Can public schools take field trip to ark park?

[TexasTowelie]

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Responding to a group's warning to public schools against field trips to the new Noah's Ark theme park in Grant County, Kentucky Education Commissioner Stephen Pruitt said Monday that approval of field trips is a decision of local school boards but that such trips should be directly related to curriculum.

Pruitt posted his advice on the Department of Education's website Monday, days after the Freedom From Religion Foundation sent letters to about 1,300 public school districts in Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia and Tennessee that said in part, "Taking public school students to a site whose self-professed goal is to convert children to a particular religion and undermine what is taught in public school science and history classrooms would be inappropriate."

Pruitt said in his "Commissioner's Monday Message" on the department website that several superintendents have asked for guidance in response to the letter.

Pruitt said it is not appropriate for "outside third parties to dictate field trip selections." He likewise said it is not his department's role approve specific trips or to issue blanket denials or approvals of destinations. Such decisions, he said, are made at the school level with final approval by the local school board.

Read more: http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/2016/07/12/can-public-schools-take-field-trip-ark-park/87002910/

[apcalc]

1. If you prepare students to think critically

Discuss errors, misinformation, incorrect information, etc, it could be a valuable lesson in the dangers of propaganda.

[TexasTowelie]

2. I do see a useful purpose for discussion of the religious story

and how it can be contrasted with the "great flood" stories present in other religions. As long as there is an emphasis on comparative religion rather than indoctrination, it might be a useful trip for older students. I'd be wary of sending students in lower grades there though.