Opinions needed from fellow parents.
My 13 year old daughter has asked me if she can go on a school field trip to Washington D.C. this spring. We live about 8 hours from there. It will just be for the weekend. They will be taking a charter bus. I have been there about 15 years ago and all I can remember is all of the hookers and bums on the streets. It was a trashy city then in my opinion. But there are many good things to see and do there.
I guess my question is should I let her go or just come up with an excuse as why she doesn't need to go?
I guess my question is should I let her go or just come up with an excuse as why she doesn't need to go?
0
-
Let her go. 0 -
I would worry too! Its a dangerous place. Best find out what level of supervision is in place for the trip and who the supervisors are, where the kids are staying and their agenda.
As long as they are supervised properly and not given blocks of free time you are probably ok. The school is way out on a limb liability wise so I would be surprised if the trip was not very safe.
I would want to talk to the trip organizers. Make darn sure the boys and girls are kept very separate.0 -
Asked (the field trip coordinator) for the itinerary (times and locations) and if they have any chaperone. It is all parents hope that our children makes the right decision when we are not around. You know your daughter better, if you trust her to do the right thing, then let her go. 0 -
I know most of the kids going by first and last name. Parents also. They are really good kids. These kids are all A and B students. I have been the chaperone on one trip with them during the BETA CLUB convention in Louisville, Ky. These kids are the most respectful kids I've ever been around. They have really concerned parents also. 0 -
I know the feelings you are having. Check with the person in charge of the trip. If you are not comfortable with the situation, offer to come along as a chaperone. 0 -
Check it out with the school and if its a well planned out trip with supervision let her go. IMO, every student should visit their State and Federal capitals at least once in their school years 0 -
The only way our daughter goes on those kind of trips is if her mother goes as a chaperone. Don't need an excuse, if her mom don't go neither does she. I think that kind of stuff gets way, way over done(school trips and goofing off). Around here anyway. 0 -
I wouldn`t worry too much about the hookers and the bums,but keep her away from the politicians. 0 -
im a kid, and id love to go there, i know, but, if i were in your shoes id do as stated, shes your daughter, you trust her?
If the parents are strict i doubt there will be a problem, or offer to go yourself, 15 years is tooooo long!
You need a renewal!0 -
my oldest went to mexico ,louisiana, and new york. i was nervous but you have to give them room sometime. as long as there are chaperones i sure she will be ok. stay in a group and stay together.[;)][8D] 0 -
It depends a lot on the level of supervision as well as your daughters ability to handle being in a group and away from home. My oldest girl has always been very independent and could take care of herself so such a trip at 13 would not concern me if it was properly supervised. My youngest daughter would not have been able to handle such a trip at 13 and it would have been out of the question for me to even consider letting her to go. 0 -
I don't trust the school teachers or chaperones unless I personally know them. 0 -
I went to DC once with my dad and sister, when I was about 10 or 11. Interesting landmarks, but the city itself is a cesspit. Homeless people everywhere, lots of prostitutes (I remember asking my dad why all these women were standing around wearing those outfits). So, in eighth grade, I opted not to go on the class trip to DC. Once you've seen it you dont really want to go back. 0 -
Why not? My daughter went two years ago at age 13 and the most dangerous thing they did was ride the bus. It snowed (BLIZZARD) and they had a nerve wracking ride. The bus was shown on CNN trying to make it across a bridge and it was sliding. She had a blast and wants to go again.
Just make sure she knows not to go out alone for anything.0 -
I would not. I used to work down town and there is no way in hell that I'd let my daughter go there without my direct supervision...in other words, she's not going. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by William81
I know the feelings you are having. Check with the person in charge of the trip. If you are not comfortable with the situation, offer to come along as a chaperone.
+10 -
Let her go.
I have found that I consistantly underestimate the abilities my Kids have for handling nearly any situation.
Believe me, you cannot keep them babies forever, no matter how badly you want to.
Isn't that right, Bear ??0 -
Let her go.
I have found that I consistantly underestimate the abilities my Kids have for handling nearly any situation.
Believe me, you cannot keep them babies forever, no matter how badly you want to.
Isn't that right, Bear ??0 -
quote:Originally posted by forkliftking
My 13 year old daughter has asked me if she can go on a school field trip to Washington D.C. this spring. We live about 8 hours from there. It will just be for the weekend. They will be taking a charter bus. I have been there about 15 years ago and all I can remember is all of the hookers and bums on the streets. It was a trashy city then in my opinion. But there are many good things to see and do there.
I guess my question is should I let her go or just come up with an excuse as why she doesn't need to go?
Depends on who the chaperone is. I would not trust a child to the same adults who chaperoned Nattily Holloway to Aruba, but if your daughter will be chaperoned by responsible adults, I would let her go. If you're uncomfortable, maybe you or your wife should volunteer as chaperones.0 -
When in highschool many years ago, we took a Amtrak trip to Chicago. (Art Class). We had rules and a buddy system. No problems, and they made this trip for several years without incident. Talk to whoever is in charge, ask questions, find out about chaperones. Normally they keep the kids busy enough and far enough away from the riffraff that they don't notice the trash. The itinerary is important. I would let her go, unless you know that she may be promicuous. 0 -
Just a tidbit of information ..
Make sure they stay in groups.0 -
quote:Originally posted by select-fire
Just a tidbit of information ..
Make sure they stay in groups.
http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/wacrime.htm
This link is for the state of Washington. She is going to Washington D.C.0 -
My daughter was going on "field trips" from about grade 5...There were never any problems even when she was in high school and went on band trips...The pics said it all and so did the trophies....they had wonderful times and what she learned about the history of the countries is not taught in any school....they talked to the kids from other countries, parents, teachers, went out with them to dinners, went sight seeing and had fun...
Your daughter will learn so much from the trip....Do you trust your daughter?...and dont use the words, I trust you, its the others I dont trust"...cause to a kid that is saying the same thing as "I dont trust you to make a good decision." If you trust her, let her go, tell her to have a wonderful time, take lots of pics, and tell her to teach you what she has learned from the trip....
I think you will be very surprised at her responses (very pleasantly)0 -
Well, I made the decision a few hours eariler to let her go on two stipulations. 1. Her mother agrees with it(we have been divorced for 6 years now and share joint custody with visitation being 50% to each parent). and 2. There are no scheduled radical protests in the area on the weekend she goes.
Thanks for all of the input guys. I'll make her take lots of pictures and i'll post the good ones.0 -
Your right I C&P'd the wrong one
http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/dccrime.htm0 -
In the past familys used to have outings. Mom Dad and all the kids would go to a place like Washington DC and have a good time together. The family bonded and grew closer together. When the children went to school they had to study. The teachers were paid to teach. Some students liked school others hated being pushed to do school work.
Now days students go on field trips with their teachers. Mom and Dad are mostly cut out except for funding. The students love this and bond with their teachers. The school districts now have "Partners in Education" type programs. This is where the students go on field trips during the day and are given homework(that should have been school work). Mom and Dad have to make sure their children complete the homework(that should have been school work). Some students don't mind Mom and Dad making them do their homework(that should have been school work) others hated being pushed to do homework(that should have been school work) and hate Mom and Dad for being slave drivers.
If Mom and Dad don't let their children go on the field trip that makes Mom and Dad the bad guys. The wonderful teachers are giving this wonderful gift and Mom and Dad are the meanies preventing them from a good time.
The least damage is when one of the parents go on the trip with their child.0 -
I went to D.C on a school trip when I was 13 and I was from Los Angeles. School tours dont go anywhere or do anything that exposes them to the rift raft of the city. They are in bed by 9pm anyway. 0 -
Yes.
I live in N. Virginia, my wife has been working in D.C., near the White House for 30 years. Washington is a very safe city in the Govt. and tourist areas. The red light areas are long gone. There is a huge amount of stuff to see and do here that is nowhere else. Let her come. She'll be in a big group, in a city with a very high ratio of police to people, and they're on high alert every day.
Washington is really a beautiful city...send her with a good camera and instruct her to use common sense. Cut some apron strings. Millions of people come here every year without problems.0 -
LET HER GO 0 -
First, try to get your panties out of a knot, and then crawl down off of the kitchen table and stop screaming.
It's a beautiful city with gorgeous museums and monuments. It is the world's center of power. The embassies alone are worth seeing. The Metro (the subway) is immaculate. Yes, there are hookers and some bums. There are in every city in this country. The hookers are mostly in SE and NE, and 14th street is their main hangout. Bums are scattered all over. Some ask you for spare change. You say, "Sorry" and walk right by. No problem. Sometimes when I get lost I'll ask one for directions and then give him a dollar. You get better directions most times from a bum than from a cop!
I think you need to think about what kind of raising you're giving your child. When I was 13 my dad used to take me downtown, give me ten dollars, and tell me to be back at a certain Metro stop by 7:00 PM. I'd go through the museums, see the sites, and have a great time. One time I did wander into a bad part of town and got mugged and got what was left of my $10 taken, but even that taught me something.
I once dated a girl who got all freaked out by cities, by the occasional bum or hooker or two guys arguing on a street corner. We went into DC once and she damn near had a panic attack. A grown woman damn near having a panic attack from walking down a city street in the middle of the day. Unreal.
Do you want to raise a child who is smart and confident, who can think on her feet and have a presence, who isn't afraid of things and who has some street smarts? Or do you want to raise a child who's afraid of her own shadow?0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
35 comments