Compulsory Overseas Trip

[3Boys]

I think if you with-hold your child’s passport, there is nothing that the school can do to make the child travel, is there?

[corneyAmber]

3Boys:

I think if you with-hold your child's passport, there is nothing that the school can do to make the child travel, is there?

I don't think they can do anything except that this is a bit of an \"A-war\"(?) , i.e. going against the authorities by non-compliance, approach which may not be good for the child. The child may be reminded in school that his/her parents have gone against the school's ruling and seen as not doing the right thing. So I rather get the school's blessings to make such trips optional.

[nani]

ks2me:

3Boys:

I think if you with-hold your child's passport, there is nothing that the school can do to make the child travel, is there?

I don't think they can do anything except that this is a bit of an \"A-war\"(?) , i.e. going against the authorities by non-compliance, approach which may not be good for the child. The child may be reminded in school that his/her parents have gone against the school's ruling and seen as not doing the right thing. So I rather get the school's blessings to make such trips optional.

ks2me - I couldn't agree more. Seems only 2 of us understand each other where we are coming from.

Hopefully someone here will enlighten this to MOE and bring some light

[corneyAmber]

Hi Nani,


Can you share with us what you have tried so far but not getting ahead with what you want? How has the school officially responded to you?

Sometimes I wonder if the grandchildren of VIPs like LKY at primary school level would be asked to go for such compulsory trips without a bodyguard tagging along or any other special arrangement made?

[nani]

[quote]I don't think they can do anything except that this is a bit of an \"A-war\"(?) , i.e. going against the authorities by non-compliance, approach which may not be good for the child. The child may be reminded in school that his/her parents have gone against the school's ruling and seen as not doing the right thing. So I rather get the school's blessings to make such trips optional.[/quote]
I've not tried anything. By quoting the above, already makes me :roll: how should I even approach the school?? :idea:

Have brought this topic up with my child thou..I did ask whether IF anyone in the class not intending to go. The answer I get is, Mommy, is COMPLUSORY :stupid:

[Augmum]

nani:

ks2me - I couldn't agree more. Seems only 2 of us understand each other where we are coming from.

Hopefully someone here will enlighten this to MOE and bring some light

oh.....count me in too, i am on the same line as u both........

nani, i think , we have to stand firm, regardless of what the sch or teachers say
if we already feel so uneasy and uncomfortable to let our child go (before the trip)
can u imagine, how stressful we will be like during the days of the child's trip..
can't eat, can't sleep........ everyday....

[corneyAmber]

Augmum:

nani:

ks2me - I couldn't agree more. Seems only 2 of us understand each other where we are coming from.

Hopefully someone here will enlighten this to MOE and bring some light

oh.....count me in too, i am on the same line as u both........

nani, i think , we have to stand firm, regardless of what the sch or teachers say
if we already feel so uneasy and uncomfortable to let our child go (before the trip)
can u imagine, how stressful we will be like during the days of the child's trip..
can't eat, can't sleep........ everyday....

Ok, for this, I would make an appointment to see the teacher or principal to express my concern and asked for permission to be excused.
It would be good if your child also feels uncomfortable and can articulate to the teacher/principal. Separation anxiety is as real for children as it is for adults.

Parents should not be made to feel compelled to subscribe to a curriculum model that they are not comfortable with especially if safety is a concern. The concern is valid too because they are only in PRIMARY school!

Perhaps you can share some near-accident cases on your personal experience to voice your concern.

I have one to share here:
My kid had a K2 excursion then to the underwater world or zoo(cannot remember cos this incident shocked my system and I could only recall this.. :lol: ) and no parents were allowed. It was kindy days so I told the teacher I could send my child to destination to follow the school, i.e. if not allowed, she would give it a miss which was permissible. At one point during the tour, they entered a semi-dark room to see the penguins. There were so many children standing in the semi-dark and there was a suspicious-looking man loitering in vincinity, eyeing the children instead of the exhibit. The 2 teachers inside were so overwhelmed with the 20+ children. The man was looking so intently at them, I, in turn was looking at him with my child next to me. As the children moved, he started to move as well, then he caught me looking at him. Immediately, he quickly made his way to the exit and left. My instinct told me he was up to no good. He did not expect that there was a 3rd adult with the team because I stayed on one side and my kid was not in school uniform. So that incident prompted me that as much as teachers would like to be careful, it was not possible. Scary? Quote your personal experience to them and see if they can imagine what responsibility they have to bear should anything happen. This is primary school, not upper sec nor JC, you tell them. Even if they are streetsmart, are they physically able to protect themselves?

[mrswongtuition]

Actually, I don’t believe the school is allowed to make it ‘compulsory’ unless they are an independant school. They can build it into the curriculum and encourage participation but they cannot force participation, even if it’s FREE (which in this case, I assume it’s not).


Meet up with the P to enquire further. Did you sign any agreement to say that you will allow your child to go on all ‘compulsory’ trips when you enrolled your child into this school?

[ooptimizer]

Just don’t turn up at the airport on the day, and what can the school do?

[VitoRelax]

ooptimizer:

Just don't turn up at the airport on the day, and what can the school do?

good idea :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao: