Why few or no school field trips in Plano PISD? (Houston: theater, school districts)

[europeanone]

My middle school kids just asked me why they haven't been on even one field trip since we moved here 3 years ago (aside from the Collin County overnight program). We come from the northeast where all the kids we know of all glade levels o on multiple class trips per year -- kids in various states and districts. They go to museums, to Washington DC, even to Six Flags. Just wondering.

[Big G]

Which middle school is this? That wasn't my kid's experience in PISD.

My kid went on several field trips during his MS years. They were mostly tied to specific courses, not the entire school. ( I dunno - maybe your kids need to take more interesting electives. )

His orchestra organized a trip to hear the Dallas Symphony Orchestra each year. His theatre class did a behind-the-scenes tour at a local theater, and also toured a local firm that does voice-over work for imported anime. His PACE class went to DT Dallas to the 6th Floor Museum one year, and to the DMA the next.

At the HS level, he's been on several out-of-town trips for competitions - San Antonio, Houston, and Chicago (twice). Classmates of his in band, orchestra, choir, speech, robotics, etc. have gone to Disneyworld (to perform), Galveston, Boston/Harvard, St. Louis, New York, and on and on.

I will note that these trips all had an educational purpose - they weren't just taking the kids out to ride the Super-Jumbo Coaster.

Granted, there was nothing as expensive or crazy as the East Coast or even international trips you'll find the private schools organizing.

[MurphyPl1]

What school? That's not a PISD thing. I know they've taken field trips in MS to museums. and there's a group of 8th graders in DC starting today or tomorrow.

[CookieBoss80]

Limited budget and unlimited lawsuits made all school districts to limit field trips to minimum.

[pljn1]

Originally Posted by CookieBoss80

Limited budget and unlimited lawsuits made all school districts to limit field trips to minimum.

Well that and they do not want students missing test drill time as those tests are more important than anything else.

[CookieBoss80]

Originally Posted by pljn1

Well that and they do not want students missing test drill time as those tests are more important than anything else.

That too. Public schools can't survive without government funding. Abolish Robinhood tax and free meal students if you want schools to ignore state testing.

[DitsyD]

The funding cut several years ago severely limits the number of field trips that any classes take.

It used to be that all PISD 3rd graders were required to tour The Farmstead Museum in Plano. The budget cuts took that away. Even though the tour taught 3rd grade curriculum, there was no money for entry fees or busses.

The only middle school field trips I've heard of lately involved teachers applying for grant money and getting awarded a grant to make it happen.

Talk to our state legislators if you want school field trips. They control the purse strings and required testing for our students.

[Beaching]

Budget cuts really put a huge dent on the number of field trips for most districts.

Middle school and high school, the fine arts groups will tend to take more trips. UIL contests, Pre-UIL contests with clinicians, symphony performances, etc. Some even take "big trips" every year.

Time out from class is another reason less field trips than in years past.

Liability is another issue that has cut into the number of field trips allowed. Every time the students leave campus it raises the risk of an injury in an environment that is not controlled by the teacher, school or district. Be it a bus accident, a slip and fall on a slippery floor somewhere they are visiting, being bitten by a wild animal, insect, snake, etc. The districts wanted to lower their liability and that is one area they can do so.

[pharpe]

I grew up on the east coast too. Annapolis area. Our field trip list was quite extensive.

• National Aquarium
• Baltimore Science Center
• Washington and Baltimore Zoo
• Washington Monument
• The National Mall
• Various Smithsonian's
• The Capital
• Lincoln and Jefferson memorials
• Gettysburg
• St. Mary's City
• Jamestown and Colonial Williamsburg
• Antietam
• Science/nature camps

That's just what I can remember. Sad that kids these days miss out on stuff like that.

[DitsyD]

Originally Posted by pharpe

I grew up on the east coast too. Annapolis area. Our field trip list was quite extensive.

• National Aquarium
• Baltimore Science Center
• Washington and Baltimore Zoo
• Washington Monument
• The National Mall
• Various Smithsonian's
• The Capital
• Lincoln and Jefferson memorials
• Gettysburg
• St. Mary's City
• Jamestown and Colonial Williamsburg
• Antietam
• Science/nature camps

That's just what I can remember. Sad that kids these days miss out on stuff like that.

The field trip list around here never included any of those sites except for 5th Grade Collin County Adventure Camp. Too far.
Adventure Camp