answer:When I was a kid, they were breaks in the monotony and nothing more. Sure, we went to the Museum of Science or the New England Aquarium. But I already went there with my mom – and when I was there with her, I had the time to really explore and learn/experience. With a class full of annoying classmates, it really was an exercise in patience. “Really, Scott? You’ve never seen a f*cking shark before?” “Chris, why are you banging on the glass right below the sign that says, ‘Don’t bang on glass!’?” As an adult, I am tempted to think of these field trips as opportunities to learn and experience, but I honestly believe they are just a fun (or not so fun) treat for the kids.