Merseyside parents have weighed in on the row over expensive overseas school trips.
They spoke up after the ECHO reported some schools in Sefton are offering trips to destinations like Marbella, Iceland and Ghana at costs of up to £1,500 per child .
Some parents branded them as little more than an excuse for staff to go on holiday.
But others said they were all for the trips, saying no-one is forced to go on them.
Samantha Megan said: "What educational value is there a skiing trip? Or New York? They’re an excuse for the staff to go on holiday.
"What happened to a coach trips? Either here in the UK or across the Channel."
Andy Shute called the trips "scandalous", saying: "In this day and age it’s easy to visit any country in the world from a desktop. After all, the trips surely are about learning not luxury?"
Jane Eileen Rainey said: "I feel so sorry for the pupils that have no chance of going. It's so unfair."
Pam Dobbins said the price of some of the trips could pay "for the whole family to go on holiday".
She said: "My kids never went on big trips like this and they don't feel deprived as we had lots of holidays in our caravan. Something we couldn't have done if we'd paid for school trips."
Bid Maza said: "My son was offered a trip to the USA for football. It was ludicrous and I feel it was a vanity trip for the teachers. There is loads to be gained from trips not far from home. We gained loads from Colomendy."
Some parents used the topic to question the laws around taking kids out of school during term time.
Amanda Justine Newell said: "Last year I took my kids to Poland and visited the salt mines, Auschwitz and Birkenau, which my daughter was studying in school at the time.
"This was put down as unauthorised absence but the schools offer to take kids on skiing holidays? How educational is skiing? I am sure there are places [in England] you can go skiing? One rule for one and one rule for another."
Jenny Hobbs said: "The school can take the kids abroad charging over the odds, but [you] take the whole family abroad for the same price and you get a fine."
Michael Hore asked: "So let me get this straight... if you take your kids out of school during term time, when it's cheaper, you get a fine. But these schools can take them away at a huge cost and you're not even there to supervise? Screw that!"
Some parents, however, are all for the trips.
Danny Kirby said: "I think it's brilliant. Some kids will never leave this little island and the school are giving them a chance. Plus, it's not the school's fault if it costs that much."
Lorraine Ellis added: "It's a choice! You don't have to send your kid, you choose to. Just like we all choose how to spend our money."
Sarah Shaw said: "My daughter is off skiing for a week for £900. I wouldn't be able to afford to go with her and my son so I'm glad she has the opportunity to go with school and make memories with friends that will last a life time.
"I am a single mum of two and I have just cut back on luxuries and Christmas to make sure she can go. I don't think schools should stop these opportunities."
Kayleigh Waldron said: "Trips are about enhancing the curriculum and providing an experience for students that they may not be able to experience otherwise."
Kelly Newman said: "My daughter went to South Africa, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity at £2400 for two weeks. I was shocked at first but you could sort a payment plan."
Charlene Sambrook "My son is going to Italy skiing for £900, with accommodation, lessons, etc, included. I'm paying in instalments, it might be tight, but it's doable."
