Mandatory Field Trip?

Hi, I am in a choir at my High School. I was originally going to participate in the annual choir trip as I did Sophomore and Junior Year. But they there was a lot of drama in choir after we made the first payment, and everyone has turned against me, and on top of that the choir director has always been a real pervert towards me. Also, I live with my Grandma, who has only social security as an income, and she was going to pay for the trip. My work isn't giving me many hours and I have to pay $125 a month for car insurance.

Anyway, after we made the first payment, the drama happened like I said, and we realized that it would be a lot smarter to use the $800 towards my car insurance [leaving me a $37.50 payment for the rest of the year].

A week and a half ago, my Grandma contacted the lead of the choir's money, and at that time she said there was no problem and she's give us our money back. Today, my Grandma called because we had not received a refund yet. The lady then said that we could not get our money back without me dropping choir.

Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE singing, but I can't [and don't want to] go on the trip. But I either have to go on the trip, or not be in choir, meaning I dont sing in the graduation ceremony.

Can they legally make me pay or drop choir? I'm going to talk to the school tomorrow, so if I could get any and all help ASAP I'd really appreciate it..

I am going on a choir trip this year too, and they flat out told us at the beginning that there was no refund. But if they told you they would give you a refund, then they can't just take it back.. Why would they make you drop out of choir? That's ridiculous, and to me it sounds like your director doesn't care about their students at all.

No he has had it in for me from day one. Tomorrow morning before choir I am going to talk to him about getting a refund. If he cooperates, I wont have to go to his superiors. However, if he makes me go to them, i will bring up the many inappropriate remarks he has made.

For example: the first day of school i went back as a blonde [i had black hair before], and he said to me "wow you got hot, want a date?" jokingly, but inappropriate nontheless. also, he has made comments about how girls need to "stick our chests out" and how some have nothing to show. and he also makes fun of religions, mostly mormons though.

If he cooperates, i will willingly leave that aside as i have done all this time, though he SHOULD be brought to justice. but if he doesn't, he asked for it.

and apparently he'll make me drop out because i signed something at the beginning of the year that i'll participate fully in choir...blah blah blah. but if i cant go, i cant go...

Well if I were you I would drop out by choice, rather than him forcing me. Him as a teacher sounds like a joke, and I personally wouldn't want anything to do with someone like that. It would ruin the thing that I love, which is singing. He sounds like a very offensive person to me, as a choir student, a female, and someone who is LDS (Mormon).

He has pushed all of my buttons.

This is odd, I was in a situation like you but i got my 507 dollars back, and i did drop the class, not a suggestion, but it may be smart in your case

I was in singing lessons for 13.5 years until a few months ago i quit because we couldn't afford it anymore. its not a private school, its 800 to go on a trip.

anyway, i was going to talk to him today, he was home sick. bah, so hopefully he's there tomorrow...or else i guess i'll talk to him monday.

and i'm not blackmailing him. i'm just saying that if he DOESNT cooperate then i am going to bring up certain remarks he's made in the past, i wasn't telling him "give me the money or i tell of the sexual harassment!" lol...

Well, me and grandma decided not to bother talking to him first, so this morning she called the school to make an appt, but when she told them what it was about, they said the vide principal would look into it. they didnt believe us that he said that, so they made gma call to confirm and he said "you bet i said that" and so now they're investigating because its against the law for him to take our money..thank you guys..i was afraid to do it until i saw all of your responses..if this doesn't get locked i'll keep you updated...

Another update! the dean of students called my grandma while i was out with my best friend today, and he told her that i WILL get my money back and that he can't make me drop the class. it's against the law. but now i have to write a 18-20 page report =| that really sucks. i dont know how i can get what i have to say last 18 pages...

I'm glad you get your money back and that you get to stay in the class. Sorry to hear about the report, but I wish you good luck with it. :)

That's what I thought, thah it would be against the law for u NOT to get ur $$$ back

I just found out the report isnt for the office or anything..its an assignment given to me by my choir director so that i dont get a 0 in the class. and its aparently a report on whatever topic he chooses. so im pissed about that. but whatever....lol..at least i get my money. thanks again guys

Haha, yeah. That's usually what I do when I have a long paper to write. x]

Haha yeah thats what i was planning to do. =p its just annoying that i have to do it..but hey, something for me to do next weekend at saturday school, which was also for a stupid reason [i was 2 hours away on sunday and my car broke down and i didnt get it fixed and home until monday night, and that is unexcused..sigh..] lol. ah the joys of school, huh? 3 and a half months until its over...or at least high school =p