View Full Version : What's your opinion?
Buttercup
17-Feb-07, 00:58
If a child is asked to represent their school at an event - sports for example - should they have to pay the transport costs themselves or should the school be picking up the tab?
I think it really depends on whether transport its an issue for the childs parents but its probably good experience for the child to represent the school
Tom Cornwall
17-Feb-07, 01:49
I think that, as in most things, if someone is asked to represent a body in something, then that body picks up the expenses.
in Western Isles most expenses are paid by school, ferry and cost of hiring bus. Youth organisation I am with pay travel for adults and young persons travelling.
danc1ngwitch
17-Feb-07, 16:26
i would like to think that the school would maybe help.
footie chick
17-Feb-07, 17:31
If a child is asked to represent their school at an event - sports for example - should they have to pay the transport costs themselves or should the school be picking up the tab?
They don't and worse than that my son got a day off his attendance record as well [evil]
cuddlepop
17-Feb-07, 18:05
Over here the kids pay a percentage of the travel,eg cross country trip to Gordonstoun was I think £3.They were away all day and had to take there lunch and anyother money for snacks.:)
Buttercup
17-Feb-07, 20:45
Over here the kids pay a percentage of the travel,eg cross country trip to Gordonstoun was I think £3.They were away all day and had to take there lunch and anyother money for snacks.:)
The same trip from here is costing £7.50 + pack lunck + money for chips on the way home. And it's not as if it's a one off thing, some were away at Montrose representing the school at Badminton the other week and that was £5 + pack lunch. The thing is that if you have a child/children that are good at sports it can fairly mount up over the year.
They don't and worse than that my son got a day off his attendance record as well [evil]
You should talk to the school about that one.
BTW what event was it?
There may be health and safety issues. If the school is not sending staff is it still a school event for the purpose of their insurance?
I guess it depends on whether a school thinks it is justified to pay all of/subsidise events which are only attended by a small number of the school population.
After all money allocated to the school is for the benefit of all pupils, not just the few, and it is not compulsory to take part.
I know that thirty years ago, I had to pay up for every away football game my son played in, for his five years in Secondary..............his Primary school head and parents provided the transport for Primary School teams.
And my grandson has to pay a proportion of the bus hire for his school away games nowadays.
If your child had to pay a periodic £7.50 to play badminton as a hobby outside of school.....would you object to paying it?
You do want to rant about the attendance demerit though!
footie chick
17-Feb-07, 23:05
You should talk to the school about that one.
BTW what event was it?
There may be health and safety issues. If the school is not sending staff is it still a school event for the purpose of their insurance?
It was at an athletics event where by the athletics club cost is £5.00 the school cost was almost double!!!
The athletic club is really good at trying to keep costs to a minimal. Also on the school trip they were running VERY late and didn't think to tell us that they hadn't stopped on route for dinner as agreed!! Only found out when they arrived home [evil] Dont think we'll bother next year! Whats the point in representing a school that thinks so little of you?
Also we had to transport them 8+miles at 5.30 in the morning to get the bus and pick them up a night with athletics arranged events they get dropped off at the end of the road :(
It was at an athletics event where by the athletics club cost is £5.00 the school cost was almost double!!!
The athletic club is really good at trying to keep costs to a minimal. Also on the school trip they were running VERY late and didn't think to tell us that they hadn't stopped on route for dinner as agreed!! Only found out when they arrived home [evil] Dont think we'll bother next year! Whats the point in representing a school that thinks so little of you?
But what were the numbers involved in the Athletic Club as opposed to the school, footie chick? The more competing, the less the proportionate cost.
If they had stopped for dinner, and returned an hour or so later than expected, would that have been a complaint as well?
When my younger grandson goes away with the football team he plays for, he is given one of his parent's mobiles with instructions to let them know if he is going to be late, etc.
It is unrealistic to expect any organisation to phone the parents of every child to tell them they are not going to be late but not had time to eat because they would be late if they did.
I sometimes think that parents nowadays don't bother to think about and consequently don't prepare for things not going according to plan. I wonder if expectations have reached unrealistic proportions compared to what they were in my olden days.
Out of interest how much does it cost annually to be member of the Athletic Club and how many members do they have paying it?
I'd say if the kid is good enough to represent the school then they should reciprocate. If our standards were higher in this country you would'nt even have to question such things
I'd say if the kid is good enough to represent the school then they should reciprocate. If our standards were higher in this country you would'nt even have to question such things
Frankly, I'd rather see a school's allocation of funds going into books and IT equipment for the use of all children.
Most schools nowadays have PTAs which raise funds for extra-curricular activities such as those talked about on here................things which interest the kids, but are less than important in education terms.
PTAs didn't exist in my day, but if they did, and I wasn't involved in them, I'd have been happy enough to pay to allow my child to do something he really wanted to do.
I was happy enough that some of the teachers were prepared to give up their free time to escort my son and his team-mates to matches so they could do what they loved doing.
As far as I was concerned, and as far as my kids are concerned with my grandchildren.............provided the teachers with the kids are reliable and we were/are informed of accidents or late arrivals home, we were/are prepared to pay for our children to take part in school activities if the school would have to take the cost of that activity out of general funds.
If I/we hadn't been, I/we would simply have told our children that they couldn't take part.
Buttercup
18-Feb-07, 00:09
Frankly, I'd rather see a school's allocation of funds going into books and IT equipment for the use of all children.
Most schools nowadays have PTAs which raise funds for extra-curricular activities such as those talked about on here................things which interest the kids, but are less than important in education terms.
PTAs didn't exist in my day, but if they did, and I wasn't involved in them, I'd have been happy enough to pay to allow my child to do something he really wanted to do.
I was happy enough that some of the teachers were prepared to give up their free time to escort my son and his team-mates to matches so they could do what they loved doing.
As far as I was concerned, and as far as my kids are concerned with my grandchildren.............provided the teachers with the kids are reliable and we were/are informed of accidents or late arrivals home, we were/are prepared to pay for our children to take part in school activities if the school would have to take the cost of that activity out of general funds.
If I/we hadn't been, I/we would simply have told our children that they couldn't take part.
I would've thought that in this day and age the taking part in sports should be encouraged and are far better for children than sitting in front of a TV/PC. The cross-country/badminton events I mentioned were not extra carricular, as the pupils were picked from their PE lessons.
I would've thought that in this day and age the taking part in sports should be encouraged and are far better for children than sitting in front of a TV/PC. The cross-country/badminton events I mentioned were not extra carricular, as the pupils were picked from their PE lessons.
But I assume they could have refused to represent the school? Not representing the school wouldn't stop them taking part in the sport.
In my son's day, thirty years ago, PE was a compulsory part of the curriculum, and even then, representing the school at anything cost the parents.............they always had, and I assume still have, the option of allowing their child the kudos of representing the school.....or not.
Now, in my grandson's day, PE appears to be an optional extra..........and extra curricular events rely on teachers being willing, rather than expected, to train/chaperone kids in sports/going to events.
In fact, I think many schools no longer even have proper playing fields as so many were sold off in the Thatcher years.
I do agree that taking part in sports is better for children than sitting in front of a TV/PC, but representing the school has never been a compulsory activity.......so in the end, if you don't want to pay what the school wants, you tell your kid he/she can't do it.
Representing the school has never, in my old area at least, ever been without cost to the parents...........and that was in the days when schools had less pupils, a lot less expectations re curriculum and equipment but no PTA associations to raise funds.
It is down to what it is perceived as important to use the school's finite resources on......and the optional extra of representing the school at sports isn't, in the opinion of all head teachers, something that should use up limited school funds.
You appear to be unlucky in the priorities of the head of the school your child attends compared to the experience of others.
My youngest son has played regularly for his high school football team since he started first year and has always been asked to contribute £5 towards the cost of travelling. I have always paid without grumbling as I think it is good for him to participate in a team activity. They have spent the night a few times and we are asked to contribute towards the cost of accommodation. This is usually in a youth hostel so the cost is never exorbitant. He is now in 5th year and the 5th year football team are still in one cup competition and I am glad he participates as there aren't usually any local football teams for his age group (16-17) to play on.
Compare this to the US where my nieces and nephews have to pay insurance policies costing upwards of $150 EACH to take part in school sports AND pay for transport/accommodation etc. The schools in the US however, are quite good at having fund raisers to help keep costs to a minimum. I don't think £5 is too much to pay to play. I am sure that if the £5 cannot genuinely be afforded that the school would come to an agreement about it.
Valerie Campbell
18-Feb-07, 11:56
Buttercup, I think the school should pay travelling expenses because they have asked the child to represent them. The only thing the child should pay for perhaps is their lunch.
My youngest son has played regularly for his high school football team since he started first year and has always been asked to contribute £5 towards the cost of travelling. I have always paid without grumbling as I think it is good for him to participate in a team activity. They have spent the night a few times and we are asked to contribute towards the cost of accommodation. This is usually in a youth hostel so the cost is never exorbitant. He is now in 5th year and the 5th year football team are still in one cup competition and I am glad he participates as there aren't usually any local football teams for his age group (16-17) to play on.
Both my sons played rugby for their school, and football for the BB's, I had no compulsion to paying their transport costs and incedental costs.
I as a parent often went too, not always, but thought nothing off the costs, is that just being a parent?
Both my sons were also Latin American Dancers, we had to pay all their costs for this activity too, and felt proud when they competed and won, again cost never was an issue.
One amusing story though, my eldest is and was a very good swimmer and entered a sponsored swim to raise funds for his Swimming club, I kind heartedly and naively sponsored him for a £1.00 per length, thinking he would do maybe between 5 or 10 then get bored, but no, at 35 lengths, I was calling to him to stop, he went on to do 40 lengths :mad: . I have forgiven him after all these years....I think.
Both my sons played rugby for their school, and football for the BB's, I had no compulsion to paying their transport costs and incedental costs.
I as a parent often went too, not always, but thought nothing off the costs, is that just being a parent?
Both my sons were also Latin American Dancers, we had to pay all their costs for this activity too, and felt proud when they competed and won, again cost never was an issue.
One amusing story though, my eldest is and was a very good swimmer and entered a sponsored swim to raise funds for his Swimming club, I kind heartedly and naively sponsored him for a £1.00 per length, thinking he would do maybe between 5 or 10 then get bored, but no, at 35 lengths, I was calling to him to stop, he went on to do 40 lengths :mad: . I have forgiven him after all these years....I think.
you're not the only one to have been caught out by the sponsered swim - my grannie also sponsered me a pound a length - 33 later i wasnt very popular [lol]
Buttercup
18-Feb-07, 16:56
You appear to be unlucky in the priorities of the head of the school your child attends compared to the experience of others.
I would like to point out that I wasn't speaking about my own child, it's just something that's happening and I wanted to ask members opinions. Thanks to all who replied. :D
I think the point here is perhaps the parents on very low income and have other children. If all the children are good athletes do they allow one to flourish at the cost to the others or entire family scrimp to enable more than one child to go. £5 or £10 to attend any event every so often if you have a child and on low income would I imagine be difficult but if you have more than one child to consider it becomes more difficult, a pay packet can only stretch so far. How much do other family members do without to enable one to flourish.
PTA should be helping pay transport and overnight accommodation, otherwise only children with parents who can manage to pay will represent schools at events which have travel and accom cost., Thus the 'best' do not get to represent the school, only the financially viable benefit from this prestige.
I think the point here is perhaps the parents on very low income and have other children. If all the children are good athletes do they allow one to flourish at the cost to the others or entire family scrimp to enable more than one child to go. £5 or £10 to attend any event every so often if you have a child and on low income would I imagine be difficult but if you have more than one child to consider it becomes more difficult, a pay packet can only stretch so far. How much do other family members do without to enable one to flourish.
PTA should be helping pay transport and overnight accommodation, otherwise only children with parents who can manage to pay will represent schools at events which have travel and accom cost., Thus the 'best' do not get to represent the school, only the financially viable benefit from this prestige.
That may have been the point.................and I agree with what you say about help for those children whose parents cannot afford to let them represent the school......but the OP read more like a complaint that payment had to be made at all, and that the school didn't phone all parents to tell them that their kids hadn't been fed.
Most of the rest of us have said that paying for school activities have long been expected from parents and isn't something new dreamed up to irritate one specific school.
I think the point here is perhaps the parents on very low income and have other children. If all the children are good athletes do they allow one to flourish at the cost to the others or entire family scrimp to enable more than one child to go. £5 or £10 to attend any event every so often if you have a child and on low income would I imagine be difficult but if you have more than one child to consider it becomes more difficult, a pay packet can only stretch so far. How much do other family members do without to enable one to flourish.
PTA should be helping pay transport and overnight accommodation, otherwise only children with parents who can manage to pay will represent schools at events which have travel and accom cost., Thus the 'best' do not get to represent the school, only the financially viable benefit from this prestige.
I was on a low income when my sons were growing up, less than £20.00 pw, circa 1964-74, but we made the effort, my wife and I did without, to let our children benefit, how many parents do that today?
This Nanny state you lot live in today is all wrong, everything I wanted in that era I paid for or did without, but my sons got what ever they needed to have a better life than I did in the 1950's.
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