School Trip To Paris

[carron81]

Hi

My boyfriend has 2 children with his previous partner and he's just been on the phone to her. She was saying that his eldests class have had letters home about a trip to Paris next March.

Its going to be �290 plus spending money, clothes etc. We weren't to sure then I said well its not long after Xmas so if he pays half and their mum pays half and it could be her xmas present.

But then I got thinking. His daughter is 10 and it seems really young to be going abroad for her first time with the school. Also, when I was at school they didn't offer abroad holidays till we were in about 3rd or 4th year the furthest we went was the Scottish borders!!!!

I think its quite pricey for a few days abroad. Then also his other daughter is 9 so she'll get this next year

His ex is skint at the moment and if you have read any of my previous posts, we've just had a baby and been left in a lot of debt due to selling our flat and mortgage fines etc. So its bad timing on the money situation

My dad has an apartment in tenerife which we can use and all we'd need to pay is flights and spending money. I would rather go into the overdraft and all of us go on a family holiday and spend time with each other rather than spending all that money on just a few days in paris.

Theres probably a few people in her class in the same situation with money but again you don't want her to be left out

What would you do?

[lil75]

My daughter is 13 and has been offered the chance to go on these trips, I cant afford it so I dont let her go, simple as that....however if you can offer an alternative such as the place in tenerife where you can all benefit from it, she may not take it so badly.

[tigwig]

I certainly wouldn't pay it unless I was loaded! I think it is a rip off and not fair of the school to arrange such an expensive trip. There must surely be lots of parents who feel the same. A family holiday would be much better for you all and it is a lesson that his daughter will learn about the cost of things and how you can't have everything.
I would be really surprised if many parents could afford this especially if they want to have a holiday themselves. I also think 10 is far too young to be going abroad as well.

[oldgrape]

my mum could never could afford for me to go on school trips and i always felt left and and very upset but now i have my own child i realise not every1 can afford it

but just ensure she is taken out of school whilst the others are on the trip i was still made to go and had to sit in on lessons for the younger children it was horrible

[carron81]

the more i think about it the more i think its crazy for the school to take a class of about 30 10 years abroad. when i used to live down south (now up north on an island) we used to take his kids to ours and the oldest would cry because she'd miss her mum, she'd get travel sick so god knows how she'd cope going to france

also, the shools will give you trouble if you take your children out of schools a few days early so you can take them abroad at a cheaper time and here the school is taking them out of classes to take them to see mikey mouse!!!!

i'm not exactly sure whats included in the trip but the amount we'd have to pay on clothes and spending money that would probably cover costs for both the kids flights and new clothes and spending money to my dads

schools should not put kids parents in a position where they feel they have to pay huge amounts so their child isn't left out

[xcuriousx]

My daughter is 10 and going to France for two nights this year with school which is costing about �200 just for travel and accommodation. I agree its a lot. The school always sends a letter about any trip saying its not compulsory but if not enough contribute they won't be able to go ahead with it. I always feel that I don't want my daughter to be the one that lets the rest down. They do allow you to pay in instalments and I think offer a reduction for people on certain benefits. I would go with what is best for you ALL. How badly do they want to go? Would they prefer a family holiday? Dont feel pressured into paying for something that is not really essential to their education and is going to leave the rest of the family short. Parenting eh? Constant dilemmas!!

[orange-gnome]

During our entire time at school my sister and I were allowed to go on one trip each and not until we were 13. My mum still had to pay in installments and we were left while all our friends went on all sorts of trips. I have to say that although I was sad about it at the time it taught me the value of money and we were never the sort of children who asked for things all the time.
I think not giving in to pressure like that helps to teach your kids that they can't have everything.

[carron81]

i remember when i was at high school, when the teachers were making up the timetables for the next year theres' three days near the end of term which they called 'the alternative timetable' it was basically 3 days of fun things to do whilst the teachers worked on the new timetables. trips varied from alton towers, blackpool, sking in france to football, baking and things like that.

i really wanted to go to alton towers but would never have dreamt of asking my mum as i knew she would've have been able to afford it and that was just alton towers!!!! which i think was about �70

for my 3 days i done tennis, flamenco dancing and i cant remember the 3rd now!! all of these things were just a few pound each

the thing is if she goes now and she's only in primary 6 theres still high school to go to and more school trips!!!

i definately hope my boyfriend and his ex talk properly about it. i've told him what i think

[EngTeach]

That seems like a lot of monet for a 10 year old trip. I can't believe they take kids that young overnight. We take our seniors (17/18 years old) on a 2 night trip. It usually costs about $300 and the children can fund-raise during the year. Most of them also work part time and can pay some of it themselves. But that is a lot for a child that is 10.

I too would never have been allowed to go b/c of the money and my father would never let me do something that much fun anyway.

[sandbach99]

I would find out what they are going to see in France and how it will effect their school work ie are they going to see the war cemeteries, or the art galleries, or just to hear and see a foreign language.

Will those who have been on this trip have an advantage over those who haven't.

[brenda]

I have never been convinced of the value to young children of school trips abroad.
In this case I think it is quite disgraceful to propose such a trip when families are really struggling to make ends meet.
I think it only goes to show how out of touch schools are with the reality of everyday living.
Boycott the whole thing and try to get others to support you.
Children are pretty resilient and will love you unconditionally, providing you keep them appraised of how you feel and what the true economics are.
Good luck, and please carry on being a sensible parent,do not worry you will not damage your child by saying no to this tripbelieve me.Been there myself.

[Tups]

I'm an ex junior school teacher. My 9 year old pupils went on trips to France, although I disapproved of it. Far too young and totally unnecessary. I remember when I was at school there was a school trip to Russia, which I desperately wanted to go on. My mum said that if I really wanted to go, we would all go without so they could save up for it. Of course, I backed down! I was miffed at the time but it certainly did me no harm. Children need to learn from an early age that they can't always have what they want. This is a very good opportunity to teach them that!

[daffy654]

When my son was in year 5 I paid for him to go on a school trip to France,they went to Normandy and visited the cemetries where the war dead are buried,they also went to see the Bayeaux Tapestry,it was a very educational trip.I think I paid �280.00 for all costs including 4 nights accommodation for him.In year 6 the school went on a trip to Holland but the cost was even higher and although we could have paid it in installments we refused to let our son go as it was not an educational trip,just a holiday.He didn't really want to go anyway and was happy to stay at school with the others who didn't go.

[spanner7853]

Hi my son and daughter went on school trips to Paris with the school. It was around the same sort of price which about 50% of that is for insurance. It is pricey but they usually tell you well in advance so your able to pay over a period of time. I do agree that it is expensive though and especially with the credit crunch I doubt so many children will go, quite a few didn't go to Paris and I wont be sending my kids on any more trips.
My son came hom from his 2nd day at secondry school saying they have a school trip to New York. He definately won't be going. I can't afford to go there myself!!!!

[mycats]

Think yourself lucky, my boy just started secondary school and came home yesterday with a letter about a school trip to France - �600!!!
I dont think so.

[Lucy Thomas]

carron81. Do you recognise this? . It's called a full stop and is used at the end of sentences. Traditionally, a capital letter starts a sentence.

[zzxxee]

i personally would not let a 10 yr old go to france as she will be offered trips abroad in secondary school. where do you draw the line they cant go on every single one can they? a family holiday in tenerief sounds like a good if not better alternative

[carron81]

yes i do know what a full stop is. when you've got a baby in one arm, bottle in the hand and one arm free and this is the only time i get online, punctuation is not at the top off my priorities.

i think my posts are readable and there is no txt talk in it

i thought spacing it out better helps

mycats - you'll need to keep me posted on how you deal with it

[Slooow_Jo]

My son has just gone into year 8 but back in March he came home with a letter for a trip to germany this november for 4 nights the cost would be �165 which included my son being added to a group passport rather then having to get one. It is a lot of money especially for a single mum but I did think that was quite reasonable, I spoke to my mum & she offered to help me with half the fare, but when I sat my lad down & explained to him his spending money would also be a christmas present, he soon decided they he didn't really want to go that badly after all.

I do think 10 is far to young to go to France, the furthest I ever remember our school trips going, which I never went to, was hydrians wall.

[zzxxee]

take no notice of the idiots who go on about punctuation and full stops. Their life must be so mind numbingly mundane to go online not help people and moan. good luck with the holiday situation let me no the outcome x

[Lucy Thomas]

I can't see what the problem is. �290 is only about a day's wages.