Schools

School Field Trips 'Excessive,' Morristown Board VP Says

Dr. Peter Gallerstein says trips are expensive and keep students out of school.

At Monday’s meeting the Morris School District Board of Education approved 1,150 field trips for the 2013-14 school year. That decision was made despite some vocal opposition by board vice president Dr. Peter Gallerstein.

“I just think 1,150 school trips is excessive. Excessive days away from school and excessive, excessive, excessive expense,” Gallerstein said.

The example that Gallerstein used to illustrate his point was a proposed trip to celebrity chef Mario Batali’s Eataly in New York City.

Find out what's happening in Morris Township-Morris Plainswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Eataly is billed as the largest artisanal Italian food and wine marketplace in the world. The marketplace located at 200 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.

“I just don’t see the purpose of busing the kids into Manhattan,” Gallerstein said. “I find this as an example so wasteful, so ridiculous and so costly.”

Find out what's happening in Morris Township-Morris Plainswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

When reminded that there is a budget for the field trips for each school being adhered to, Gallerstein was nonplussed.

“Just because you have a budget doesn’t mean you have to spend the budget,” Gallerstein said. “It seems to be like a virus that is getting worse not better.” 

Gallerstein said he would rather the students be taken to a local pizza place or delicatessen where the experience would be more authentic.

Beyond the number of trips planned and the expense of mounting those trips, Gallerstein took issue with the class time being taken away from the students.

“If I had a choice between all of them and none of them I would choose none of them,” Gallerstein said. “My perception is that is excessive and it is wasteful.”

Before the vote, board president Nancy Bangiola thanked Gallerstein for his comments and told him to vote his conscience when the roll was called. Gallerstein cast the lone dissenting vote, and the motion was carried.

Tell us: Do you think school field trips are a vital part of a child’s education? Or are they an expensive relic from a less connected age?



Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here