School Trip to Paris

[Verbena37]

Hi.
In a couple of weeks, my year 8 child is off to a Euro Disney with school for a couple of days and on one day, they are off into Paris City to visit a few places, eat out etc.
With all of the recent trouble in Paris, would you send your child? It's not really Disney I'm concerned about.....and I'm not worrying about any more shootings really I don't think. It's more the worry about more mass demos and protests and what that may entail. With 10000 troops with weapons being sent into Paris etc and the implications if something kicked off whilst they were there.
I just feel slightly uneasy about them going. Any thoughts?

I'd send my child to Paris. I'd also send my child to London.

I'd send my dc.

If you don't think it's ok to go right now then when is safe?

It was more about large scale demonstrations and crowds and police/army than worrying about more terrorism. I guess most people will feel ok about it. Shame they'd aren't just going to Disney and not central Paris and then I wouldn't worry as much.

Just to reassure you about Disney, a couple of friends of mine were there last week when it all happened - from what they've said security was extremely tight all around the parks and they felt very safe.
As for Paris, yes I would send mine. If the teachers have decided it's still safe to go then yes. Second thoughts are understandable though in this situation.

No one does riots and demonstrations in quite a civilised manner as the French. Your child will be fine and have a wonderful experience in the most beautiful city on earth.

Your child will also learn some valuable lessons. We went to Paris after 9/11 and weren't quite sure what the armed guards on the roof of Montparnasse would have done if they came under attack, but it made for some interesting conversations.

Don't get me wrong....I adore Paris and have been many times.....just slightly different now it's my child going with the school.....who have managed to lose one child's passport and they haven't even left the country yet!! I find it hard to let others (who aren't becessarily the most competent teachers I've met) take my child on a trip to a city with current issues. I'm sure they will all be fine. She is mega excited about Disney

I don't think there will be mass demonstrations, on a weekday, in a few weeks time.

The school will have to risk assess each part of the trip and if demonstrations or anything else is happening, that will be part of it.

Far better to see Paris than Disneyland - though I appreciate that will not be the child's POV.

if you have doubts per se about the school's ability to manage a trip then that is a separate issue.

My dd is also going on a school trip to Paris, in early March. Disney and central Paris. I'm sure she will be fine.

Make sure she's got plenty of thermals & money for hot chocolates. T'is bitter standing in Disneyland Paris in winter.

queues

DC came home today saying the teachers aren't going around Disney with them....they have to go in groups of a minimum of 3. Does that sound reasonable? They are 12/13.....DLC is sensible but what is one of them was ill or had an asthma attack for example dc asthmatic) In such a big, hw would they find an adult from school?
Seems slightly weird they aren't having one stuf member to a group of 10/11 doesn't it?

I would say its safer now than ever. The actual numbers of troops on the ground is amazing. They even have the French foreign legion protecting the Effiel tower. So I wouldn't worry.

don't they mostly have phones? so being in small groups would be ok.

my DC's school did this (groups of at least 3) at Thorpe Park, it was fine. They also did it in Central London, which was unexpected.

One of the reasons for trips like this is to develop independence, they will be fine in groups of 3. I think trying to negotiate rides in a group of 60 would be impossible.

Most schools manage secondary trips like that. They will be given instructions such as contact nearest park staff (there is always one close) and / or a member of staff will remain at a known meeting pointy.

What if your 12 / 13 yo has an asthma attack or is ill on the way to school or out in the park with friends? At this age they are out independently more and making their own way to school anyway.

Including in Central London: it's normal for 12 / 13 yo to go into town.

It's natural for us to worry, it's the burden we carry as parents! All will be fine.

Good points Blu. As long as they are with staff in central Paris, I'm fine with Disney. Yes, I hadn't thought about Disney staff being everywhere :)

Totally standard practice. Pupils must stay in groups of 2/3 is written into the conditions for every trip at DDs school.

Not that head in the clouds DD1 always manages it, but they haven't lost her yet.

DC have been on many school trip abroad- one of them went to Myanmar last summer - always same school rule re groups of three. Makes sense - anything else too unwieldy.

Groups of 4 are better, if you can encourage your DD with that. That means if a child hurts themselves, etc one can stay with them, and the other two can go together to get a teacher for help.

Dads school are letting them go off in groups on their own in Paris. She did this last year in Berlin.

A teacher stays at a central meeting point all the time. Kids have to stay in small groups. They're given the teachers mobile number.

They aren't going to be allowed out in Paris. School group outings are illegal at present and will be until at least the end of February.

You should ask the school to ask its tour operator to keep you all updated on the security situation.

An article I just read in the Tour Operate trade press says that no incoming school trips to either Paris or Ile de France (ie including Disney) are allowed at the moment.

I see that Paris schools in certain areas are banned from playing out or taking children on trips, but there is nothing on the foreign office website here beyond an acknowledgement of the high security risk and 'be vigilant'.