to "oh get real": abide by school policies

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to "oh get real": abide by school policies
By jl, fourth grade

Unequivocal or not, parents are NOT allowed to bring their young children on field trips at our school. If you do not trust the school personnel with your child, then why do you even allow your child to attend that school????
We are NOT the ones who need to "get real" as you signed in the post. It is parents that refuse to abide by school district policies that create nightmares for teachers on field trips. We are only allowed a certain number of parent chaperones and students, and our budget only allows us to pay for that amount. Our liability insurance only covers a select population, and unforturnately,

the younger siblings of school-aged children are not covered. So play fair with the policy. Don't expect the school to accommodate your younger children if you don't feel confident in sending your child alone. If you are that adamant about attending your child's field trip, then you have appropriate choices (none of which include letting your younger child tag along). You can drive in your own car and meet up with the group at the destination and pay for your and your younger child's admission(take your older child with you, as well), you can refrain from letting your child attend, OR you can find a babysitter for the younger siblings so you can chaperone. Regardless of what you choose, you MUST be fair to all parents and students in the classroom. If it is policy to NOT allow younger siblings on field trips, then follow the policy and set the appropriate example for the parents and children in the classroom. I am afraid, we, as teachers, are not the ones who need to "get real." In my building, our school personnel will tell you differently and then you can choose to deprive your child of an educational activitiy. Policies are made for a good reason and if we let every parent and child of each of our students attend our field trips, then we truly would have bedlam. Imagine a class of 25 students blossoming to over 75 if each child brought one parent and one younger sibling! We are not a babysitting service and when you bring your younger children along because "nobody will tell you otherwise," you are showing your child your blatant disrespect for school policy.