How lawyers have ruined field trips
Call me crazy, but I think the lawyers have ruined school field trips. I know the connection seems odd but bare with me.
My kindergarten twins came home today estatic about going on their first field trip. I must say I was excited for them too. Of course in order to go on the field trip, I as their "legal guardian" (not mother or father or parent) had to sign a permission slip. Or so I thought....no, this year we are signing 2 permission slips. The first was your run of the mill...I give permission for my child (write in child's name) to attend (fill in field trip details) on ....blah blah blah. Parent sign at bottom.
The next permisison slip took on a much more ominously sinister tone. It reads like a court ruling or an application to appear on a reality tv show. I will excerpt it below:
I expressly waive all claims for medical expenses, loss of services, or other claims, and I agree to indemnify and hold harmless the District, its Trustees, employees, and agents from all claims made against it or them on behalf of my child.
I agree to indemnify and hold harmless the District, its Trustees, employees, and agents from all claims made by third parties against it or them which result from my child's actions on the trip.
I understand that the District, its Trustees, employees, and agents are not waiving any sovereign or governmental immunity which it or they have under Texas law.
I have read and understood this release and sign it voluntarily and with full knowledge of its significance.
WHEW!!! I think I should consult a lawyer before signing this! Who ever heard of such nonsense? Where does this stuff come from?
Unscrupulous trial lawyers like John Edwards!
Because of their frivilous lawsuits, we now have to sign our child's health and very life away to attend a field trip. If the school district wasn't so afraid of being sued over a scrape on a child's knee, then ridiculous forms like this would never be required. In the past, if a child was seriously injured or harmed on a field trip, the school district would have no problem helping the families of the child financially, emotionally, and psychologically. Now however, because of abuse of the system, if a child is seriously injured on a field trip, they will legally receive nothing after signing this waiver. The harmed child and family will be treated no differently than the scraped-kneed crybaby. This is truly outrageous.
Of course, I could always not sign the waiver, deny my children their first field trip, and psychologically scar them for the rest of their life. I guess I will just sign their safety and life away instead.
Thank you John Edwards!