I love to see the kids take field trips. While we are living this full time life style, one thing we do as much as we can, is to go to museums. Yesterday there were quite a lot of kids (4th) graders at the museum we went to. We talked to the folks at the museum about it, and we love seeing the kids com and take an interest in their Texas heritage.
It is really sad to see how hard some of these small town museums are struggling to stay alive. They need the younger people to start taking an interest in them.
That said, we went to a wonderful park near New Braundfels and there were tons of kids there having a wonderful time. We don't know what the occasion was, but we thought is was great. Kids need time away from school to enjoy life, just like an adult needs time way from work. It was a beautiful park with a pretty good size river runner thru it;
Usually when we stop, I don't much appreciate seeing a couple of hundred kids where we happen to be. This was a nice exception.
I hope they always have field trips for kids.
Barb
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My daughters ENTIRE school goes to our local state park for the end of the year field trip.......The visitor center is FULL of educational information on the forming of Clearlake, the volcano we call Mt Konocti, the wild life and the native Americans....
After the tour of the visitors center, it's all fun and games though............
BUT, they also meet face to face with their penpals from other school districts around the lake, that they corresponded with the entire year.....Then more fun and games!
It's my experience, at least in Florida, that the students pay the full cost of field trips, bus, entrance fees and everything else. There is nothing in the school board budget for field trips. It's also been my experience, as the father of two teachers, that the teachers frequently pay for those students that can't afford it, even on their meager salary.
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Accsys, I am not sure that jolooote is ready for the idea that education takes many forms. Also, I am not sure they are ready to accept that teachers are not all bad.
jolooote wrote: I just returned from a 10 day tour of Fl./Ga. State Pks. Favor-Dykes, Silver River in Fl. Magnola Springs, Mistletoe & Gen.Coffee in Ga.
In every park, Everyday, bus loads of school kids are spending valuable 'CLASSROOM' time running round in the parks all day. When I got home...turned on the TV...yep, a news report of all the fun kids are having at the park. Its no wonder everyone is constantly complaining that the kids can't read. I can't wait for the next time they want me to pay more 'EDUCATION' Tax!
BTW...who is paying for that VERY expensive diesel fuel for all those school buses to take all those kids WAY OUT to the woods?
BTW...Am I still paying those teachers when the kids are playing in the woods?
Never mind. Words fail me at a time like this. It does bring to mind something my grandfather taught me. He said. "Never try to teach a pig to sing. It waste's your time and annoys the pig."
accsys wrote: It's my experience, at least in Florida, that the students pay the full cost of field trips, bus, entrance fees and everything else. There is nothing in the school board budget for field trips. It's also been my experience, as the father of two teachers, that the teachers frequently pay for those students that can't afford it, even on their meager salary.
I'll nitpick first before I agree.
The federal government reimburses 70% of all busing expenses. So whomever is paying for the field trip is only paying 30% of the cost of the bus. Since that's often the single biggest expense on a trip, the federal government is paying a major portion of the tab on all field trips. To nitpick even more, there is a subsidy from federal, state and local road districts that are receiving wear and tear that isn't payed for since buses don't pay road taxes. (Albeit much more minor than the 70%.)
But your main point remains valid: Our school district does not pay for field trips. They are paid for by the PTC/PTA fund raisers. For my kids school, they also have a "suggested donation" amount on many of the field trips that covers about 1/2 of the per kid cost. We get about 50% of the parents sending in money.
Since I work on those fund raisers and also kick in my own money, I obviously support these trips.
Guess I'll stop paying my taxes so all you retirees will have to stop loafing around cuz you can't collect SS! I think my son has learned more outside the classroom than in. And why shouldn't kids have a little fun? There's plenty of time for them to be serious later on in life. Remember, we don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing. START PLAYING!
I think it would be a better country if more kids could get out of the classroom, out of the inner-cities and on field trips, a lot more. As for who's paying for what, I'm sure there's plenty of money for diesel fuel and teacher's pay. I think teachers do better getting out more too.
jolooote wrote: In every park, Everyday, bus loads of school kids are spending valuable 'CLASSROOM' time running round in the parks all day.
I believe the outdoors can be a great learning experience for the kids - and for some, it may be the only time they get to explore the great outdoors. If the kids don't experience and learn to appreciate our wonderful parks, who will be there to protect them in the future?
jolooote wrote: Its no wonder everyone is constantly complaining that the kids can't read.
My kids can read just fine, thank you.
jolooote wrote: BTW...Am I still paying those teachers when the kids are playing in the woods?
Teachers' salaries aren't that great - and you would be surprised how much of their own money is spent on their students.
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I think my son has learned more outside the classroom than in. And why shouldn't kids have a little fun? There's plenty of time for them to be serious later on in life. Remember, we don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing. START PLAYING!
