Field Trips

Is it just me, or are school field trips getting way out of hand? Remember back a few weeks, when the kids needed money to go see the bee movie? Well, today I am paying for boo to go to an interactive kid museum. $8. I can handle that. She will learn something.Yesterday, ryan brings home another form. The 6th grade is taking a day trip to atlanta, georgia. It's a good 4 hours away. (I live in SC) They will be going to the georgia aguarium, which will be cool. Then they'll do a scavenger hunt in the CNN studio. Again, pretty cool. Then they will visit the world of coca-cola museum. Not sure how this is educational, but still cool.The problem? It will cost $70!! I don't have that kind of money. We live on a very strict budget, and there isn't enough left for that kind of thing. I feel bad telling him he can't go, but what can I do? I can't be the only parent who can't afford it. Then there's the question of him being in atlanta. Is it really a good idea? I've heard it's not a nice place, that it has a high crime rate, lots of gangs. (if you live there, and I am wrong, I apologize from the bottom of my heart) Do I feel safe putting his life in the hands of teachers?What would you do?