Can a teacher just decide to take a field trip without permission from the school?
For many teachers, organizing a field trip is a fun and educational experience for their students. But what happens when a teacher plans a field trip without school board approval? In this blog post, we discuss a case in which a teacher went to the Efteling without permission and the result: summary dismissal.
Teacher's rash decision
A teacher at an elementary special education school in Amsterdam-Zuidoost wanted to offer her students a special experience by taking them to the Efteling amusement park. However, the school board had other plans and thought the trip was too expensive. Instead, the principal suggested taking the children to the Space Expo in Noordwijk. However, the teacher did not listen to the principal's instructions and, despite the objections, decided to go to the Efteling with her students and an outside chaperone on March 10. The costs were covered by the outside chaperone, and the trip was conducted in two vans.
The lie and the discovery
After the trip, the teacher wrote in the school newsletter about the trip made to the Space Expo. However, the truth soon came to light when it turned out that one of the vans had been fined for speeding on the A2 toward the Efteling. This led to an investigation by the school, which revealed that the teacher had lied about the destination of the trip.
Reasons for summary dismissal
The teacher stated that she wanted to give the children from "underprivileged families" a nice surprise, but the school showed little sympathy for her decision. According to the school, the visit to the Efteling was not educationally sound and posed a danger to the children's safety. Moreover, the school's insurance might not have covered damages if something had gone wrong. Given the situation, the school decided to summarily dismiss the teacher.
Judge rules: dismissal was justified
The teacher appealed the dismissal and went to court. However, the judge ruled that the dismissal was justified. The teacher had taken unacceptable risks by taking the children to an amusement park without permission, which could have led to serious consequences for the safety of the students. The dismissal was therefore upheld.
Conclusion: the consequences of not following school rules
This case highlights the importance of following the rules and instructions given by the school, especially when it comes to student safety. Even though the teacher had good intentions, the risks of her actions were too great. The judge in this case correctly ruled that the immediate dismissal was justified.
This blog was written by Mr. Stijn Blom, employment lawyer at Arbeidsadvocaat.nl B.V. Stijn has extensive experience in employment law and assists entrepreneurs daily with a wide range of employment-related matters. From dismissal cases to drafting watertight contracts and policies – with his practical and personal approach, he helps employers and employees move forward. Want to know more?Visit Stijn's page.
Arbeidsadvocaat.nl is happy to think with you if you have questions about dismissal law. Please feel free to contact us .
April 2025
