Question regarding school day out.

Takoda

Gingham_Ribbon wrote: »

OR perhaps the teacher is doing it out of the goodness of his heart, wanted to tell them it was a reward because they've been good kids and they deserve it, but the school budget doesn't/can't run to extras that teachers decide to do themselves and he certainly can't be expected to fund it himself.

It's simple. If people don't want to pay for it, they shouldn't send their children. If they do, then that's great.

It's out of school hours so it's almost certainly just the teacher doing a bit extra for the kids. I bet if he read this thread he'd wish he hadn't bothered.

A treat you have to pay for is no treat in my opinion.

Maybe the teacher is trying to impress his Headteacher. Loads of us do extra hours that non teachers just don't have a clue about!

Still not convinced that it isn't shabby. With no transport costs the school should fund the fun.

Takoda

aimee21j wrote: »

Only? £250 is a fortune in schools.

Not really - they could've asked the PTFA for the money.

Ruby_Moon

viktory wrote: »

I have to say, there is little enough praise and encouragment for our young people so I would be absolutely delighted that my child and their peers had been selected for such a treat. I would also thank the staff for giving up their free time to accompany them and would pay up with a smile.

Selected for a treat?
You are paying, dropping them off and picking them up at a weekend! You could treat and reward your child to that at anytime.

OP, I think its a terrible "Treat" and I would object to paying for it.

Caroline73_2

Takoda wrote: »

Not really - they could've asked the PTFA for the money.

Most PTFA's won't pay for things that aren't for the benefit of all pupils.

Debt_Free_Chick

Caroline73 wrote: »

Most PTFA's won't pay for things that aren't for the benefit of all pupils.

They can't pay for things that aren't for "general overall benefit".

Schools don't have spare money sloshing about.

Perhaps they should fine the parents of bad kids to raise the money to treat the good kids

bestpud

laurel7172 wrote: »

My children's school does this-an annual reward day. The children with the most points get to choose first from the list of activities on offer.

I must admit I wondered where the money to send 2000 kids to Alton Towers/London etc came from, until DD arrived with her first letter. Congratulations, your child is in the first group to choose. Here is the price list. The trips are anything up to £35, though some are free.

It doesn't seem terribly fair that these things are claimed to be a reward, but that children have to choose according to their parents' means.

It does depend whether it's available to all children or not, though. I would resent, deeply, school funds being diverted from my children to persuade badly brought up children to behave. If a child NEEDS special treats to behave, then the parents should definitely be charged for it.

Now, see that is a worse scenario for me, and one I'd object to!

How on earth can they justify letting a child work hard all year round to gain the trip they want, and then find the parents can't afford it, for whatever reason, so they can't go?

That's just shocking imo! :eek:

I agree children shouldn't need rewarding and I have reservations about mini thugs being taken on jolllies but at the same time, I think rewards in moderation are a good thing.

I mean, we are often (not always I know) rewardrd for working hard as adults, with a pay rise/bonus/promotion/thanks from the boss, so it's ok to let children learn that hard work and effort is sometimes rewarded.

It's when children only do something if they get a reward it has gone too far.

Katie-Kat-Kins

I think the problem here is communication and a bit of thoughtfulness from the school.

No one is disputing that the teacher is great for organising this and everyone accepts that it is great that well behaved children are rewarded (when I was at school it often felt like well behaved children were simply ignored, especially if well behaved but not exceptional).

BUT this is supposed to be a reward to a class for working well together, for this to work the good kids need to get something extra. It doesn't have to be expensive but it does have to be equitably applied. To say that there is a treat for all the good kids and for some of the good kids to not be able to participate is terribly dispiriting for those kids. Worst of all they probably have less treats anyway, a good kid from a well off family probably gets treated anyway when he or she gets merit certificates or does well in exams, a poor kid might never get more than a "well done".

The sensible thing would have been for the school to canvass opinion first or do something that didn't require extra funding.

They could have written to all the parents and said, your child has performed well and we wish to reward them along with the rest of the class. Unfortuntaley we have a limited budget and will have to ask parents for a contribution to the cost. Please indicate how much you would be prepared to contribute a) nothing, b) upto £5 c) upto £10 etc they could have also asked at that point whetehr parents would wish to have this on an evening or weekend and whether they would be prepared to help out. This way they could have organised something that could have been attended by everyone (if one or two can't afford the most popular price band this can probably be subsidised).

Alternatively they just do something that costs nothing like a mufti day or bring games into school or whatever. A school disco type event can be organised very cheaply, or a teacher friend of mine organises a french cafe for her french class as a treat, they have a lesson where there is no formal work done and she spends a few quid in lidl buying hot chocolate and croissants.

I think schools should be encouraged to do nice things with the well behaved kids and to reward them with treats that are just for them but a bit of thought needs to go into it.

tandraig

I agree with every word KatP said!!!
I didnt mean to sound snide about the teacher - but, a little forethought would have prevented this prob - dont you think. (I would still rather stick pins in my eyes than go to laserquest though).
perhaps he could have asked parents what they suggest for a treat - or did he canvass the kids and the majority wanted laserquest? in which case they will ALL be expecting to go.