Published: January 13, 2008 12:05 am            

School trip to the Jackson Zoo

On Nov. 29, 2007, my daughter attended a field trip with her school "Clarkdale Attendance Center" and 7th Grade classmates. These children are 12 and 13 years old. Three teachers who went on the trip were listed on the permission slip as chaperones for the day.

I was shocked when I learned these children were allowed to roam the zoo unattended while the teachers walked together. Does everyone know who the workers are? They are inmates, let out for the day to work. Did anyone see the news about the tiger that escaped his cage at a zoo and killed a boy? I guess animals do jump out of their cages and get people!

When lunch time came, a group of children, my child being one of those children, were dropped off at McDonald's and all three chaperones left with another group of children to eat down the street. What if one of these children had been kidnapped? Choked? Or gotten in a fight? Is this not the reasoning behind having chaperones? To ensure the safety of our children?

In my opinion, these teachers had no right to take a chance with lives that do not belong to them. Our children's lives were put in danger that day and by teachers whom our children are with every day. Ask your children questions ... you may be surprised at the answers!



Sincerely,

Helen Gilmore

        

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