Parents driving for field trips? - Page 2

[annethcz]

Our school uses buses for field trips outside of town. All in-town field trips are walking field trips (teeennny tiny town ).

[Peony]

DD1's school does not have buses. They have 2 vans that can take one class out but when it is a all-school trip then parents mostly drive. There are no background checks done. DH or I have always driven her so far along with other students.

[phathui5]

Our school does not budget money for background checks on volunteers. Instead, volunteers are never alone with students.

I don't think that I'd be comfortable with that compromise. When I worked in the church nursery, we had background checks AND adults were never alone with a child.

[Linda on the move]

Originally Posted by phathui5

I don't think that I'd be comfortable with that compromise. When I worked in the church nursery, we had background checks AND adults were never alone with a child.

I feel very safe with my child's school. They are so careful in so many ways -- for example, for field day all volunteers had to check in at the office and were given a Field Day t-shirt to wear. Teachers were wearing the same t-shirt. Everyone could tell at a glance that the adults on site were associated with the school.

I'm totally fine with the other parents that I've met through school, scouts, etc. I've had neighbors I didn't care for and had to talk to my kids about playing at their house, but that's a different issue.

I also don't think that my kids are the kind that get preyed upon -- they are too self confident, too well cared for, etc. They wouldn't been easy targets like kids who aren't getting their emotional needs met at home or have always been taught to do what adults tell them to. I'm very frank with my kids about kinds of touches, setting boundaries, saying no, telling mom or another trusted adult, etc.

[emilysmama]

Our school does not do buses for field trips, probably because of the cost.

Instead, they rely upon parents to volunteer to drive. Because many parents work out of the house (including me), many parents that drive have to drive other children as well.

There are parents that do drive just their own kid, and it passes without comment.

My dd is in K right now, and there are a total of 3 field trips this year. I drove for the first two field trips, and my husband will be driving the for the third field trip in a few weeks. This was possible only after some crazy rescheduling at work.

Next year, I won't have that kind of flexibility at work, so I anticipate having to have my dd driven by other parents. It's not something that I like, but the field trips are fantastic, so I think I would probably just deal with it if I am not available to drive on that day.

[Evan&Anna's_Mom]

In preschool field trips were always parent-driven and I was OK with that. I couldn't usually drive because I was at work, but I generally knew the moms who were driving since they tried to match up friends and parents who already knew the kids they would be driving.

Our elementary school solved this issue by simply not permitting field trips, which I think is a real shame. Some parents didn't like buses and the insurance company was really sticky about rules about parent drivers (including $1 million min. liability insurance) so they simply banned field trips. Occassionally there will be an "everyone is invlted to meet at such-and-such a place immediately after school for a group playdate at X" sort of informal thing, in which case my kids usually are driven by someone else.

For scouts DD is frequently driven by another mom. They require proof in insurance, copy of license and background check for anyone supervising children other than their own, including drivers.

[34me]

My ds goes to a small (115 students K-7) Experiential charter school. They go on at least one field trip a week in each grade, many of them walking. However, they do go on some far field trips that require parent drivers (ds has been as far away as 12 hours). All volunteers have had a district background checks and then we need to give a copy of our driver's lisenece, driving record and proof of insurance every semester. I have driven twice and have never driven my own kid! The really far ones 4+ hours the school finds grant money.

[rabrog]

At the preschool we always drove DD. Now in K, they always use buses. I wouldn't let my kid ride with a parent I don't know personally.

Jenn

[peaceful_mama]

I recently filled out the parent-driver form for ds's school, so I know they do some sort of record-check. (I had to give my DL #)

as far as I know, his field trips are local. NO I would not want my kid to ride with some parent I didn't know on a several-hour car trip, nor would *I* want to drive for one. (my kid will be in kindergarten. I'm pretty sure I'll feel this way throughout my kids' school years)

[mattemma04]

Thank you for the posts on this topic. I have talked to family and friends as well.

We declined the previous 5 day trip to Washington D.C. the class was going to do,and we had planned on her staying home anyway.We may opt for keeping her out of class, and will spend the day together at local places like the county farm,gardens,or nature center.

Thank you again for your thoughts on this topic.

I see there are currently 2 states that will be giving tickets to those caught using cells while driving.Good.

Keep safe!

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Originally Posted by Linda on the move

our school uses only school buses for field trips, never parents.

For girl scout, parents take turn driving. I sign a wavier, I know the other moms, and I'm totally fine with it.

if parents did the driving here my kids would not be going on field trips. Here parents are welcome to drive behind the bus to go with their child the child must ride the bus there but they are allowed to ride back home with the parent.