The field trip...

[alysia65]

That field trip... the one that got canceled two weeks ago... yeah, well yesterday it happened. Lucky me! The trip was horrible! I wasn't please with it at all, plus it was not a very "handicap accessible" place to get around. Let me start at the beginning... we're heading to the busses and one plus for the day happened, we got a bus that can accomidate the two students that are in wheelchairs! We though for sure we would be calling the bus company that morning for not getting us a bus with a lift. However, the bad thing was that the bus was just for us. Only the two students, the one parent, the teacher and myself were on the bus. I felt bad for the kids having to take their own bus. I semi enjoyed it though, just cause it was a quiet ride. Once we get to the place, it was a bit rough getting around. The trip was to one of the state's historical homes so getting around with the wheelchairs was very hard. Lots of bumps to get through rooms, plus going outside and all around to get from the first floor to the basement was tough. Didn't help either that we had to get the wheelchairs on to the grass or on gravel pathways at points to even reach the ramps or the building itself. Lots of work on my part to get my student and myself around the place. In addition, the tourguide wasnt that good. She really wasnt too accomidating to our students in the wheelchairs. She left us out of things and we were always in the back to view the different rooms so the students couldnt see the room, aside from the ceilings. Even when we were us close to the front, the tourguide ignored us when showing us pictures or handing out things for the kids to see and touch. Lunch wasnt too good either since the kids had to eat while sitting on the floor. There wasnt even a table that we could use for our students to eat lunch at since they really cant eat while sitting on the floor. We were able to use four chairs to sit on and as tables to put their lunches on at least, but with everyone else on the floor there was no one their height to share lunch with aside from those helping them to eat. I myself got lucky that the other students parent was there and her aide was willing to feed my student, so I could eat my lunch, otherwise I wouldnt of had a lunch break all day. In addition to no table for lunch, the kids also had a coloring activity to complete while they sat on the floor which our students couldnt do while sitting in their wheelchairs. Just not a very wheelchair friendly trip. Same bus situation on the way back too, just to point out. Finally, one last rought part back at school and that was that I didnt get a break after the trip cause I had to go straight to music with my students. Good thing that aide helped me out earlier or there would have been no lunch for me. I also talked to a couple other TA's yesterday and today at work, with regards to the trip and they aggreded that it was not a very good trip for the students and not a good trip for children in wheelchairs. At least I know that I'm not alone in not enjoying field trips, and at least there is only one more to go for the year. Plus yay for a three day weekend to rest up and recover.

In addition, one other thing to point out, sick kids need to stay home, not come to school! Between two kids, half the staff of the room is sick or getting sick, myself included! Also, there are some parents that need a good one, not only cause they send sick kids to school, but because they are extremly demanding of us and wanting stupid things.