Is the teacher right?

Question

A fifteen-year-old girl tells her teacher she wants cotton candy while on a class trip. And when the teacher says no, the girl gets upset and says she wants it. The teacher quietly tells her, And I said no. So, stop with your attitude or you' ll go sit on the bench." The girl only gets angrier and more confused. So the teacher pulls her away from the immediate surroundings, looks directly into her eyes and firmly tells her, "Stop this behavior right now! If you continue with this behaviorI will send you back to the bus , do you understand me!?" The girl nods her head and says "Yes." And the teahcer says , "Good. Now, stay with our group and behave yourself." The student did, but was confused that her chaperone wouldn't let her buy cotton candy. Was the teacher right to do that? I know she meant well by stopping the tantrum, but what was so horrible about the girl wanting cotton candy. I mean it was a class trip. There was nothing wrong with asking her chaperone if she can go buy cotton candy. It's not like she was in school and asked for candy during class. Then I could see the teacher saying no. But on a class trip that's supposed to be fun for the students? What are your opinions?

Answer 1

There may have been a rule that they were not going to buy anything on the field trip. I have been on several field trips where this was this case. I think that the teacher was right in what she did. Now, you may have a case if the other students were allowed to buy things and this child was not. But, you didn't say this.

Answer 2

When I take my students on trips they are not allowed to bring money and chaperone's are asked not to buy things for the kids.  The reason is to make it fair for all- the teacher probably didn't want the girl to have cotton candy because then all the other students would want some too...

The teacher would have never actually sent the girl back to the bus- it was an empty threat (which she probably shouldn't have done)

Answer 3

I agree with Marvinator.

Answer 4

as do i agree with Marvinator.

Answer 5

Tantrum aside, the teacher has brought the students there for the experience and yes, EDUCATION.  To say to one student "Yes" to cotton candy takes away from that experience and draws the attention of those others who may also want candy as well as those who do not thus changing the direction the trip is supposed to go. CANDY is not the reason they were there, so saying NO makes more sense to the scope of the trip.

And yes, since the field trip is sanctioned by the school, it can be considered as being part of school and is therefore EXACTLY like asking for cotton candy during class.

Answer 6

This is a school field trip, therefore the kids are there for the educational experience. Yes, it's supposed to be fun, but that doesn't mean that the kids get to do whatever they want. They are still under the supervision of the teacher, and being a school sponsored event must follow all school rules even when off campus.

I have a question for you: Why does this girl not take no for an answer the first time? Do her parents always give in to her if she keeps asking? She needs to learn to respect adult authority figures. Why is she having a tantrum at age 15? She sounds spoiled to me.

Answer 7

I think more information is needed.  

1.  Had the girl been asking for things the whole trip?

2.  Would the teacher have to detain the whole group while this one girl went to buy candy?

3.  Was the vender near or was it away from the group?

4.  Were they on a strict time schedule and had to move on?

We don't everything that was going on at the time.  Teachers have a big responsibility and I wouldn't want to pass judgment without knowing all the facts.

Answer 8

What is the big deal that the girl didn't get cotton candy.  The teacher has to have complete control for a variety of reasons.  Perhaps the teacher saw the trip to get cotton candy as taking too much time in a busy schedule.  Also, if the one girl gets cotton candy, won't there be others who want it too?  Of course there will.  This takes time and maybe that time wasn't available.  Also, if the girl leaves the group, other kids may follow without permission and this creates a dangerous situation for the teacher and the kids.  Sometimes the student doesn't need to understand the reason why the teacher made the decision she did.

My second reaction, is what a brat having a fit at 15 years old over a little treat she couldn't have.  Grow up for heaven's sake.

Answer 9

I agree. One student asking to leave the group to buy candy can get complicated for the chaperon. 1) If one girl buys candy, then ALL the kids will want to stop and buy candy. This will waste time and be a distraction for the group. 2) Depending on where the candy stand was, it could be dangerous for one student to wander away from the group (even if she is 15). She could become separated from the group.

From your description, it seems like both the teacher and the student were out of line. The student got disrespectful and the teacher got angry. But as long as the teacher didn't physically grab, push, etc. the student, she was within her authority as a group leader.

If this was you, next time just shrug it off and enjoy the field trip. Cotton candy isn't worth all that drama! ;)