2340A - FIELD TRIP GUIDELINES

Southern Local School District

Administrative Guidelines

2340A - FIELD TRIP GUIDELINES

Field Trip Procedures

Ordinary Field Trips

			a.	All requests shall be submitted to the principal on the Field Trip Request Form 2340 F1 two (2) weeks in advance of the scheduled trip with the names of all staff members and chaperones who will accompany the students.
			b.	The list of participating high school students must be kept in the principal's office, and noted on the daily absence list. This list must be placed in each teacher's mail box prior to the trip.
			c.	A one (1) page, pretrip report must be submitted to the administration at the time of the submission of the trip request. The pretrip report will include the educational value of the trip, and a description of how the goals can best be met from this trip.
			d.	Upon approval of a trip, the principal shall forward a copy of the pre-trip proposal to the Transportation Supervisor.
			e.	Parental Consent Forms must be returned to the school no later than the day before the trip. A blanket authorization may be obtained for trips that will consist of a series of trips during the school year. If the student will be unsupervised during certain portions of the trip, Form 2340 F2A must be signed and returned prior to the trip. No student will be allowed to participate if the parental consent form is not received prior to the trip.
			f.	For trips requiring money, the teacher in charge must see the principal prior to collection.
			g.	Student emergency medical authorization forms shall be present on each field trip.
			h.	Upon returning from the trip, the Field Trip Report Form will be filled out within ten (10) school days after the trip and submitted to the administration.
			i.	Field trips may be denied for any one of the following reasons:

				1)	failure to satisfactorily comply with paragraphs a through b, above,
				2)	excessive cost,
				3)	basically of a recreational orientation (except in special cases),
				4)	the students involved have generally been involved in other field trips or school activities that have kept them out of class excessively,
				5)	excessive number of students taking trips on that particular day including availability of buses.

			i.	Field trips will not be approved during quarterly exam weeks, after the third week in May, and the weeks before and after the marking period ends.
			j.	Problems with the field trip or change in itinerary should be brought to the attention of the administration immediately upon return.

		2.	Overnight Field Trips
			Overnight field trips should be infrequent, but in cases where they are beneficial to students, a specific set of guidelines for each specific overnight trip must be submitted by the responsible principal.

			a.	Students must attend a mandatory meeting before the trip. At this meeting students shall be informed that administrative guidelines of the school will be strictly enforced during the trip. They shall be informed of any special clothing, etc. that is needed.
			b.	Parents must also attend a mandatory meeting before the trip. This provides a forum for the school to stress the administrative guidelines. It also provides the parents with a complete itinerary of the trip and a telephone chain of students who are on the trip. In addition, parents shall be provided an opportunity to ask any questions they have regarding the trip.
			c.	Before the trip students are required to have on file signed emergency medical forms.
			d.	All school guidelines are in effect at any school related event. Students face disciplinary action on all violations as if they occurred in school or on the school bus.
			e.	For those students not attending, a schedule for the day must be provided by the principal.
			f.	Generally, overnight field trips should not take more than one instructional day.

Teachers

			a.	For every field trip there must be at least one (1) teacher and maybe one (1) chaperone for every twenty-five (25) students.
			b.	Prior to arrival at the destination, the teacher should make students aware of:

				1)	How they are to conduct themselves.
				2)	What time the bus will leave for the return trip.
				3)	Where the bus will be located for the departure.
				4)	Any specific information that the students should know with reference to the area being visited.

			c.	Chaperones are at no time to leave any student or students ON THEIR OWN during the course of the field trip.
			d.	At least one (1) teacher is to remain at the school after the return trip until all students have been picked up.
			e.	Any disciplinary problems are to be reported to the principal immediately upon returning to the school for appropriate action.

		4.	Emergencies
			In the event of any emergency during a field trip, the following procedures are to be followed:

			a.	The teacher in charge will immediately contact the principal. During school hours, call the school at it's main number; after school hours call the Superintendent and/or principal.
			b.	For trips returning when school is not in session, an emergency phone list will be provided to the principal or designated emergency person.
			c.	The Building Designated Emergency Person will:

				1)	remain at the telephone to answer incoming calls.
				2)	alert the administration.
				3)	make available the building facilities to waiting parents.
				4)	contact parents by telephone when a delay occurs, using emergency phone list.
				5)	advise the Superintendent/principal when all students have left with their parents.

Preparation for Field Trips

Teacher Preparation

			a.	Arrange through principal for consent to make trip prior to parental consent.
			b.	Make preliminary survey, with listing of situations and points of interest, etc.
			c.	Estimate length of time involved, also round trip schedule.
			d.	Decide if entire class or select group should go.
			e.	Make arrangements with school authorities and with authorities at place of destination.
			f.	Plan transportation route, in detail, and arrange financing with administration, if necessary.

Student Preparation

			a.	Arouse student interest in the project field trip (by class talk, photograph, bulletin board, etc.).
			b.	Discuss in class the problems that the trip can solve.
			c.	Make clear to students the purpose or purposes of the trip.
			d.	Develop backgrounds by consulting reference materials.
			e.	Work out with students the points to observe during the trip.
			f.	Set up with students standards of behavior and safety.
			g.	Distribute any material students can use during the trip.

Conduct of Field Trips

Presentation by Teacher/Guide

			a.	Guide is to be given clear idea of the purpose of the trip (set of questions prepared by teacher and students).
			b.	Students are to observe and hear the guide's explanations.
			c.	Questions period shall be provided in which individual questions are presented and answered by the guides and/or teacher and students.
			d.	Note taking and sketching period by the students shall be provided.

Follow Through of Presentation

Group Discussions in Classroom

				1)	Critical evaluation of the place visited.
				2)	Supplementing and correcting incomplete or hazy understanding.
				3)	Introduction of new problems.

Creative Projects

				1)	Drawings, poems, stories, construction, bulletin boards, diaries, etc., based on trips.
				2)	Writing letters of thanks to guides, management, etc.

Tests to Determine

				1)	Information gained.
				2)	Attitudes formed.
				3)	Generalizations made.

Reports from Students

				1)	General reports - the overall subject.
				2)	Special features reported by students to which they had been previously assigned.

Evaluation of Field Trips

Before

			a.	Is this destination the best choice for this particular teaching purpose?
			b.	What plans must be made by teacher and students?
			c.	Is there reading material available on this student level?
			d.	Is the time involved likely to prove worth the undertaking?
			e.	What relationship can this trip have with other experiences?
			f.	What emotional effects is the trip likely to have on students?

After

			a.	Did the trip serve it's purpose?
			b.	Were attitudes affected in the expected manner?
			c.	Did the trip stimulate the group to new activity?
			d.	Did it develop in them a spirit of inquiry and curiosity?
			e.	Has the trip had any final effect on student conduct and behavior?

Additional Questions for Evaluation

Will it give a generally truthful picture?

				1)	Will it provide an adequate sampling of the total process or body of facts?
				2)	Will some physical condition (noise) overcome the important factors to be observed?
				3)	Does it cover too much ground and will it present the most desirable examples of the process?
				4)	Will facilities be available for answering questions and for further explanation by the guide?

Will it be worth the time and expense?

				1)	Could some other medium be used more effectively?
				2)	Can the class as a whole afford the expense?
				3)	Can the trip be made within the time available?
				4)	Will the experience be new to the majority of the class?
				5)	Are there health and safety risks involved?
				6)	Will serious problems of student management be involved?

Will the resulting community relations be constructive?

				1)	Can the purpose be realized without undue inconvenience to students, parents, teachers, and places visited?
				2)	Will the selection of places to visit produce ill feeling in the community? (e.g., visit to chain store as against visit to corner store)
				3)	Will the trip probably have parental and community spirit?
				4)	Will visits by numerous groups tend to bring more efficient service on the part of the organization involved?