Cost of field trips is unreal

[bcp]

Ok, so the daughter is going on a field trip with her class on Friday to New York.
Museums etc...
55 for bus per student.
20 to get into one of the places they are going
15 suggested for meals. 15 bucks to eat on all day in New York City wont work.
20 minimum for them to buy worthless crap with

So we are up to 110.00 and only 20 bucks of that for T-shirts or that Statue of Liberty made in China thing.

Now they have to wear tennis shoes (most kids have these anyway)
it says, Due to the Nature of the trip students must bring a camera.

So, how do parents that are living on limited funds, and this does not mean poor, they could be over extended due to lay offs or tax hikes etc... anyway, how are these people supposed to shell out this kind of cash. And on top of it, if the kid does not have camera, the parents have to get one???

I gave my daughter the 150.00 in my wallet for the trip. At least I know that if someone is out of cash and hungry, she will pay for their food. (raised her that way)
But seriously, what does the school do if little Johnnys parents cant come up with the money for what I consider an expensive trip?
Daughter will also have my credit card just in case she were to get separated from the group. (she knows better than to use it if its not a matter of life and death)

 

[Radiant1]

So, how do parents that are living on limited funds, and this does not mean poor, they could be over extended due to lay offs or tax hikes etc... anyway, how are these people supposed to shell out this kind of cash. And on top of it, if the kid does not have camera, the parents have to get one???

Some can't. Instead they heartbreakingly tell their child that they won't be able to go on the trip and suffer the humiliation along with them.

 

[bresamil]

Some can't. Instead they heartbreakingly tell their child that they won't be able to go on the trip and suffer the humiliation along with them.

Yep

 

[bcp]

The school should not plan things that expensive then.

and yes to me that is a chunk of change to yank out the wallet.

 

[okwhosaidthat]

Ok, so the daughter is going on a field trip with her class on Friday to New York.
Museums etc...
55 for bus per student.
20 to get into one of the places they are going
15 suggested for meals. 15 bucks to eat on all day in New York City wont work.
20 minimum for them to buy worthless crap with

So we are up to 110.00 and only 20 bucks of that for T-shirts or that Statue of Liberty made in China thing.

Now they have to wear tennis shoes (most kids have these anyway)
it says, Due to the Nature of the trip students must bring a camera.

So, how do parents that are living on limited funds, and this does not mean poor, they could be over extended due to lay offs or tax hikes etc... anyway, how are these people supposed to shell out this kind of cash. And on top of it, if the kid does not have camera, the parents have to get one???

I gave my daughter the 150.00 in my wallet for the trip. At least I know that if someone is out of cash and hungry, she will pay for their food. (raised her that way)
But seriously, what does the school do if little Johnnys parents cant come up with the money for what I consider an expensive trip?
Daughter will also have my credit card just in case she were to get separated from the group. (she knows better than to use it if its not a matter of life and death)

First of all for that price you can't drive yourself, pay tolls, gas, add mileage to your car, and do all the things above you said she will do for that price! To bad for the little Johnnys that can't go. Our school went last year and it is a trip of a lifetime. And to your question about the camera, I'm sure she has a cell phone that works just as fine as any other camera!

 

[jazz lady]

One question: is it mandatory they go?

 

[bcp]

First of all for that price you can't drive yourself, pay tolls, gas, add mileage to your car, and do all the things above you said she will do for that price! To bad for the little Johnnys that can't go. Our school went last year and it is a trip of a lifetime. And to your question about the camera, I'm sure she has a cell phone that works just as fine as any other camera!

actually my daughter has a Nikon D3100.

this is about the students that dont have access to the money. and yes, I agree, it is cheap when you compare it to driving up and doing it all on your own.

 

[somdfunguy]

I'm guessing this trip wasn't planned in a week. Kids/parents can work to save money to pay for this. Usually this is something that you know will happen every year. If they really want to go they could save up for it and have money when it is time. Life is about choices even the hard ones.

 

[bcp]

I'm guessing this trip wasn't planned in a week. Kids/parents can work to save money to pay for this. Usually this is something that you know will happen every year. If they really want to go they could save up for it and have money when it is time. Life is about choices even the hard ones.

Good point.
My daughter is the type that likes to wait till the last moment to let us know these things. Cant break her of that habit.
I just assume that most are like this. I could be wrong.

 

[inkah]

Some can't. Instead they heartbreakingly tell their child that they won't be able to go on the trip and suffer the humiliation along with them.

Recently went on a $20 field trip w my kid. While waiting in the classroom I realized there was a child who wasn't going because his family couldn't pay for it. I wish I had known. I would have gotten the ticket.

 

[bcp]

Recently went on a $20 field trip w my kid. While waiting in the classroom I realized there was a child who wasn't going because his family couldn't pay for it. I wish I had known. I would have gotten the ticket.

Thats what Im thinking about right now. Should I call the teacher and find out if there are any that cant go because of cost??? if so, would they accept an envelope with the bus money extras and some spending money in it, or would it actually insult the parents.

 

[bcp]

quit whinin , u gonna pay 4 my trip 2 Miami, NCAA Championship Game?

Pick a real University.

sorry, not a sports type guy.
waste of money.

 

[thurley42]

sorry, not a sports type guy.
waste of money.

Bite your tounge!!!!

 

[abcxyz]

My daughter is the type that likes to wait till the last moment to let us know these things. Cant break her of that habit.

Tell her she can't go because you didn't have enough notice and I'd be willing to bet she will give you more notice next time.

Can't afford field trips? Maybe the kid will see that they need to work hard and study hard that their kids won't be in the same position. Cravings create motovation more than getting every thing they want all the time and the have nots want to become the haves.

 

[daylily]

Thats what Im thinking about right now. Should I call the teacher and find out if there are any that cant go because of cost??? if so, would they accept an envelope with the bus money extras and some spending money in it, or would it actually insult the parents.

Can't hurt to call and ask. That is A LOT of money for some people to shell out, I agree. I used to work for the schools in NY, I always felt bad for the kids who couldn't go on the field trips. If they weren't really expensive ones, we'd try to pitch in money if it was only a kid or 2 in the class so that they could go too.

Sounds like a great trip...being born/raised in NY, I of course think it's a great experience for everyone to get up there at least once, especially around the holidays.

 

[bcp]

Tell her she can't go because you didn't have enough notice and I'd be willing to bet she will give you more notice next time.

.

I actually think that this is a great idea.
if I have the money or not, you best let me know in advance.

thanks.

 

[inkah]

Thats what Im thinking about right now. Should I call the teacher and find out if there are any that cant go because of cost??? if so, would they accept an envelope with the bus money extras and some spending money in it, or would it actually insult the parents.

Personally, I would not be offended. People are different though. I think you have to let adults be adults and decide what they can and cant accept. The way I see it, you offer what goodwill you are willing and able to offer and be gracious enough to allow folks to either accept or reject.

If they reject...my kid came home all bummed out for not having le Brons - can you help?

 

[Larry Gude]

I am assuming this is not kindergarden or even middle school, going to NYC.

Is it possible that a high school age kid would have a part time job, have done some babysitting or even allowance and maybe have saved up $150 for the trip?

I mean, I get it, once a parent has paid for their unlimited phone plan and 6 HBO channels, it doesn't leave much for the kids but, if you're a parent with high school age kids, maybe you've advanced past minimum wage and can squeeze it out of somewhere? Skip 75 lottery tickets? Pass on 8 or so 30 packs of Milwaukee's Best?

After all, the poverty level is $22,300 for a household and we spend, state and federal level, $60,000 per household for those 17 million households to combat poverty so, maybe $150 is covered in some program?

 

[migtig]

I went on some fabulous field trips as a kid, and being dirt poor, you'd wonder how I went. It was because in most cases we knew about it almost a school year in advance. We'd be told at the beginning of the school year and the trip would be held at the end of the school year. I pooled my babysitting money, and other job money and usually was able to make it work. Sometimes I didn't. One trip cost a couple of thousand and that one I knew about two years in advance. If anything, those field trips taught me the value of the dollar better than you'd think.

Another opportunity I had as a kid was through Girl Scouts. Every year I hustled my butt off with the Girl Scouts, getting my patches, doing my community service and selling as many cookies as possible, just so I could go to "summer camp" for two weeks for free each year.

 

[vraiblonde]

I'm guessing this trip wasn't planned in a week. Kids/parents can work to save money to pay for this. Usually this is something that you know will happen every year. If they really want to go they could save up for it and have money when it is time. Life is about choices even the hard ones.

^ This ^

My son's French class did a trip to Montreal his freshman year, to the tune of just over $1000, when I was struggling financially having just started Somd.com. I saved and hit up my folks for part of it. It can be done.