Eighth graders at Westborough’s Gibbons Middle School will take an evening cruise together in June.
The class “overwhelmingly” voted to have a Spirit of Boston evening cruise as its end of the year trip, School Superintendent Marianne O’Connor told the school committee Wednesday night.
The students chose this option over a Spirit of Boston day cruise or a trip to the Warren Center, O’Connor said.
The results were announced Tuesday, she said.
However, parents will receive information that the June 12 trip “is not a mini-prom,” O’Connor said.
“This is not a ‘girls dressed up and the boys dressed up.’ This is a casual affair for kids to come out,” she said.
“Everybody will be required to ride the bus, and everybody will be required to go home on the bus.”
Bubblicious
7:58 am on Friday, February 15, 2013
This is a poor substitute for the Washington, DC trip that has traditionally been held for 8th graders. What are they going to learn about how government works by taking a couple of loops around Boston harbor at night?
TBH
9:51 pm on Sunday, February 17, 2013
So the choices were a cruise or a cruise or hanging out at a conference center in Ashton? I can understand why it won, but I agree that it is a sad and questionable replacement for a trip that tied perfectly into 8th grade curriculum. This has no tie in whatsoever. The so called "8th grade experience" is a glorified dance.
bja
8:55 pm on Monday, February 18, 2013
"Overwhelmingly supported" was just over 50%. What about the other 50% of the students? This does not seem appropriate for a 8th grade experience. A dinner cruise on a school night?
TBH
11:59 am on Tuesday, February 19, 2013
This is termed in the tourist industry as a "booze cruise." And you are right...there are plenty of kids who will not be comfortable with this type of activity and will not go. This should be appropriate for all.