Schools demanding money with menaces

Hezzawithkids

So today there is yet another letter from DS's school describing a Geography field trip in a week's time which is compulsory so DS has to go - and we have to pay for it.

It's only a few pounds but that's not the point. What I resent is the short notice and the tone of the letter, the implication being that if we don't pay up DS will have to stay in school for the day so miss out on an compulsory part of the curriculum. There are arrangements if we can't pay but supposing we just don't want to? I understand that schools can't be expected to pay for everything - we support any and all extra-curricular activities DS wants to join in plus the school's own fundraising and charity gigs as much as we can. But as this trip is compulsory why are parents expected to foot the bill? At the very least they could let us know at the start of the term what activities are planned and the cost so we can budget for them.

When are teachers going to learn to function in the real world and realise that they just aggravate parents by sending stroppily-worded letters home?

peachyprice

They can't make payment compulsory if the trip is part of the curriculum, they can only ask for a voluntary contribution and are not allowed to discriminate against your child if you choose not to pay by not allowing him on the trip.

The worse they can do is cancel the trip if they don't receive enough voluntary contributions.

Treevo

Maybe they're sick of all the 'why should I pay' parents? Or maybe they've been complained to so much from the parents who actually pay who have the cost increased because some think they shouldn't have to pay? Or maybe they've found that the more notice some parents are given, the more likely they are to 'forget'?

Is it really a big deal?

Kayalana99

Its not a big deal if you have the money to part with...

Treevo

Kayalana99 wrote: »

Its not a big deal if you have the money to part with...

If you can't afford the few pounds it costs then where should the money come from? Other parents? Your child benefit?

Kayalana99

They should be given enough notice thats all I was implying. Some people just can't afford the normal weekly shopping bill let alone extras that come out the blue.

*Louise*

I imagine the tone of the letter is quite strict to emphasise the importance and encourage as many as possible to pay. I know at our school, there are parents who never pay for anything if they can help it.

I would just pay it, and at the next meeting, mention to the class teacher or head that it might be a good idea to advise parents at the start of the year about future events. I find being on the parent council is a good way to get these things across.

To be honest though, I would only suggest that for a bigger event, not for something at only a few pounds, I choose my battles carefully so I don't get a reputation as a complainer, we have enough of them at our school lol

Treevo

Kayalana99 wrote: »

They should be given enough notice thats all I was implying. Some people just can't afford the normal weekly shopping bill let alone extras that come out the blue.

They only come out of the blue for someone who has been chained to a radiator for a decade. School trips happen ever single year. Everyone knows this. So out the money aside. You don't need to be told the exact amount to do that, do you?

patchwork_cat

Treevo wrote: »

They only come out of the blue for someone who has been chained to a radiator for a decade. School trips happen ever single year. Everyone knows this. So out the money aside. You don't need to be told the exact amount to do that, do you?

NO they don't. My DD has not had a school trip in 3 years. She has one this year and it is costing £300 odd and is part of the curriculum, however we did know it was coming thanks to her older brother, but if we hadn't...

Treevo

patchwork_cat wrote: »

NO they don't. My DD has not had a school trip in 3 years. She has one this year and it is costing £300 odd and is part of the curriculum, however we did know it was coming thanks to her older brother, but if we hadn't...

No school trip at all? No visit to a local historical place? No museum visits? I find tha very hard to believe.

Aimless

Funnily enough, we've just had the field trip letter too, with about 2 weeks notice. The difference is, ours had no demand for money! I'm assuming as it's part of the GCSE, the school are covering it? The long list of demands on the other hand is a pain, we don't have hiking boots, waterproofs, etc. I used to lend him whoevers would fit, but he's outgrown everyone.

Our school do a plan where you pay them £10 a month, and all trips/materials/books/lockers etc come from that. If you've not paid in enough yet, they give you a minus balance and take it from future payments. Maybe suggest that to your school?