RE: School trip to Wash. DC

[DiW]

 
Last night, my son s school changed their spring Wash DC trip to Williamsburg VA. The advisors were afraid that future incidents (terrorism, war, etc) may force the DC trip to be cancelled or the group would arrive to find monuments, tours, etc closed down. Guess they figure there s a better chance that a Williamsburg trip won t be cancelled as well. Has anyone else changed plans because of the current political environment?
 
 After 9/11 all trips were cancelled for awhile. Eventually I did go with a group of 7th graders to Ground Zero & the Holocaust Museum. The other 7th grade class trip was cancelled because the terrorism level (forget the colors) increased. The kids were really disappointed but the school advisors were reluctant to take chances. A bunch of kids lost parents in the 9/11 incident so fear is just below the surface.
 Di

[GeneF]

 DiW
Di
 
 I really can t blame any school official for taking the cautious side on trips today.
 
 Who knows what is going to happen in the next few weeks.
 
 DD is taking a school trip to China in April for two weeks and that is a go so far.  It has school board approval but in the back of my mind, there may be a good chance that the trip may be cancelled.  We will just have to be optomistic.
 
 DS leaves for Australia next Wednesday for four months.  This is not a school trip but hopefully Australia will be a safe place.

[Mahaffey-Family]

 DiW
Since 9/11 almost all schools here have decided not to go to Washington DC.  They seen to be going to Williamsburg, Virginia.  But, they are looking out for the children.  The children will have fun there also.

[DiW]

 DiW
I voted to switch the trip since the teachers in charge were more comfortable with this plan. Some parents were vocal against the switch and may not let their children go to Williamsburg. I would hate to see that happen. My family has been to both places in the last 2 years. I think a trip like this is less about the place, although I m glad it s school related. My kids liked Jamestown but didn t really like Williamsburg but that s just coz I ve taken them to Plimoth Plantation, Sturbridge Village, Waterloo Village and Amish attractions. They aren t interested in seeing one more broom being made. That said, I think my son will have a great time at Williamsburg being with his classmates. I m sure everything will be seen from a different point of view.
 
 Thanks Mahaffey-Family for telling me your area has changed plans too (I ll tell some of the parents that). Some of the parents were really giving the teacher/advisors a hard time and I felt bad for them. Taking kids on a trip like this is a big responsibility and of course, those with the loudest complaints weren t stepping forward to chaperone or anything.
 Di

[GeneF]

 DiW

Some of the parents were really giving the teacher/advisors a hard time and I felt bad for them. Taking kids on a trip like this is a big responsibility and of course, those with the loudest complaints weren t stepping forward to chaperone or anything

 Its too bad parents have to do that.  Perhaps they don t realize that the teacher is also taking money out of his/her own pocket for some of the expenses.  Chances are they are not reimbursed for all expenses.
 
 Also, their families are without them during that time which means a weekend may not be spent with the family, other members of the family have to pick up the slack for what the missing person would have done.
 
 Also, when they get back, guess who has to stick around until the last kid is picked up and some parent is an hour late because they stopped to " run an errand"  at 11 pm.
 
 Sure would be nice if a some of them said thank you instead of crabbing at them.
 
 Guess I am venting because I have been there, done that.  Both dw and I are teachers.