dd (6) is on her 2nd field trip today. They did not ask for any chaperones either time. The last time they went on a field trip, I asked and they told me they didn't need any help.

Is this normal?

No, I don't think that's normal. I've never heard of NOT needing chaperones.

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A woman is like a teabag. You never know how strong she is until she gets into hot water.-Eleanor Roosevelt

Sometimes. If they have an all day trip somewhere, especially if it's out of town, then they will ask for chaperones. If they are just taking a trip to the local theater or museum and will only be gone a couple hours, then they don't usually ask.

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When I want your opinion I'll remove the duct tape.......K?

Last time they only went to another local school for a show.

This time, they are traveling over an hour and will be gone all day. I should've been more proactive in asking about it.

Hmm, our schools always ask. As a matter of fact I am driving seventh graders to Busch Gardens tomorrow!

Most of the time they will, but if it is something that they are going to right intown then they don't ask.

That's not usually the norm, they must take extra staff with them.

I know you wouldn't be one of these parents, but maybe they have had a bad experience with parent chaperones. Sometimes they are more difficult than the kids. And it's so embarrassing to be the school whose kids are being rude because of slacker parents

The last school I was at was particularly bad, most of the Moms would talk on their cell phones the whole time and not pay attention to any of the kids in their group. Some would yell and and snatch at their child.

My previous school always had parents that would take off work to go, then they would be on the phone with work while their group ran around like crazy kids. So not helpful.

Honestly, I had so many bad experiences with parent chaperones that I barely took field trips and when I did, I hand picked the parents to come along, instead of sending out a general request.

Maybe your school had these kinds of experiences and instead takes some of the support or office staff along as chaperones. I think I would ask for more details, just out of curiosity. I would want to make sure there was a safe adult:child ratio and if it is a school policy or just this particular teacher.

These were some of the reasons I figured they did not send a letter home with the children.

The school seems to be very picky about how they do things, which is great BUT they tend to shove off the parents and want to do things their way and not accept help. This is what I've experienced thus far. They do this and then they wonder why no one wants to help after Kindergarten.

Next time, I'll be more proactive in asking if I can go. I can't change it today so I guess I'll stop worrying about it

I don't know what 'normal' is...but no, our schools have not always asked for chaperones. At one school we attended, they never needed chaperones. They always had enough teachers/aides to supervise the children appropriately, and parents just weren't needed.

It really depends on how many kids are going, where they're going...how long the trip is, what the trip is etc There are just so many factors involved. I wouldn't automatically think negative things if chaperones were not needed (disclaimer: not that anyone was saying that) JMO.

In my experiences with volunteering, yes, there are some parents that should NOT be chaperoning. And there are some kids, that when their parents are chaperoning, act out.

At our current school, at the beginning of the school year, they ask if you'd be interested in chaperoning field trips. From the short list, the teacher just communicates via email to those specific parents for trips. She doesn't ask the whole class, because she's already narrowed it down.

Sometimes they do but lately they haven't.

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