Skip to content

PHPS bans field trips to Europe, Asia, Africa and Middle East until August 2018

Pembina Hills Public Schools (PHPS) trustees approved a two-year ban on all international field trips by students to Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East during their Oct.

Pembina Hills Public Schools (PHPS) trustees approved a two-year ban on all international field trips by students to Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East during their Oct. 11 meeting, though trips within North America, Central America, South America and Australia will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Trustees also passed a motion to inform Barrhead Composite High School (BCHS) that a trip to France for the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge in April of 2017 will not be going ahead.

Trustees had sought the expert opinion of Kevin Cameron, executive director of the Canadian Centre for Threat Assessment and Trauma Response, before making a final decision. “Unfortunately, we still have not been able to connect with him and receive that information,” said Supt. Colleen Symyrozum-Watt.

Nonetheless, administration had compiled an extensive report on the risk of travelling internationally and recommended making a decision that day.

“We want to make sure teachers …. do not (plan to go to) a place that the board may or may not consider travel to in the future,” Symyrozum-Watt added.

She said all field trips, international or not, come with a degree of risk. “When the risks are known and understood, we can plan to account for those risks in such a way that safety can be sustained and the activity pursued.”

However, the question of allowing international travel in 2016 has been impacted by the rise of ISIS. Unlike other terrorist organizations … ISIS has established itself as a nation, with managed territories, cities and armies,” Symyrozum-Watt added.

The Government of Canada itself states that anyone travelling to France should exercise a high degree of caution, especially if attending sporting events, religious holiday celebrations and other public festivities.

The federal government also notes that in the wake of terrorist attacks, French authorities intiated a state of emergency in November of 2015 wherein they could impose curfews, restrict traffic and conduct police raids.

“Uncertainty about …potential acts of terrorism makes risk management much more complex,” Symyrozum-Watt said.

“Supervision under these conditions is considerably more difficult and significantly increases the responsibility and stress of supervising teachers. It’s simply more difficult to avoid random and uncertain risk.”

While students may lose some of the money they put ahead of the trip, Symyrozum-Watt said participants’ financial commitment are not the board’s direct responsibility.

In the end, administration’s recommendation was to suspend all international trips to Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia until August of 2018, at which time the conditions for travel will be reviewed again.

Trips to locations in North America, Central America, South America and Australia will continue to be considered based on the criteria set out in Administrative Procedure 60-03.

Trustee Annette Bokenfohr said she was in favour of administration’s recommendation as written, noting the risks were the same with the Guatemala trip when they approved it but the risks of going to France were significantly greater.

“I’m very sad to say that students can’t go to Vimy, France. I think that would have been a wonderful educational opportunity,” she said. “Even though I am so for these kids taking these trips … I in good conscience cannot send kids there.”

Trustee Sheri Watson also spoke in favour of the ban, noting she had previously fought to allow international trips again after Pembina Hills had previously instituted a restriction last November.

Trustee Jackie Comeau wondered if a blanket ban to Europe was too extreme, noting that places like Iceland hold far less risk. “There’s not, as far as I’ve ever heard, any (risk of a) terrorist attack there,” she said.

However, trustee Judy Lefebvre said they have to consider the educational value of field trips, and she preferred leaving the administration’s recommendation as is.

She added, “I think leaving it like this is a better move for us than trying to decide what parts of Europe or what parts of Africa or what parts of Asia could be considered safe.”

Board Jennifer Tuininga said she appreciated the research that had been done here. “I agree with trustee Bokenfohr in that the Vimy trip sounds fantastic, but I am not comfortable with sending students there,” she added.

There was also some discussion whether the board should “strongly recommend” to schools to keep trips confined to Canada, but the board ultimately decided against it.

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks