School field trips can be an integral part of a school's curriculum -- adding first-hand experience to what students are studying in class. And,they can be a fun way to celebrate graduation or the end of a school year.
Not all schools and teachers, however, value them equally -- some schedule weekly outings while others prefer to keep kids in class. Some schools also struggle to find enough chaperones, especially in communities where parents work long hours.
School field trips are now under a microscope after the tragic death of a 12-year-old on a June trip to an unguarded beach. Her teacher was dismissed and both the principal and assistant principal were disciplined. Last week a report was issued by city investigators which recommended that a former Beacon High School teacher be sanctioned for having taken students on an unapproved trip to Cuba in 2007.
After the drowning death of the Columbia Secondary School student the Chancellor was said to be reviewing and considering a change to the city's regulation about field trips. It currently requires supervision by three adults for up to 30 students in elementary and middle school, and two adults for every 30 high school students.
In this week's poll we're asking you to grade your school's field trips. Are there enough of them? Too many? Are they well-planned and chaperoned? Are they a vital part of your child's school experience? Should the regulation be changed? Take our poll and let us know what you think.
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