic trip.

DH goes on business there quite often, and his 6* hotel in Beijing is £35 a night. The flights are that extortionate given that it is only about 9 hours.

Ah. I only really knew the Catholic schools, but I get the area you're in, anyway.

Waterloo Road?

I was a HFHS girl myself , before it went to the dogs

But I digress...

Trip to New York? Ridiculous!

thank the lord my twins didn't take art or they would have been going to new york in yr 11

its ridic