Parent Questioning Free School Trip Sparks Outrage, Deletes Post; Teacher Snaps: 'Wouldn't Go Even If Paid'

A parent anonymously posted on the Facebook group 'Grade 1 Alliance,' questioning why teachers didn't charge students for participating in an off-campus field trip, stating it felt 'unreasonable' and that 'students were footing the bill.' The post immediately drew heavy criticism from netizens and teachers. The original poster (OP) quickly deleted the post, but screenshots had already gone viral on platforms like Threads, sparking heated discussions. Numerous frontline teachers commented, sharing their experiences and emphasizing that field trips are not outings for them but rather 'high-pressure business trips.' One teacher stated, 'Normally, I only need to manage one classroom at school, but outside, I have to keep an eye on dozens of children who could run off at any moment. My nerves are on edge from the moment we gather until we return to school, and I even have to calculate the time for bathroom breaks.' Another homeroom teacher angrily retorted, 'If parents can find someone else, I'll give you 600 yuan (approx. $20) for three days as my teacher fee, so don't bother looking,' expressing a preference to work in the office that day. Regarding the cost concerns, some teachers clarified that transportation, entrance fees, insurance, and accommodation for accompanying teachers are covered by the school's administrative budget or specific funds, and are not borne by the students. Some teachers also pointed out that when school budgets are insufficient, homeroom teachers may even have to pay out of pocket or sacrifice their regular class time to cover for the trip, leading to extreme mental and physical exhaustion. Following the incident, many netizens lamented that school field trips have become a 'lose-lose-lose' activity where 'students want them abolished, parents find them expensive, and teachers are exhausted,' with many saying, 'Forget free, I wouldn't go even if you paid me.' It's no wonder teachers are becoming fewer and education is declining. The number of 'dinosaur parents' and problematic students is increasing, while mechanisms to protect teachers are pitifully scarce 😑