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Every student looks forward to
joining field trips as part of their extra-curricular studies at school. They go to places with their classmates,
schoolmates, and teachers to frolic and have some fun outside of the school
premises.
Being an accountant, I can sometimes see the money side of these school excursions. Students are encouraged to pay from P800 to P4000 each, depending on the venue and their length of stay. The amount would include either transportation with or without meals and entry to the place.
This is a big sum of money to students whose parents can barely eke out a living. I may conclude that these activities are sometimes used by school officials to generate funds for their additional requirements. These would include---additional equipment, repair and improvement of facilities, and miscellaneous needs. The morality side of the argument leaves hanging --- of getting from impoverished students to fund school needs and bric-a-bracs, which could have been sourced out from the local government.
There is no problem with students from top-end schools, colleges, and institutions. But the majority of students does not have the luxury of money; and having these excursions, can wreck the family budget for a week and be a source of financial displacement. There may be times when the parents would not even have the money to give and are forced to borrow from usurious lenders just so they can fork over the amount to their child.
The schools will say that joining is not mandatory. But, tell that to your child where 90% of his classmates are going and you will see a child that is hurt and envious of his peers. They will be bitter that they can ill-afford these little school luxuries. They say that the school is the great equalizer, with nary a thought on who has the money or not. But in a situation like this, we can say that the scale is judiciously tipped to one side.
Bulacan State University Accident
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Philippine News: A Shot from the Hip
Copyright © csmiravite™. All Rights Reserved
As a parent, I have experienced
having qualms about allowing my daughter on these trips, most especially when
she was still in elementary school. Having a daughter, who always had a
caregiver following her around, made me feel that she would not survive when left
alone to fend for herself.
I remember allowing her only once
during elementary school, and threatened to follow her during high school on a
mountain trek to Laguna. I know my child cannot stand the heat, fatigue, and
insect bites. Before I allowed her to join, I said to her that I will stay on the
grounds and fetch her if she got sick. She was adamant and did not allow it.
She felt uneasy being the butt of
jokes among her friends, with a mother following her around. So, I
stopped at that but my cell phone was kept open and I called her up every minute,
till she got sick of answering my calls.
However, I was proven right all along
as she got sick halfway through the climb. She had difficulty in breathing and was
unable to finish the trek along with her other classmates. She told me later
that her teachers got scared when they saw her turn red and unable to breath.
She did not call me when it happened
for fear that I may rush to the site and cause pandemonium and havoc on
everyone. As I recall, that incident made her realized that she can’t be that
aggressive when it comes to out of town trips.
Perks on Joining Field Trips
Most schools make field trips as part of their extra-curricular activity to take their students to places of interest. The main aim is to expose the students to venues as part of the learning process. The students look forward to these trips as they are given the chance to go out with classmates and friends for a day of fun and frolic.
Being in the Academe, I have been uncomfortable with these out of town trips, more so if it involves swimming. Watchingbusloads
Dangling a better grade or exemption in the exams are the carrots that are dangled to students to join these out of town trips. I sometimes wonder how excursions to swimming sites help increase a student’s academic performance. Or how can trips to the television stations and malls help them understand their subject matter better. My brain cells squirm with disgust just thinking about it, but I kept my peace and said nothing while still in theacademe
Financial Side of Out-of-Town Trips
Most schools make field trips as part of their extra-curricular activity to take their students to places of interest. The main aim is to expose the students to venues as part of the learning process. The students look forward to these trips as they are given the chance to go out with classmates and friends for a day of fun and frolic.
Being in the Academe, I have been uncomfortable with these out of town trips, more so if it involves swimming. Watching
Dangling a better grade or exemption in the exams are the carrots that are dangled to students to join these out of town trips. I sometimes wonder how excursions to swimming sites help increase a student’s academic performance. Or how can trips to the television stations and malls help them understand their subject matter better. My brain cells squirm with disgust just thinking about it, but I kept my peace and said nothing while still in the
Financial Side of Out-of-Town Trips
Being an accountant, I can sometimes see the money side of these school excursions. Students are encouraged to pay from P800 to P4000 each, depending on the venue and their length of stay. The amount would include either transportation with or without meals and entry to the place.
This is a big sum of money to students whose parents can barely eke out a living. I may conclude that these activities are sometimes used by school officials to generate funds for their additional requirements. These would include---additional equipment, repair and improvement of facilities, and miscellaneous needs. The morality side of the argument leaves hanging --- of getting from impoverished students to fund school needs and bric-a-bracs, which could have been sourced out from the local government.
There is no problem with students from top-end schools, colleges, and institutions. But the majority of students does not have the luxury of money; and having these excursions, can wreck the family budget for a week and be a source of financial displacement. There may be times when the parents would not even have the money to give and are forced to borrow from usurious lenders just so they can fork over the amount to their child.
The schools will say that joining is not mandatory. But, tell that to your child where 90% of his classmates are going and you will see a child that is hurt and envious of his peers. They will be bitter that they can ill-afford these little school luxuries. They say that the school is the great equalizer, with nary a thought on who has the money or not. But in a situation like this, we can say that the scale is judiciously tipped to one side.
It was in the news today, August 21,
2014, that seven tourism students perished while crossing the river during
their field trip. There were 100 plus students and two faculty members. With the group were two other guides to help
them on their trek. Nonetheless, these
companions were unable to guide the students when the site became too dangerous
due to the rushing floodwaters.
In trips where you take numerous
people on a guided tour, you should come well prepared before D-Day. The group must be accompanied
by knowledgeable tour guides with adequate experience in accident control. Two tour
guides for a group of 100 students were inadequate. Careful planning should have
been made to mobilize students accompanied by professionals to prevent
accidents and costly mistakes from happening.
Having a waiver from the parents
would still make the school culpable of gross negligence. These accidents would
have been prevented had careful planning been made and the safety of the
students given prime consideration even before the trek was made.
BOTTOM LINE
School excursions should be well
thought off and must consider the safety of their students first and foremost.
There should be enough safeguards by having enough teachers to
watch over the group while outside of the school premises.
The timing of the excursions should
also consider the season. It is wise that these activities be made during the
summer months of February or March, when the rains and floods have
stopped. You avoid possible dangers to
your wards
Photo credit: Edgar Edgardo, Kane Kamille Gonzales, Cecille Balana
Philippine News: A Shot from the Hip
Copyright © csmiravite™. All Rights Reserved
I agree, field trips should not be included in academic requirements,because students can later go in those places later in their lives when they are already capable, not while they are still students who need to be taken cared of.
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