Does your school have a policy on the ratio of chaperones to students such as 5:1, 10:1? My fifth grade son was recently on a field trip to a big museum in Philadelphia with 60 kids and 6 adults. Four were teachers/aides and 1 was a parent and the other a (young) granparent. I was beside myself when I found out because I knew there were 10 parents that said they were interested in going, from just one class. Field trips are extremely popular parent participation-wise at our school.

Because of this we're thinking of proposing a policy requiring a certain ratio of chaperones. Our PTA paid for the admission and a portion of the transportation costs - 2 chartered busses. Our PTA has never questioned how chaperones were picked before or even where the field trips are or where they go but I think it's time for a change. What does your school do?