Hi Heather:
I think field trips should be mandatory. They offer so much and can't be duplicated in the classroom, yet they can have so much impact on students.
They can inspire and motivate like no other activity. For some, they can visualize (maybe for the first time) themselves achieving something worthwhile and earning a good living. For many, that's a powerful inner drive, that can even make students wirk harder in class as a result.
Regards, Barry
