The nation was shocked and saddened when news broke out about a young student who was hit by a bus during a Field Trip.  It was supposedly a happy day for the student; she was simply enjoying the sights and taking picture.  It was supposedly a good working day for the driver; he thought he was just doing his job.

Now, there is a buzz that the Department of Education is being pressured by different sectors to ban field trips altogether.  Is this a good move?  I personally don’t agree.   Educational Field Trips are windows to learning, if planned and implemented well. Although most teaching and learning (lectures, notes, seatwork, reporting, exam) are done inside the classroom, this is not enough.  Some important, practical and memorable insights may happen outside of the campus.  For instance, a local Field Trip to a nearby bank hooked one of my Grade 2 pupils to regularly deposit money for his savings, after his Math Club teacher brought the class to teach them to open an account.  Another example is when a Korean student approached me teary-eyed after watching the Light and Sound Show in the Malinta Tunnel in Corregidor, telling me that finally she understood Philippine History.

The possibilities to learning are endless. To the pessimists however, the possibilities of dangers are endless as well.  What if there’s a storm?  What if they get stranded?  What if my child gets lost? What if there’s an accident?  And so on.  There will always be risks to be taken.  The job of the educators is be aware of these risks to be able to prevent and handle possible scenarios.  Here are some things to do before a Field Trip.

1. Plan the Field Trip well.  Ensure that the field trip is indeed educational.  Plan for venues that will really give your students utmost learning experience.  Let them be able to connect it with the lessons being discussed in class.  Museums, science centers and theaters are usually the top picks.
2. Do Ocular Visit.  It is not enough to look for venues in the internet and immediately decide, This is good.  It should be a requirement that a teacher or a school representative conduct an ocular visit prior to the trip, so that immediately the school sees its appropriateness, distance, convenience and safety.
3. Sit down with transportation operators.  The school should meet with the bus operators and drivers to talk about itinerary, destination and safety.  A contract should be drafted which would include guidelines, reminders and proper behavior of their drivers.  Even the speed limit should be stipulated.
4. Check the weather.  Storm/rain warnings should be noted.  The school should have special arrangements with the Field Trip venues (for reimbursement, consideration, etc.) in case the trip is cancelled due to bad weather.
5. Assign able proctors.  There should be enough proctors – teachers, staff, security guards, nurse – present during the Field Trip.  Each proctor should have students under her/his care which he/she will monitor regularly and be with constantly.
6. Assign buddies.  Students should also be assigned buddies.  A student should not go anywhere or do anything with or without his/her buddy.
7. Conduct orientation.  All participants – students, parents, teachers – should have an orientation before the Field Trip.  Guidelines, policies, itinerary, contact numbers in case of emergency should be thoroughly discussed.  A reply slip/waiver saying that the parent allowed his/her child to go must also be collected.
8. Process the event.  In the end, the whole trip should be processed and discussed.  The teachers should help gather from the students significant information and realizations from the trip.  This may turn out to be a very enriching experience for them; and a very rewarding one for the school.