Do School Trip Fees subsidise non-payers?

BitterAndTwisted

I think you've got to be a really special class of miseryguts to even contemplate whether a measly eight quid is covering your own child only or going towards subsidising others.

Treevo

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

I think you've got to be a really special class of miseryguts to even contemplate whether a measly eight quid is covering your own child only or going towards subsidising others.

I'd say it's better than being the sort who doesn't pay for their own child. But then again this is MSE.

floss2

Apart from anything else, the cost of hiring a coach suitable for children (i.e. fully insured, fitted with working seat belts and a driver who has a current DBS enhanced clearance) is potentially more expensive than hiring one for adults. Also, there will be the cost of the driver's downtime between the journeys, whether he/she can do any other work inbetween the trip out & the trip back, whether the journey is far enough to need 2 drivers (more for holidays than a day trip)....

floss2

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

I think you've got to be a really special class of miseryguts to even contemplate whether a measly eight quid is covering your own child only or going towards subsidising others.

There but for the grace of God...

I used to be able to subsidise trips when I was still married. Then I got divorced and my kids became the subsidised ones as I couldn't always afford to send them on trips.

suejb2

Making it voluntary to pay for a school trip is ridiculous in my opinion. It isn't voluntary to pay for the shopping or the mobile phone contract or any commodity (take your pick).You make a choice and it's your call, if you pay you go.

Mojisola

suejb2 wrote: »

Making it voluntary to pay for a school trip is ridiculous in my opinion. It isn't voluntary to pay for the shopping or the mobile phone contract or any commodity (take your pick).You make a choice and it's your call, if you pay you go.

Talk to your MP about it. The school is complying with the law which is decided by our MPs.

sassyblue

nodiscount wrote: »

Food isn't included. School say the cost is already subsidised by them so no idea why it's still £8.

I know it sounds mean but I don't want to be paying for the non-payers. I don't think it's fair but I understand that sounds selfish to some.

£8 is cheap, coaches are expensive, especially properly maintained ones.

It does sound mean I'm afraid, it's the kids that miss out and l don't mind paying a bit extra so those coming from poorer families can still go. It's probably the only trip out they get.

ska_lover

nodiscount wrote: »

Hi

Just had a letter asking for £8 voluntary contribution to visit a local museum.

The museum is free but they are going via coach. Is £8 too much for such a trip? It feels like it to me and a few other parents at the school.

On a related note, do trip fees subsidise those parents who won't pay/can't be bothered or does the LA pay for them?

It may not be that the parents who do not pay simply - as you say - 'cannot be bothered' , what about parents who genuinely cannot afford 8 quid!!?? £8 is an awful lot of money when you are skint. You keep reiterating that other parents cannot be bothered. Do you ever think about anyone else, other than yourself? What kind of situation other people may be in? That £8 is more than some peoples weekly food budget?? Yes believe it.

If you think it is too much (which IMO it isn't as coaches are very expensive, having recently hired one myself) then don't bother to send your child.

Your posts are selfish, and you cannot see further than the end of your own nose. Have you ever heard of the working poor? the families who are working just to scrape by, and live without benefits? Some of these families are far FAR worse off than those who accept benefits.. some of these families would LOVE to have 8 quid a week spare

You need to think about the lesson that you are teaching your child, with this attitude, and think about your parenting skills. You are teaching your child that a lack of finance make a person bad. Please do not send your child out into the world with the blinkered view you have! Bitterness and a lack of empathy are very ugly traits you know.

peachyprice

suejb2 wrote: »

Making it voluntary to pay for a school trip is ridiculous in my opinion. It isn't voluntary to pay for the shopping or the mobile phone contract or any commodity (take your pick).You make a choice and it's your call, if you pay you go.

Way to go, punish the child because their parents are poor or useless.

piglet25

I would happily pay extra so that none of the children missed out on the trip if their family couldn't afford to send them, and should I ever be in the position that my child had to miss a trip because I couldn't afford to send them, I would be grateful to those who paid a pound or two more so that my child could go.
Life is short, pay the eight quid and move on.