SAVE SCIENCE CAMP!!!!!!!!!!
As I very recently found out, the Gilroy Unified School District (GUSD) has decided to rethink their rule about field trips. They think that if the field trip is during school hours, it can not be made unless EVERY student goes.
It is not a budget problem, it is an inequity problem. The odd thing, is that not every student WANTS to go. There are 54 students allowed, and for 2 weeks, we have still had open spots. The spots were just filled yesterday. No one is on the backup list.
Every kid that wants to go can. There are many students that need help paying. We all work for it. We recycle every Friday after school. We have a few fundraisers throughout the year. There are also several students that can’t pay anything, and they are working for it in class, after class, and on their own time. People that want to go can!
The school says everyone needs to be able to go. There are about 200 7th graders in my school, and Yosemite only ALLOWS 54. The school district is being irrational, and illogical in this sudden change of rules. Students have already paid deposits and many of us have worked to raise money, not to mention get our hopes up. Yosemite e-mailed Ms. Gallup, the 7th grade science teacher helping us fight, asking for the money today. If they do not get all of the money in a few days, they will CANCEL our reservation and give it to another group. If it weren’t for the school district, the money would already be sent, and everything would be O.K.
Yosemite is important to all of us students, parents, and staff. Please don’t let them take it away from us! They have taken away all joy and fun from school. (Electives, choir, band, photography, etc.) This is all we have left. Protest with us and send an e-mail! We need all the help we can get. The decision could be made at ANY time any day so HURRY!
The email addresses of all of the current school board members (two of whom are up for re-election in 5 weeks) and a sample letter/email can be found at Gilroy Review.
UPDATE: Gilroy Dispatch article by Sara Suddes - Middle school teachers, students rally to keep Yosemite trip
Posted: October 2nd, 2008 under Event, School.
Comments: 12
Comments
Pingback from » SAVE SCIENCE CAMP!!!!!!!!!! »Digital Photography
Time: October 2, 2008, 9:29 pm
[...] Digital photography by zairabear [...]
Pingback from URGENT! Action Needed NOW To Save Science Camp! | Aahz Reviews Gilroy
Time: October 2, 2008, 9:50 pm
[...] can read my daughter Zaira’s thoughts on her blog post: SAVE SCIENCE CAMP!!!!!!!!!! Tags: Board of Education, Gilroy Unified School District, Ms. Gallup, Science Camp, South Valley [...]
Comment from Ginger Gallup
Time: October 2, 2008, 10:34 pm
Is your homework done yet young lady? JK, this is experiential learning at its finest… Good job tonight 
Pingback from Science » SAVE SCIENCE CAMP!!!!!!!!!!
Time: October 3, 2008, 12:45 am
[...] SAVE SCIENCE CAMP!!!!!!!!!!Gallup, the 7th grade science teacher helping us fight, asking for the money today. If they do not get all of the money in a few days, they will CANCEL our reservation and give it to another group. If it weren’t for the school district, … [...]
Comment from Lisa
Time: October 3, 2008, 8:30 am
The article link does not work.
Comment from Karen
Time: October 3, 2008, 6:32 pm
Why do administrators try to fix things that are not broken? I don’t understand.
Comment from mistipurple
Time: October 3, 2008, 8:44 pm
Glad that everything worked out eventually. All the suing and fears is making the world a ridiculous place to live in.
Comment from Christina thecoffeelady
Time: October 3, 2008, 10:10 pm
I hope you get your trip!
Comment from Hellan
Time: October 4, 2008, 3:05 am
I really hope you get to go on your trip, this is just silly rules getting in the way of education and fun. Good luck and god bless
Comment from Mark
Time: October 4, 2008, 6:20 am
Sounds like petty bureaucracy gone mad. I sincerely hope that the trip goes ahead for everyone.
Comment from HoundsGood
Time: October 4, 2008, 9:17 pm
I think that if a class is going on a field trip, it shouldn’t be that a student or two can’t go because their family can’t afford it. Especially in the case of grade school age kids. ALL the kids should be able to go.
But as far as the predicament you talk about, it is possible that the school wants all the kids to go because then they are not liable for the kids that don’t go. If you have x amount of kids go, do the 10 that stay behind sit in study hall with another teacher or are they totally unsupervised (i.e. cruising around town).?
Also, perhaps the place just can’t handle groups bigger than 54. Maybe they have a little tram that only holds that many. Who knows. But if that is the case, what about dividing the students up into two groups and have Mrs. Smith’s class be one group, for example, and Mr. Jones’ class be a second group even if they go on two different days?
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