School Trips

[cupotee2]

Seeing as it was such a hot day yesterday OH and I decided t spend some time at a little resort to watch the boats and people....

We noted several school groups possible around 6-7 years old,accompanied by adults settling themselves in a line, on the lake edge, cross legged, in the full sun. Different groups wore different uniforms so not from the same school.

Adults talked to them presumably as part of a lesson. Nowt strange about that......

But, what struck me was one group had only 2 children wearing a hat. The temperatures were pretty high 70's here yesterday.

We hear so much about the sun and protecting the children.

I just wondered why someone hadn't insisted each child wore a hat knowing it was forecast to be especially hot.

[B00]

They might've done, but the parents ignored it- possibly.

[sherrardk]

Our primary ask for hats and suntan lotion (though they can't apply it), I suppose if you don't send hats in then there's not much they can do about it .

[sherrardk]

It doesn't work like that, teacher/adult to children ratios are really tight. It's not the school's job to make sure the kids have hats, it's the parents' job.

[sherrardk]

I'm sorry (well, I'm bring polite really) but I disagree. The teachers are not the kids parents and if they left the kids without hats behind then the ratios would be out. Parents need to take responsibility for their kids.

[stuey]

This brings to mind "Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun" by Noel Coward: what a complete utter tempest in a tea cup. Pith helmets perchance, and Nubian slaves wafting palm fronds over them in order to maintain their English peaches and cream complexions?

[sherrardk]

Our local primary stipulates that summer hats must be worn, go up the school and maybe 25% of the kids are wearing them. Schools also stipulate that full uniform must be worn but you will never see 100% of the kids wearing them. Passports are collected weeks in advance of a trip.

[boxtops]

when the majority of parents round her shove their small children around in pushchairs with no hats, no shades, the child getting hotter and hotter in front of their eyes but they don't see it - it doesn't surprise me at all that hats on school trips aren't high on their priorities. It's so selfish.

[pixie373]

Sherr is right. When we get letters for school trips, they unfailingly say to apply suncream/ wear sunhat/ wear waterproofs (or often all three). If you have consented and paid for a child to go on a trip and choose not to do this, that is entirely your own risk.

[gness]

I loved school trips....we had some parents who volunteered to help out and some who didn't care where the children went or what they wore as long as someone else was looking after them.....

My last trip before retiring.....counting the children off the bus at the end and noticing Buster feeling his way off....

Me: Buster...where are your glasses?
B: In the 'edge, Miss..
Me: What hedge?
B: One of them 'edges round that big 'ouse you made us go and look at.
Me: Why?????

B: Well, Miss....I 'ates wearing 'em and me mum 'ates looking for 'em so she sez I 'ave to remember where I put 'em every time I takes 'em off.
So I took 'em off and I've remembered where I put 'em.....in the 'edge...
Me: So....I'll have to take you back to the...big 'ouse....and you'll show me where you put them?
B: We can try, Miss.....lots of 'edges weren't there......☺