I'm not far from DC.
My oldest's 3rd grade class is taking a field trip to DC in June. I don't want him to go. It's a 2 hour drive and they will be walking around the Smithsonian museums (we've been as a family).
My reasons for not wanting him to go are - 1) 2 hour ride there and back on a school bus, not safe; 2) hundreds of kids with only hand fulls of adults, not safe; 3) he does not listen to ALL of instruction, he listens to the first 1/2 and misses the rest; 4) I can't go b/c siblings are not allowed on field trips (country rule, it's why I don't do more); 5) IT'S DC and we see the news from there every night and 6) I fear the worse when it comes to our nations capitol and it's safety on a daily basis.

Oh, I know that didn't help. Schools make DC a field trip all the time, from all over the country and they are fine. I don't think I could have let my child go though.