Would you let your middle school child go on school trips that require flying?

[GreenPartyVoter]

One of our kids has two school groups that are organizing trips that require flying to get there, one national and one international. My husband is worried about terrorism, and I am worried about poor plane maintenance and my kiddo going through the TSA screening. Am I fretting over nothing?

Would you feel comfortable with your nearly 14 year old flying with his/her school group? Why or why not?

(Sorry, the poll feature is not working for me this morning.)

[SoCalDem]

1. Yes I would.

There is always the possibility that something could happen, but I would still let my kids go..and I have. Our youngest went to college in Florence Italy, and I worried all the time that he might wander into a dangerous place (Kosovo/Croatia/Bosnia etc was still going on then)..or that an incident could happen on a flight, but travel is good for young people, and 99.9999999% of the time nothing will happen except that they will have a great time, and learn a lot. We will always worry about the what-ifs, because we are parents :hug:

[LWolf]

2. Would you let your middle school child

fly in a tiny experimental aircraft piloted by an EAA pilot, that he or she had helped build at school?

Many parents did, in the 90s when my school built a plane.

[Bluebear]

4. No!

[Zywiec]

3. Yes, of course.

What other option would you have, keeping your child home while the rest of the class had a great time?

:shrug:

[Maeve]

5. I did---class went to NYC in summer of 2001

So she got to see the Twin Towers. I'd do it again--flying is still safer than sending them on a bus.

[Nye Bevan]

6. Statistically, flying is safer than walking up or down the stairs.

So if you don't worry about the stairs, don't worry about flying.

[treestar]

7. Don't know, but was allowed to go on such a trip

myself in 8th grade. There were adult chaperones on the trip.

[MrsMatt]

8. I would and I did

Last February, my 13 year old daughter took a trip to Washington DC with some of her 8th grade classmates. It was a wonderful opportunity for her to gain a little independence, bond with her friends (and make new ones), and to learn a little. Life experiences like this are very enriching.

I was in a very active band program in high school, and we did a lot of touring, some of which included travel by air. I still have very fond memories of these trips, and I want my kids to take those opportunities to explore their world without always having a parent around. We do a bit of traveling as a family, but it's nice for kids to travel with their peers.

Let your children go! You will BOTH gain by the experience.

[bemildred]

9. No. nt

[NeedleCast]

23. Can I ask why?

From the OP, it sounds like a school chaperoned trip to a different area of the country. Why wouldn't you allow that?

[dembotoz]

10. yea in a moment

for the past 2 years my son-now 16 has gone to destination imagination global finals in knoxville tn.
There was a parental carpool each time--becasue of really bad connections producing real expensive flights.

Each trip made my kid a better kid in many ways

well well well worth it.

on the other had-if it was to go to disney world- maybe not

[Fumesucker]

11. My daughter was flying alone cross-country to her grandmother's by the age of six..

Every summer for nine years she flew to NYC for a month with her grandmother..

It never occurred to us to worry about plane crashes any more than a car crash taking her to the airport.

[marmar]

12. The fear of terrorism is WAY overblown.

I'd be more afraid of too few FAA inspectors letting the airline industry getting away with shoddy maintenance.

[Greybnk48]

13. I did. One of my kids went to D.C. by plane while in

Eigth Grade. I knew the chaperone and it was an amazing experience for my daughter.

[FSogol]

14. Yes. Flying is safer than driving. Don't take this the wrong way, but

I think you are trying to justify not-cutting-the-apron-strings.

Let you child grow and have some good experiences. It is awesome they have the opportunity to travel.

[OswegoAtheist]

15. I don't want to sound dismissive, but...

...let's just say that our parenting styles are probably near-polar opposites. If any of my kids hadn't made some sort of journey (by plane or otherwise) on their own by the time they were 13-14 years old, I'd consider it a failing on my role as a parent. Now, I know that sounds harsh, and I respect that every family is dynamic, so please don't think that I see you and your situation in the same light. Do what works for you and yours.

Oswego "Apron strings don't magically untie themselves in a day" Atheist

[Brickbat]

16. Yes. There's no point in living in fear and missing opportunities like this.

[TwilightGardener]

17. My son wanted to something like this last year--some sort of student group

that goes to Washington and stays for a week. I couldn't afford it (thousands of dollars--WHERE do parents get this sort of money, to send ONE kid on a trip?)--but if I could have, I would have let him go.

[Iggo]

18. Absolutely!

I let her ride a school bus. Why not an airplane?

[jberryhill]

19. Absolutely comfortable

Do you let your child ride a bicycle?

[totodeinhere]

20. You are fretting over nothing. Statistics show that airplane travel is safer than traveling by

automobile. I would let my child go. Of course you always worry about your children. That's natural. But the only way to shield them from all danger would be to leave them in box.

[Gormy Cuss]

21. Yes, I would because it's with a supervised group.

Starting with the screening: be sure that one of you reviews the available information on what is routine (such as removing your shoes and jacket and emptying your pockets and walking through the metal detector) and what also may happen (the FB scanner or groping patdown) and how he should behave in a security zone.

The other concerns are valid but must be put in perspective. Thousands of people fly on commercial jets everyday without incident. To prevent him from flying from very real but remote possibilities is akin to never driving because of car accidents.

He'll be broadening his horizons by traveling. If you think this child will benefit from that experience, don't you want to give him that chance?

Oh yeah, a final note. I've watched world traveler friends become fretful,nervous parents when faced with the same choice as yours. Trust me when I say you and your husband's anxiety is absolutely normal.

[NeedleCast]

22. Sure - Its the safest possible way to travel

Not to be cruel, but your question is laughable. Your child is at much greater risk - per capita - every time they get in a car.

Your chance of dying in a terror related plane accident in the US (and globally) is so low that mathematically it might as well be zero.

[lynne]

24. I'd be more concerned about the people he/she was with than with the flying aspect -

- whatever can go wrong in a plane can go wrong if you're 14 or 18 or 65. There's no way to control that but the statistics are that flying is safer than driving.

I'd be more inclined to focus on how many chaperones would be available and if any of the chaperones personally knew my child than on the fact that they're flying. My son flew to Mexico with a group shortly after he turned 16. They had one layover. All went well. And I was relieved that several of the chaperones had known my son since birth and he was very comfortable being with them.

BTW, it was his first flight. I did feel a bit guilty about not being with him for his first flying experience but I think he rather enjoyed experiencing it with his friends.

[w8liftinglady]

25. Yes. I allowed my son to go to NYC and DC

when he was 12. It was good for him...

[uppityperson]

26. Yes. More so than driving on the highway in a school bus.

[PavePusher]

27. If you drive your kids anywhere in a car....

they are at considerably higher risk during that time then flying on a plane.

These stats can be easily looked up.

[Blue_In_AK]

28. Yes, my daughter went to France

with her French class when she was about this age, maybe a little older, but well before graduation.

[MissB]

29. i let both of my middle school kids take chaperoned "school" trips.

They each flew from the western US to the US state of Hawaii for a summer science trip run by a couple of the teachers. Two consecutive summers. The groups were small - about a dozen kids and nearly as many adults. I know the adults, teachers and groups of kids. They have a clearly detailed itinerary.

I also send them business class via Amtrak to their uncle's in another state. Unaccompanied.
They are 12 and 13. They have cell phones too, which makes tracking them easily.

[Liberal_in_LA]

30. yes.

[seabeyond]

31. yes i would. i dont like tsa, but i would not worry about kid going thru. no worry about terrorism

and really not worried about maintenance.

we flew from fresno to SF for our 6th grade trip three decades ago. would have made me 10? didnt have tsa then

[Douglas Carpenter]

32. of course I would. Could something terrible happen? In absolute terms - of course.

Yes we do live in an unsafe world - one in which no one ever escapes alive. But realistically speaking the danger would be roughly comparable to driving them somewhere yourself for a weekend trip. Besides experiences like flying on a plane and especially visiting another country are all part of the kinds of experiences that opens minds and teaches them a little bit about how to deal with life. Frankly, I think it is really terrible when parent deny their kids these kind of opportunities based on fears of the things that are in absolute terms possible - but in rational and realistic terms, highly, highly, highly unlikely.

[Unvanguard]

33. I don't have children, but probably, yes. Driving is more dangerous. n/t

[Shandris]

34. I would if I could afford it.

One thing our 9th grade French class did every summer take a trip to France to practice using French in a native setting. Unfortunately, I didn't have the money to go, but it's a tradition that has been around for...going on 30 years now?

Although people are 'scared' of flying, and 'scared' of TSA screenings...eh. So someone gives you a pat search. I don't like the Constitutional implications of it, but as I've mentioned elsewhere, the spirit of the Constitution has been a carcass for quite a while. As for flying itself, it's every bit as safe as driving (moreso in fact). I refuse to live my life -- or to pass on to my children the desire to live THEIRS -- fearing something 'might' happen. That's foolish.

[Romulox]

35. Upper Middle Class people problems.

:rofl:

[quiller4]

36. Yes. I would. n/t

[GermanDem]

37. Of course!

The chances of a terrorist attack are much lower than e.g. the chances of getting into a car accident! My 13-year-old daughter went on a trip with her school to Italy last March. Everything went well! I gave her some cash, and a prepaid debit card, and reminded her to keep an eye on her passport at all times (a cross-body bag or belt is good for that). She had a blast! If your middleschooler is responsible, he/she should be just fine.

[TBF]

38. Sure - about the TSA

We flew from Houston to the midwest this summer and I hadn't flown for at least a year. The TSA did still ask us to remove shoes, but then I was allowed to walk through the old fashioned metal detector with my children (hubby was subjected to xray on flight out - he walked through metal detector with us on the way back). Admittedly we are white ... don't know if that has become standard procedure or not. It was absolutely no trouble and I would hope they would put a school group through the family line as well.

Obviously, as with all activities, I'd want to know who is supervising and that sort of thing - but I think I'd be ok with it at 14. My kids are under 10 now, but both have flown numerous times so it's old hat to them.

[RockaFowler]

39. Yes - as a kid who flew when I was in 9th grade

I flew to Washington DC back in the 80's when I was in 9th grade. We all felt safe until we were told that we couldn't go to the White House - Reagan had just bombed Lybia.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

40. Depends on what type of supervision they were providing.

My daughter did go on an international school trip when she was one year older than your child. Flying wasn't a concern for me, but who was going to be keeping an eye on her was a major concern. Once I felt comfortable with that aspect of it I didn't have any problems.

She made it through airport security with nothing more than a life lesson in wearing slip-ons.

As to the plane being poorly maintained, they're more likely to get hurt in a friends poorly maintained car.

As to the terrorism, far too remote a chance to be worth denying the child a life experience. They're more likely to be struck by lightening then they are to be a victim of terrorism. Also worth considering is if that's the kind of example you'd like to be setting for your kids? "No, you can't go on the school trip due to the remote possibility that a terrorist event may take place," may not have a real positive effect on the kids future.

[Bluenorthwest]

41. Of course, it will be the best thing for them ever.

Fear of travel is not something I can relate to at all. Not at all. I don't understand it.

[demwing]

42. Nationally - yes. Internationally, no.

Too far away, too many variables.

[GreenPartyVoter]

43. That's my feeling as well. His French is not very good and I'm a little concerned about him getting

separated from the group in a place where he barely speaks the language. (He feels similarly, so he hasn't asked to go on the French trip.) I'd love for him to go on the other trip, though, and it sounds like he really wants to. His Dad is being difficult, however. Not sure how to win him over, even though he knows the teacher, the chaperons, and every one of the kids involved. Like everyone else in this thread, I've brought up the point that driving is far more dangerous, but it doesn't seem to be getting through.

Hopefully, by the time the trip actually happens he will have gotten used to the idea! :D

[demwing]

45. If he cannot be swayed by transportation safety facts

then maybe transportation safety isn't the issue.

Ask him. You can't argue effectively if you don't know what you're arguing against. :)

Good Luck!

[Douglas Carpenter]

48. I think visiting France would be such a fantastic experience for someone that age.

I was 21 before I ever visited Paris. But I remember being just so blown away. I could feel nothing but envy for someone who that opportunity at an earlier age and nothing but vicarious disappointment if they were not able to go. Realistically and rationally, the danger factor is minimal.

[GreenPartyVoter]

50. The thing is he doesn't want to go on that trip, and I won't force him to. He does want to

go on the Florida trip, tho, and I support that but we're having trouble winning his dad over.

I am hoping that when he is a little older he will feel more comfortable with going to France (Or perhaps Germany. He's stated he would like to switch to German when he goes to high school.) :)

[BeHereNow]

44. Yes I did- my daughter flew to NZ and Australia when she was twelve

She went with a group from the Student Ambassador program
founded by Eisenhower. It was a tremendous experience for her.

I think it gave her a great deal of confidence and curiosity about the world.

Today, twelve years later, she is currently traveling on her own in Europe.
I think it is a good thing for young people to see the world and experience
other cultures.
We are far too protective of our kids in the US in some ways.
JMO-
BHN

[Shagbark Hickory]

46. Terrorism??? Poor plane maintenance???

This is America! :patriot: We don't allow terrorism. We don't allow poor plane maintenance.

[rebecca_herman]

47. Well, I don't have kids yet

My gut feeling right now says "no," but that may be based on the kind of 13/14 year old I was, who would not have been able to handle a trip like that and would not have wanted to go. My answer may change when/if I have kids with personalities that are different than mine was.

[Avalux]

49. My 9 year old daughter flew by herself about two weeks after 9/11.

She was interviewed in the airport by our local news; they asked if she was afraid to fly. She grinned and told them "NO".

So my answer - yes I would.