About Those Field Trips...

A Lauderdale County parent presents some very interesting points about the field trips young students take today. In the very, very dark ages when Shoalanda was in school, most field trips lasted only a few hours and were overseen by parents who provided the transportation. Ah, it's a brave new world...and an expensive one.

From a parent:

“My child has been attending Central Elementary for a few years now! During the 3rd grade year there was a field trip offered to the Aquarium in Chattanooga. The cost of the trip was (I don’t remember the exact price) between $150-$200. Mr. Helton was asked by several parents if there was an alternative if someone couldn’t afford this & they were told no. Although, after talking to some parents I found out that we could drive up and pay to go into the same places as the “group” BUT if your child didn’t pay the astronomical fee, they would be EXCLUDED from certain activities!

Ex... After the IMAX there was a educational class and only the kids that were in “the group” were allowed to attend. Then, After the Aquarium they went on a dinner cruise & ONLY the ones who paid were allowed to go. After speaking with other parents I found out that this was by the request of Mr. Helton to the dinner cruise company. (A parent had made a call to the cruise company and was told by them that he (Mr.Helton) specifically requested that NO ONE other than the ones in his “group” be allowed to dine with them. This parent was told by the company that if it weren’t for that request they could have allowed for some to pay separately).

The 4th grade field trip is to a museum, buffet, & a hands on science center. It is a fee of $125 and the letter states “If you want to drive separately, we cannot stop you from doing so, however we have been told tours will be strictly for our folks aboard the bus and others in personal cars won’t be able to join us at our tour stops” 

I called these places and they told me ONLY at the request of the person planning the trip will they not allow extra people to pay!! 

I am saying all this to say, this needs to STOP!! 

Burt Helton is purposely excluding children that, for what ever reason, can’t go on the bus! Whether it be for money or health reasons! One mom told me she gets violently car sick & cant ride the bus so she hasn’t been able to attend because Mr. Helton said the only option is for her to pay the same fee as everyone else then drive! The majority of the fee that is being charged is for the Charter Bus. I was told there was a mom that drove to Chattanooga last year, it was her and 4 kids, she stayed in a hotel room the night before and still paid less than it cost for a parent & child to ride the bus! 

This is sickening that a principal that is suppose to “love the kids” will do this to children!! 

The 4th grade trip will cost $250 for a parent & child to go. If I were to drive and pay separately it would cost me less than the $125 per person! 

He either needs to give another option that don’t just cater to his “rich kids” or stop hosting these elaborate field trips! So many parents feel as if he does this to exclude the not so privileged children and not only that, it causes a hardship on many of the parents that do come up with the money to go. I don’t know of any other school in the county that has these kinds of field trips and myself and many other parents think this needs to change! 

Enough is enough!!

Yes, I made this anonymous because I’ve learned what kind of community this is and I don’t want my child ostracized because I spoke out.“

Remember E.J. who shot the service dog? If he isn't quaking in his boots right about now, we predict he will be in 48 hours. Pray for justice for Mia!