Chesapeake, VA band can play at Disney, but not on the rides

My senior trip was to WDW and we had meetings before we went and the consequences for misbehaving were huge (no walking at graduation for example). They told us a story of how a kid got caught stealing in the gift shop and if that happens to us, we are off the trip and it's our parents responsibility to get us back home. Needless to say, everyone behaved and no one was injured.

I thought my school was strict when they collected out tickets once in the gate so we couldn't park hop on our own, but that is nothing compared to this. They did give us our tickets for the 2nd and 3rd days of the trip though once we told them about how you need the tickets for fastpass (our trip was the first year fastpass was used so the teachers didn't know about it)

Yoshi, I think that your school just may have been cautious and wanted a way to try to make sure they had everybody.

When my School chior group went to NYC back in april we were basic free to do what ever we wanted as long as we stade in a group of atleast 2. We also checked in every hour or two by caling our teacher with a cell phone. There was also very little restrictions.

Now whats more dangerous the Big Apple of NYC or the Micky Mouse Capital of Disney. I just think this board has no more fun in there lives and want to take it out on the kids so they can be just as misurable.

Heck, why don't they offer to take the board along with them? Heck, the band is REPRESENTING the school.

I feel so bad for these kids! Take these kids to Disney and say can't ride! How heartless can these board members be!

My son is in his high school band and has been to Disney and Bush Gardens in Va. (I am very jealous of him because I could not go!)They have never had no problems of any kind in the parks and the kids were always on their best behavior. They go on a major trip once every 2 years. They always have plenty of chaperons. They usually split up into groups of about 5 people with every group having a chaperon. The only problem they ever had was when the bus they were riding in almost got in an accident! All of us know you are in more danger on the highway than on a ride in a park.

Before each trip they have a big meeting were parents must attend. All the rules are outlined and kids are told brake any rules be sent home, get kicked out of the band, with the parents paying any traveling expenses to get the child home. They have the parent and child sign this.

This years trip to Washington DC and a day trip to Bush gardens cost each student over $500 to go on. Yes they had fund raisers but I still had to pay about $250 so he could go. The Disney trip cost even more 2 years ago. I could not imagine saving up all this money and doing fund raisers to then find out sorry can't ride rides. For a lot of these kids it is a once in a lifetime opportunity to go to Disney. In fact some kids join band just for the wonderful opportunity such as going on these trips. If I am paying which I did, do not tell us sorry no rides! This is the same case these kids raised money know the school is going to tell them this!

In the article it said they have 159 kids with 35-40 chaperons going. That is 1-4 or 5 ratio that is pretty good ratio. If they do this they are going to find out that kids will quit and less kids will sign up for band next year. The band will suffer so I say wake up and think about what you are doing! THIS IS NOT RIGHT!

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Hopman said:
Yoshi, I think that your school just may have been cautious and wanted a way to try to make sure they had everybody.

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Yeah I guess so, it just must have seemed strict at the time but it may not have been especially since we were on our own once we got into the parks. We didn't have to check in with anyone or walk around with any chaperone (teachers and asst. principals).

If they wanted to keep track of the kids, they could issue shirts w/ GPS locators built in.

Hey, I know-- send them to Aruba. Nothing could happen to a high school kid there, right?

But seriously, if it's a question of kids acting irresponsibly, they could get into trouble going to museums, historical sites, factory tours, the zoo, wherever. It's just another case where everyone gets punished for the actions of a few.

How true. I just want know if this happened before or after the idiot got beheaded at SFoG.

A follow up on this wonderful situation.
http://hamptonroads.com/2008/08/chesapeake-parents-sound-plea-bands-disney-trip

From what my friend said about their kids trip, the school board really isn't showing signs of backing down, but the parents are holding fast to the fact that THEY raised the money and don't appreciate the dictation thats being put forth. Will see what happens..

A few are talking about taking their kids out entirely, which I don't know will fix the problem.

I do find it amusing the schools efforts to appease them though.. Kennedy is nice.. but only cool if there is a shuttle launch or landing.. Otherwise its learning about science and history while on "vacation", which most of these kids aren't going to be interested in anyways.

"In a meeting with school officials last week, parents said they were told there needed to be more educational aspects to the trip"

Hall of Presidents

Carousel of Progress

WedWay

Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular

Wonders of Flight (AK)

African Safari

Heck, most of Animal Kingdom.

ALL OF EPCOT!!!!

Apparently the school board should spend more time realizing the educational opportunities at this "amusement park" rather than seeing just the rides. Disney can be a VERY educational experience, but all the kids are learning about is the iron fist of oppression.

You took the words right out of my mouth John.. Was just going to re comment with that aspect.

Completely silly and all its doing is causing bitter feelings between the school board and the parents.. And despite what anyone says, no parent with their children in the band (from what I have been told) is on the side of the school system on this..

The kids will probably learn on more thing while they are there..

Anarchy!

Good luck keeping that enforced there..

^ - Maybe I've missed it, but I would wager to bet that there are no parents who aren't ON the school board who are behind the board on this one.

I'm curious as to how much money the district is forking over for this if any. My understanding was that they kids raised all of it.

If so, break from the school. Enter the parade as the "Non-affiliated High School Student Marching Band". And enjoy your week in Florida. The school board can't do anything if the school isn't involved in an official capacity.

Rides can be educational. You can learn about g-forces, heat transfer (pyrotechnics), landscape design, sociology.

^^ Dunno Juggalotus. This is one school affected by this issue in the city, and in this city there are about 4 High Schools, 4 Jr High and 5 or 6 elementary schools..

So the odds that a board member (less than a dozen people), has a kid who goes to that school and is in the band at that school who is going, i would imagine is pretty low. But this decision was a majority vote.. Not unanimous.

BTW. I have friends whose kids are being affected by this and fighting it so I tend to believe what they tell me since they are involved directly.

And no.. the District isnt forking over any money for this.. Its pure representation for the schools.. The parents forked over some dollars and the rest was fund raising by the groups.

The problem with breaking off, is the point of the bands at Disney is to represent schools.. not private groups. They break off and chances are Disney will become less interested in you being there.

So at that point its just a field trip..

I think the point is Kids want to play the instruments they enjoy, represent their school proudly to thousands of spectators and enjoy a week of fun.

Saga continues though.. Parents are still fighting.

^ - yes, but the story behind this group would be great for ABC and Disney on national television.

I mean, this whole thing has After School Special written all over it.

I actually encouraged that to them too.. Notify media.. Write to Disney..

But mostly did that because I want to be the guy on the news that has opinion because I know someone who's affected....

BTW, what are the dates of this trip?

Dunno the exact dates as I personally dont have kids in it. I will have to ask them next time I see them.. I just get the rants.. As it makes for interesting gossip.

I just know its around the schools Christmas holiday, because they are also playing in the citrus parade which is at the end of the year. So they miss very little actual school for this function.

...And a final update/blow to this situation. The Principal and Band director now have decided to take it to a whole new level and not support the trip at all... This now officially denies the field trip as a whole as this trip must have support by those two school officials.

This was denied even after the revised trip that included educational side trips. Can you say "Fall Guys". Local media is having a hay day and the entire Hampton Roads area is now jumping on this one as it approaches utterly ridiculous..

Read about it here:

I have never seen so much politics in a Virginia school system, well short of our silly Standards of Learning (SOLs) thats enforced on the Virginia Schools. (Different rant for another site/forum).