We are going on a field trip in 2 weeks, and one parent had called the school to ask about chaperoning, so I told her no problem, we were happy to have her help, etc. Then, at open house, I had about 5 more parents ask if they can go! I can only take 2, and I don't want to hurt any feelings, but this is going to be a difficult decision! Should I just pull a name out of a hat or should I pick the parent of a child who I know needs extra supervision?
If you have to limit, I think I'd pick the two that you think would honestly do the best job. I'm not sure I'd necessarily pick the parent of a child who you think might have issues, because often children do better without their parents there. All other things being equal, then I'd pick the first two who talked to me about it.
Tell the parents you can only take two, but find out if you can bring more if they are willing to pay their own way and drive separately. They may want to do that.
Honestly, I pick who I know will help me the most. However, I tell parents that I drew names out of the hat. I do try to divide it equally when possible. Our school makes a point to have at least one field trip where there is no limit on the number of chaperones.
We let as many parents come as want to if they pay their own way and drive themselves. If I have to officially choose a certain number, I usually choose the parents that ask me first unless there is a reason I wouldn't feel comfortable letting them supervise a group on their own.
Hmmmm...I will have find out if they mind driving separately. Thankfully, it won't cost them anything, the kids just get to pick a pumpkin and do little things on the farm, so they wouldn't have to pay to go. I do feel bad picking one parent over the other though- I hate having to limit our chaperones!
This is the way I also do it. We have a limit to ride the bus and then any field trips we had to buy tickets for, a play for example. The parents understand. There are some who always volunteer and I've asked those in the past to maybe let someone else have a turn-they've always been amenable to this. Our P is trying to make a 2 parent limit on all field trips-I just don't think he understands early childhood education and how difficult it is to corral everybody. To me the more the merrier!
I always send home an info sheet in advance of the trip asking if anyone would like to chaperone and that I can only take 3 so I will pick parent volunteers at random. Then the next trip, I make sure if I have more than 3 volunteers, I choose 3 different parents.
I try to take everyone possible, even if they have to drive themselves. If I really only could take 2, I'd pick the two I could depend on the most for real help, not for using the time to socialize.
I take my room moms. I also will admit to 'selectively' pulling names from a hat. Last year I had 2 great room moms and one nightmare one. I took the nightmare one on ONE quickie trip and the other two on the longer 'all day' kind of trips. Funny how the names came out of the hat that way.
I agree - as long as the place doesn't have a limit I just have them drive and pay separately... if there is a limit, I am honest about only being able to pick one or two and pick those that I know will be most helpful to me and not just have their kid on their lap the entire time (so not helpful).
Check with your administration about parents driving themselves to a field trip. In some cases the school could be held liable in case of an accident. Also, if parents are driving, check the school policy on kids in their cars...sometimes a parent will want to drive their own kid back to school or home after a field trip and their could be issues there as well.
Thanks for the advice everyone! I will check about parents driving their own cars tomorrow, then let everyone know on Wednesday who the parents will be that can come with us- I'm thinking that I will just bring the first two parents that asked (they are both good parents) and tell the rest that hopefully we will be able to take the them on the spring field trip. I wish we could take all the parents, the smaller groups the better!
What happens if the place you are going requires more chaperones then that? Most places I've been ask for 1 chaperone for every 10 students. I don't take a group, I need to be available in case there's a problem. (Or to take a child that isn't behaving.)
I would love to not have to take a group!! We also have a 1 adult to 10 kids rule, but I can be one of the adults. I'm happy that if I get to take just 2 chaperones then I can split my 19 into groups of 6/7 and not have a whole 10!
It depends on the field trip and if I need drivers. If we take the bus, I prefer only one or two other chaperones. If we have to drive, I usually need 4 or 5 (so many cars will only fit 3 students with seat belts-and we can't have anyone up front due to the air bags). Our county policy is that if it is a public place that the parent could go to anyway, they are allowed to "meet us there".
At my school we have great parent participation, so I use the lottery system. I put all the names in a hat and pick however many chaperones I need.
We don't allow parents to ride the bus here. At my old school if a parent did not ride the bus they were not allow to be a chaperone. We had to limit because of space on the bus.
