Travel Blog

On a school excursion, your whole class represents your school. Especially when you, as a teacher, are taking your students abroad, rules are crucial. On an exchange or home stay program, they are even more important as teachers may not see their students for a few days.

To help teachers with the preparation for an upcoming overseas school tour, we share our ‘Code of Conduct’ here on our blog. Your school may have their own code of conduct, but we highly recommend to ask students and parents or guardians to accept the following basic behaviour rules.

CODE OF CONDUCT

While on the (school excursion / educational tour / student exchange), you represent your school as well as Exchange Me.
The following behaviour is expected throughout the duration of the program.

ON PLANES

A flight involves hundreds of people in a confined space over many hours. It is not difficult to upset others. Therefore, the following points need to be kept in mind:

• Show respect and consideration for fellow passengers.
• Avoid loud, attention seeking behaviour.
• Avoid excessive movement around the plane.
• During quiet times on the flight, make sure you are quiet especially at night when lights are dimmed.
• Don’t overburden flight attendants with requests – be sensible when ordering food and drink.
• At airport terminals, you MUST keep your luggage with you at all times.

ON BUSES

• Treat drivers with respect. We will rely on them for our comfort and safety.
• Avoid loud, attention seeking behaviour. Noise will distract the driver.
• Movement out of seats is dangerous and illegal.
• The bus should be left clean and tidy.

AWARENESS OF OTHERS

• You may visit places of historic, cultural or religious significance. Respect the beliefs and traditions of others and behave appropriately.
• Loud comments or inappropriate gestures are unacceptable and insensitive.

ALCOHOL, DRUGS, SMOKING

• These are unacceptable at any time while on tour. By signing on for a tour you agree NOT to smoke, take illegal and non-prescribed drugs or to drink alcohol during the tour.

The punishment for not following this rule will result in putting teachers and chaperones in the undesirable position of having to send you home.

HOME STAY

During the home stay, all participants must behave in a civil and polite manner with the host family and show respect for both the host family and the cultural habits of the country. It is expected that while on home stay, the students

• Do not go out without the permission of the host family
• Advise the host family of their activities – where they will be, with whom and
  when they will return home
• Always remain in the company of the host sister and the host family except for programmed activities
• Do not drive any motor vehicle including mopeds
• Attend school and all lessons and will not leave the school grounds, under any circumstances, during school hours
• Do not invite friends to the host family’s home without prior consent of the host family
• Do not make private phone calls using the host family’s home phone or internet without permission

(School / Exchange Me) will not be held responsible for any participant that does not abide by this code of conduct and holds the right to terminate their participation in the program. In such an eventuality, parents will be responsible for all costs incurred.

Student’s acceptance

I accept the code of conduct and conditions given by (School / Exchange Me).

Student’s name: ………………………………………………………..……

Signature: ……………………………………………………………………….               Date: ……………………………………

Parent’s acceptance

I confirm that I understand and agree to the above conditions and have discussed the code of conduct with my daughter / son. I understand that should my child not abide by the rules, (School / Exchange Me) shall not be held responsible under any circumstances. I understand that I will be responsible for all costs incurred.

Parent’s name: ………………………………………………………………

Signature: ……………………………………………………………………….               Date: ……………………………………

Let us know how your school is going with the tour preparations. If you have any questions, please get in touch!