I can't understand how 124 pairs of parents, or more if you consider step-parents, grandparents, etc., could have all collectively lost their judgment and condoned, even tacitly, such a foolhardy trip. I suppose as the story continues we will see more details of how the trip was "sold" to the parents by the students, who if anybody was in charge, what if any were the rules or guidelines and penalties, etc.
Millions of kids go on senior trips and nothing bad happens. That doesn't make the news, however. And most of these "kids" were 17 or 18. They are really young adults.
Starting when my children were quite young, I took them to the beach every year for spring break. We always went to the same quiet beach that didn't attract boisterous teenagers. The practice was family tradition we all enjoyed.
The year they turned 16 and 17, they asked if we could go to Panama City Beach where all their friends would be. Several mothers and I booked rooms at the same hotel and watched these kids like hawks. This past spring, at 18 and 19, they asked to go with their friends, and more importantly, without me. I struggled with it for a while, thought about the quality of their raising, and finally agreed. Believe it or not, those youngins called me every couple of hours. I probably spoke to them more during those five days than in a normal week.
Granted Panama City Beach, FL is not Aruba, but at some point we have to trust our children to act responsibly and allow them to go places on their own.
I know that as a teen I would have begged to go on a trip like this. But now, 25 years later, I know nothing good could come from it.
It seems to me that it's a very bad practice to "reward" kids for graduating high school with cars or trips, when they've only done what they're supposed to do, and they have yet to contribute anything to society.