By PAT NEWMAN
pnewman@thecitizennews.com

No more overnight field trips for Fayette County students? Not so, says Stuart Bennett, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction.

A persistent rumor concerning the demise of overnight trips was laid to rest last week by schools officials who claim that there was no truth to the matter.

“I've heard nothing about it,” said Dr. John DeCotis, superintendent of Fayette County schools. Bennett added that there has been discussion among school administrators about field trips, especially in the way the excursions are linked to curriculum. For instance, a three-night trip to Washington, D.C., traditionally taken by seventh graders, might be better suited for eighth graders, Bennett explained. “That's when they take Georgia history and American history.”

Field trip requests have come under close scrutiny this year, according to Bennett. “We only have the students 180 days and we want to make the most of them,” he said.

The rumor came to the media's attention last week when Debbie Matthews of Fayetteville wrote a letter to the editors of two local papers expressing concern over the possible elimination of field trips. The letter is reprinted in the Opinion section in this issue. Matthews said she took the letter route after trying unsuccessfully to get through on the telephone to school administrators on other issues.

“I also wanted parents to know how wonderful these trips are,” she said. Matthews recently accompanied her child, who is a student at Whitewater Middle School on a trip to Washington, D.C.

As of last September, a list of general requirements for school field trips, approved by the school board in the spring of 1998, was reissued to school principals in the form of a memo from Bennett, who receives all field trip requests.

A list of pre-approved activities that is geared to elementary and middle school schools by grade and curriculum exists for teachers to use. Trips not included on the list must be requested on a special “long form” and receive approval by a group called the school leadership committee.

The third guideline explains that the number of field trips per school is calculated by the number of certified teachers at the school. Elementary teachers are allowed two field trips a year, and students may take no more than four, including overnights.

Middle school teams or “special area” teachers have two trips and, in special circumstances, three. There are no overnight trips for students in kindergarten through third grade.

In-county trips, no more than three hours in duration, don't count in the recommended tally. All high school field trips must be approved according to a special set of guidelines, to avoid students missing valuable classroom instruction.

Those requirements state that the experience must be unique and cannot be duplicated in school or any other time during the school day. It must be related to and enhance curriculum. Trips cannot be offered as rewards and if possible should relate to more than one area of instruction.