Too many field trips? and one to the movie theater?

[Elyra]

I'm just wondering how many field trips are average for your dc's pre-K class? So far this year alone Ds has had planned trips to the pumpkin patch, to Seasame Steet Live, to the local library, and now they are taking them to the movie theater to watch The Santa Clause 3!

I expected the pumpkin patch, the library is great, but the others? We did not go to the Seasame Street Live. Ds is only 3 and this is a public school where he is getting services so I have been asked to go with him on the field trips. I knew he woudln't sit through the whole show and I have another Ds who is younger that I have to bring with me.

Why to go see The Santa Clause 3? What educational value is there in that movie? I have not seen it, we were thinking my parents would be taking all of the boys to go see that at Thanksgiving. (The always take them to see a family movie then.) I don't care for Xmas in general and I despise "Santa" but it is important to Dh that the kids enjoy it so I keep my distaste for it quiet. So maybe I am being all bah hum bug about this, but at the bottom of the note from the principal it says, "Field trips are a part of your child's education, and I hope you will respond to this letter as soon as possible."
I just fail to see how that movie is vital to their education. Thoughts? What am I missing?

[wednesday]

That would annoy me. I'm also surprised a public school is doing a "Santa" thing. There are actually a lot of conservative Christian folks who have a problem with Santa, not to mention all the non-Christian folks who don't do Christmas at all. It's just a minefield of ticking parents off.

[TiredX2]

I love field trips, but Santa Clause 3 seems inappropriate for that age of child. I couldn't imagine wanting to take a BUNCH of three year olds to it.

[mata]

I completely agree-I wouldn't want my 3 yo seeing SC3. Not that there's anything that bad about it-it's just a silly waste of time, imo. A movie outing wouldn't be my first choice for that age group, but even then, at least see something a little more enriching and age appropriate-like The Snowman. I think I would pass on that field trip!

[Twocoolboys]

I disagree with the movie field trip too. I've got no problem with Santa Clause and the movie that they are seeing, but just the fact that it has no educational value. And, for an age group that young, I am the over-protective mom type that just doesn't see the need in hauling the kids out of the school building so frequently for field trips. Plus, even though I am fine with Santa, I understand that not everyone is and do find it odd that a public school would choose this particular movie as the range of belief or non-belief and different faiths, etc. can be so varied. Not to mention that a lot of kids that young can't even sit through a full length movie yet. There are a lot of reasons why it is a bad idea.

I would also not like Sesame Street Live for many of the same reasons. And, I am not a fan of big productions like that based on children's tv shows.

On the other hand, my ds's school only has funding for one field trip per year per grade and that is kind of sad too. It would be nice if they could get out of the building one or two more times. But, with funding for just one, they are usually well thought out and appropriate field trips. Maybe with lots of funding for various field trips the same level of thought and care in choosing appropriate ones is not applied.

[Elyra]

Originally Posted by wednesday

That would annoy me. I'm also surprised a public school is doing a "Santa" thing. There are actually a lot of conservative Christian folks who have a problem with Santa, not to mention all the non-Christian folks who don't do Christmas at all. It's just a minefield of ticking parents off.

It really surprised me too. But this school seems to be okay with it. Last year the 2nd grade play was called "Elfis and the..... (something or other)" it was all about the North Pole and Santa. This year they also let the Pre-K kids dress up for Halloween and did a trick or treat from class room to class room. We did this when I was a kid, but times have changed, you know? DS1 was never allowed to do that at his Pre-K when we lived in another state. I wasn't even allowed to bring in treats for Halloween or Xmas.

Originally Posted by TiredX2

I love field trips, but Santa Clause 3 seems inappropriate for that age of child. I couldn't imagine wanting to take a BUNCH of three year olds to it.

I know how it was at the pumpkin patch where the kids could move semi freely and had interactive hands on things to do. They all kind of lost it in the hay ride because they were all sitting still. I can't even imagine all 7 classes (16-18 kids in a class) sitting still for over an hour. :

Originally Posted by mata

I completely agree-I wouldn't want my 3 yo seeing SC3. Not that there's anything that bad about it-it's just a silly waste of time, imo. A movie outing wouldn't be my first choice for that age group, but even then, at least see something a little more enriching and age appropriate-like The Snowman. I think I would pass on that field trip!

I agree. If they were going to see something like The Snowman, I would be begging to go myself. But I see this movie being as silly as the other two, and while we do plan on seeing it as a family, I would not consider it school worthy.

Originally Posted by Twocoolboys

On the other hand, my ds's school only has funding for one field trip per year per grade and that is kind of sad too. It would be nice if they could get out of the building one or two more times. But, with funding for just one, they are usually well thought out and appropriate field trips. Maybe with lots of funding for various field trips the same level of thought and care in choosing appropriate ones is not applied.

All of these field trips are not free by any means! The pumpkin patch was $5 which I thought was reasonable. Each child got to pick a pumpkin and had other treats, plus the gas to get there and all. I am okay with that. The library was free. Seasme STreet Live was $25 per person (including me if I went) and they had to travel over and hour to get there on chartered buses! This one is only $5 and it includes popcorn and a drink for each child. They are using the activity buses from the high school since the theater is just in town.

I am okay with paying $25 for my 3rd grader to charter a bus and travel nearly two hours to a very historical site and spending the day learning and absorbing, but a trip to watch the latest holiday fluff for my pre-k kiddo just seems exessive to me.

[Flor]

Wow. When I taught 1st grade we had 2 field trips. Pumpkin Patch and apple farm. The costs of busses was insane. We weren't allowed to ask parents for more than a small donation.

As far as school doing Santa, I'm kinda torn. When I taught first grade mainstream classes, I felt like I should tip toe around Holidays and not offend anyone. Now I teach middle school ELD, immigrant students here for under a year, and I feel like I have to teach them about Halloween, Thanksgiving, etc, because they have no idea what any of it is. They said, "Maestra, what is "treeck-o-treeet"? and I had a heck of a time explaining why "trick", etc.

[CarrieMF]

Originally Posted by wednesday

That would annoy me. I'm also surprised a public school is doing a "Santa" thing. There are actually a lot of conservative Christian folks who have a problem with Santa, not to mention all the non-Christian folks who don't do Christmas at all. It's just a minefield of ticking parents off.

Actually there are many non-Christians who DO Christmas just not the Jesus version of it.

Is it as part of a Christmas part? When we were in school they always gave us a Christmas themed video to watch as part of our Christmas party. We didn't have a theatre in our town but I couldn't imagine paying to take a bunch of kids there and then the popcorn and such. I don't think it is a good movie to take PreK kids to, especially if their family does the Santa thing.

[Elyra]

CarrieMF no it isn't part of a xmas party. It's scheduled for next Tuesday right before the Thanksgiving break. If it were a video in the class room I don't think I would have nearly this issue with it.

They are doing their "Friendship Feast" the next day (which is another $3 to participate in that) so I don't think this is even part of the Thanksgiving celebration at school.

Not to gripe about the money, I know this stuff isn't free. It's just a really tight time for us and I am trying to watch every penny for the next few weeks because we have another family wedding and xmas coming up in the same month. It's just a crappy time of year for all these little extra things.

[eclipse]

I think the SC3 (and even the SS live) field trips are a little weird. That said, my son's school (he is in k at a public charter) is really big on field trips. They are located across the street from the city's large park that houses the zoo and most of the museums of the city - so they have a lot of trips out in the park to museums. They have several trips scheculed to the Junior Theatre (kids acting in musicals) - they saw Aladin there a couple of weeks ago. The trips aren't free - we give to a field trip fund at the begining of the year, and trips outside of the park usually use parent drivers to keep the costs down. Anyhow, looking at the schedule, they have about 2 trips a month. I think they are valuable - they have several Jr. Theather trips, museum trips, library, the zoo, they went to the pumpkin patch, a trip to Trader Joe's, one to the flower fields, etc. They are all things I would want to do if I were homeschooling. I wouldn't object to a trip to the movie theater, but I do think it's weird.

[wednesday]

Originally Posted by CarrieMF

Actually there are many non-Christians who DO Christmas just not the Jesus version of it.

Of course there are! Including myself! But a lot of non-Christians who DON'T celebrate Christmas find the holiday pretty suffocating, even the secular aspects of it.

[annettemarie]

Isn't SC3 PG?

[Elyra]

Originally Posted by annettemarie

Isn't SC3 PG?

The letter sent home says it's rated "G", but now I am off to check that out.

[Elyra]

Well it is rated "G" but movie mom said this:

And the thing that bothered me about the first movie reappears in this one -- Scott becomes Santa because he inadvertantly makes the real Santa fall off the roof and...well, die (the body conveniently evaporates). This choice incident is re-created not once, but twice in this film, a scenes that is certain to upset at least some of the younger members of the audience.

Yeah, somehow I wonder if this was really researched much before planning. : Now I don't think that those scenes would bother my ds, he has an unusual tolerence and processing for things that some may find "disturbing", but not every kiddo is like mine. After all these are mostly 4 yearolds and some 3 yearolds, maybe I need to say something Monday just so maybe they can send a note home to other parents incase they have a child who is more sensitve. I was that sensitive child when I was young. Watching "The Little Matchgirl" in school left me sobbing at my desk during recess. My teacher had to call my mom and was convinced something was wrong at home. I remember my mom kneeling by my desk telling me to pull myself together and I couldn't. I could just say "but it was just so sad!"

[annettemarie]

My kid goes on one extremely educational field trip per year. Granted, that's second grade, but it's also completely covered, costwise. Is this a public school?

[Elyra]

Yes, it is the local public primary school. It has grades pre-k through 3rd.

[annettemarie]

Originally Posted by Elyra

Yes, it is the local public primary school. It has grades pre-k through 3rd.

I just think that's insane. What about the child whose parents can't afford $25 tickets to see Sesame Street Live?

[roadfamily6now]

Well, I love field trips! I think they are great. However in this case you have to take in consideration of the ages. Pre-K is 3 and 4 and maybe some 5 year old. I certainly would not want the responsiblity to make sure 30 small children are quite in a movie theater and keeping them all under control in a dark room?? Yeah right.

I think there could have been more appropriate field trip choices there other then SS live and a movie.

My Son's K class went to the Firestation and to a co-op learning farm and the museum already this year.

My 5th grade son's big field trip of the year is over 350 miles away for a week!

[Mallory]

When I taught preschool we tried to do one field trip a week plus the public library: In the summer we tried for two and went to the swimming pool on the other three days

The school was near the down town and we walked to the bagel store, candle store, bike store, post office, pizza store, small museum, bank, library, pool ect, pet store, ect, ect.

We loved field trips, but we also had a small class (15 students age 2 1/2-4) and at least two teachers and for sometimes of the day (like the pool) three.

The trips we mostly free and we walked so no bus fees.

We never went to see movies, but sometimes we would go see plays at one of the small theaters near our school.

[kathymuggle]

Movie aside, I think you are really lucky. Most kids love feild trips, and learn from the fun/hands on setting.

I wish my kids had monthly field trips

Kathy