Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
My child attends public school and yesterday he brought home a request for money for a field trip. Why am I paying for his field trips? Is this the norm? Also his teacher sent a note telling me what costume he needs for his school play. The parents are expected to get the costumes. Again is this normal? It's not a money issue for us but I just felt it was uncharactaristic of public schools. If your paying $8000. in school tax I would assume that tab includes field trips.
I agree with you but you have to realize something..about 75 to 80% of what you pay for school taxes goes to teacher & administrators salaries and benefits. So of your 8K in school tax about $6,400.00 goes into the pockets of teachers & administrators. The other $1,600.00 goes to other expenses like your child's needs!
Your agreeing with me does not answer my question and my "child's needs" include a teacher. Please go back to Schwartz report along with Levitown and East Islip.
My child attends public school and yesterday he brought home a request for money for a field trip. Why am I paying for his field trips? Is this the norm? Also his teacher sent a note telling me what costume he needs for his school play. The parents are expected to get the costumes. Again is this normal? It's not a money issue for us but I just felt it was uncharactaristic of public schools. If your paying $8000. in school tax I would assume that tab includes field trips.
I don't have kids but I remember when I was in school my parents sometimes had to chip in maybe up to 15$ for a field trip.
I was never in plays so I didn't need costumes, can't comment on that.
We've always had to pay for field trips. I think it's kind of difficult to include something like this in the budget, since different trips have different costs, if the school district contracts with a bus company and doesn't have its own bus fleet, they have to pay for the bus, etc etc.
I can't comment on the costume thing either. As much as I ****** and moan about taxes I really don't have a problem with students getting involved in making their own costumes, I don't think they need to have everything handed to them by the school. I mean if your kid plays varsity football you don't expect the school to buy your kid cleats and underarmor for cold days, KWIM?
For many districts field trip budgets were cut long ago. Sometimes classes will fundraise to reduce trip costs, or the pta or hsa will provide some money towards the trip. Some teachers apply for grants, but in most cases kids need to pay for admission and/or the cost of transportation. Funds are typically sought for those in need so all can attend.
My child attends public school and yesterday he brought home a request for money for a field trip. Why am I paying for his field trips? Is this the norm? Also his teacher sent a note telling me what costume he needs for his school play. The parents are expected to get the costumes. Again is this normal? It's not a money issue for us but I just felt it was uncharactaristic of public schools. If your paying $8000. in school tax I would assume that tab includes field trips.
We've been paying for field trips for the past 13 years that I have had children in school. The costs varied depending upon where they were going.
Seeing as I have no budding thespians, I can't comment on costumes, but as musicians we have been required to provide their instruments and with appropriate concert attire -- white shirts and black bottoms, dress shoes, ties for young men. In the upper grades (within the jazz programs) the boys must wear suits. Marching band uniforms are provided as are sports uniforms.
My kids are long out of school and we always paid for field trips. In fact I remember my parents giving me money in an envelope for them when I was a kid and you can't imagine how long ago that was! Not all teachers even take field trips with their classes and it's probably something that is most often done in the earlier years, so I guess it would be hard to estimate a fair budget for them out of tax money. One's child is NEVER required to take the trip, either, so paying a small expense for your child to attend one is always optional. I believe the money goes to pay the entrance fee at wherever they're going, food if it's supplied for that particular trip, and lastly a bus driver's salary because he obviously won't be a bus driver who has a normal school route that day. In some instances there's also a fee for a separate bus company if your district doesn't have it's own or they use a charter bus, so the school has to make a special reservation, and pay a separate fee, with the bus company for a field trip outing in that case.
As for costumes, we used to have to make them for our kids plays. Dad's old shirts, felt, glue and lots of imagination got used and it was a fun family thing to do with your child. I'm guessing today's working parents aren't interested in doing any of that and would much rather just go out and buy one. Remember, schools are trying to please thousands of parents wishes, so majority probably rules. And, the majority probably don't want to bother making a costume for their children.
It's enough the taxpayers have to pay to educate all these Mensa Darlings on Long Island..we shouldnt have to entertain them too.
If this is a shot at all the smart kids in school you obviously have no idea how much money is spent on special education compared to an honors student.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Not all teachers even take field trips with their classes and it's probably something that is most often done in the earlier years, so I guess it would be hard to estimate a fair budget for them out of tax money. One's child is NEVER required to take the trip, either, so paying a small expense for your child to attend one is always optional. I believe the money goes to pay the entrance fee at wherever they're going, food if it's supplied for that particular trip, and lastly a bus driver's salary because he obviously won't be a bus driver who has a normal school route that day. In some instances there's also a fee for a separate bus company if your district doesn't have it's own or they use a charter bus, so the school has to make a special reservation, and pay a separate fee, with the bus company for a field trip outing in that case. 
