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Original poster

This morning there was a mum louding paying that she wasnt going to pay the 8.50 for the farm trip...

77 replies

charliecat · 27/04/2006 12:56

...and I will be sending the money in.
Its irritating me.
Cant work out if im stupid for paying or if shes got sense not too.
What do you think?

OP posts:
Blu · 27/04/2006 16:55

Charliecat - you are nice, and honest, whereas she, if she could have afforded it, is not nice and is a freeloader.

But, given what Flibbertygibbet says, unless you are a tireless worker fundraising for the PTA, it isn't YOU she is freeloading on.

Can't believe so many people think children should be left behind if parents can't afford it Shock. yes, if it's a ski-ing trip in the hols (as if, at most schools), but not a trip to a farm or museum in school time, surely??

Original poster
charliecat · 27/04/2006 16:58

I was left behind on many a trip when my mum didnt pay...maybe it stems from this LOL, revenge on some other wee mite so it can make them damn sure they are gonna pay for thier kids LOL

OP posts:
Blu · 27/04/2006 17:04

Charliecat - you're probably right. Settle your demons by arranging a family w/e and then saying your Mum can't come on one of the outings because she hasn't paid for it Grin!

Pinotmum · 27/04/2006 17:11

We've been asked to contribute £9.70 for dd's Reception class to visit the London Aquarium at the end of May. Did consider pleading poverty but I've written my cheque now Blush Grin

Original poster
charliecat · 27/04/2006 17:12

LOL BluGrin shes more than made up for it now, shes gave me £100s of quids over the years and is paying for me to learn how to drive, but when we were little she was skint:)

OP posts:
sobernow · 27/04/2006 18:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
charliecat · 27/04/2006 18:09

\link{http://www.blackberry-farm.co.uk\well this is where they are going and its 3.50 a head}

OP posts:
Riddo · 27/04/2006 18:25

In year six the 5 day residential trip was 197 quid. My dd didn't go because we would have had to sacrifice something which the whole family was doing in order to pay for it. She was quite happy with the decision but one teacher made me feel dreadful and I had to tell her exactly why. She said "well, the school has a fund" but my point was that I didn't like being put in the position of being asked to pay for a very expensive trip not that I couldn't afford to (but it would have been difficult). Other friends year 6 trips have cost less than 100. I always pay the voluntary contribution for cheaper trips but the school do end up excluding people by picking expensive trips. I get annoyed when people moan about expensive trips and say that they are not paying and then next time we have a conversation they're telling me about their new DVD player, xbox -whatever. It's all about priorities and some people seem to have their kids quite low down. Sorry rant over. I'm ill and grumpy.

Caligula · 27/04/2006 18:30

Oh Christ, why do they always have to have one of those bloody play areas? As if going for a day out isn't enough.

Riddo · 27/04/2006 18:31

When I've helped on farm/zoo school trips ds is only interested in the play area. It would be cheaper to do a school trip to the nearest park

Caligula · 27/04/2006 18:33

Exactly Riddo. When confronted with a few slides and swings, most kids immediately lose interest in nature, animals, all the other wonderful educational things around them.

swedishmum · 27/04/2006 19:21

A local trip to a free outdoor area 9 miles away was £7.50 for ds. The same day dd at secondary school went to THe Barbican to a concert 60 miles away for £6.00. Good old Kent. I do pay up for all trips by the way, and support the school financially in other ways. Many parents got the hump when we were asked for a 50p contribution to go down the hill on foot to the woods in reception though!

staceym11 · 27/04/2006 19:59

now my dd isnt at school yet....but id like to think when she is i will pay what they ask.

i dont want her or anyone else missing out for one and for another is the fact that there is always ways of cutting back. now we'r not a family who can pay 12.50 without a thought but id make sure i had it for a school trip/supplies etc as i feel these are important.

i dont begrudge that some people can't afford it, as we'r very near that line, and i wouldn't even mind being asked a little extra to subsidise these few who really couldnt pay, but for those who can but refuse i have no time for!!

hullabaloo · 27/04/2006 20:17

In my experience its not the poorer families that are the non payers, it's those that can well afford to pay. We give families the chance to pay in instalments if it's going to be a bit dearer and those with three or more children only pay for two. it's just very frustrating to book a trip to a place which is free or costs very little and then have to add on the price of the bus because that's what puts the price up so much.

rbj949703 · 27/04/2006 20:42

It's not the attractions that are the bulk of the cost, it's coach hire and insurance.

Caligula · 27/04/2006 20:53

Bloody insurance.

JoolsToo · 27/04/2006 21:06

is there still such a thing as school fund that you pay at the beginning of the year?

also wouldn't it be an idea to have a fund where you pay 50p per week per family or something and save it for such occasions - like a Christmas Club Grin

swedishmum · 27/04/2006 21:21

School fund is additional round here though voluntary. PTA subs school fund as very few parents contribute. Once worked at a comp where exactly 2 Y7 parents coughed up.

sixtwosix · 27/04/2006 21:24

charliecat, if the school has an equal oppurtunities policy, then they cant legally say you have to pay to go. it has to be voluntary. they cover themselves by saying that if enough money isnt collected, then the kids dont go

sixtwosix · 27/04/2006 21:30

working out the cost of a school trip a few years agoo
cost of entrance
cost of coach hire,
cost of insurance, 50p per child
10% extra in case of emergencies

trip could only take place if enough money collected. as you can see, if a substantial number of kids refuse to pay, then the trip couldnt take place.
also, if more than one pound was left over, it had to be returned to the kids. or something like that, memory fails unfortunatel

cat64 · 01/05/2006 11:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

SueW · 01/05/2006 11:51

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at OP's request.

DominiConnor · 03/05/2006 08:58

I had parents who often refused to stump up for a combination of little cash, and a stubbourn refusal to apply for benefits like free school meals.

As an earlier poster said, it did help develop my character because my schools had a go at me over this. It did leave me with what DW calls my "attitude" to money.
But it was awful at the time.

rosiesmumof4 · 04/05/2006 10:20

SueW, public humiliation Shock. i'm surpires there wasn't an outcry!

Sherbert37 · 04/05/2006 10:28

We are in Scotland. I have never had the impression we can not pay and still go. The letter I had home just yesterday says "xx will be attending and £5 is enclosed, xx will not be attending". There were ways of helping families for the week long trip in P7 but these were not broadcast.