It's Snowing, So What!

[DangerUXD]

Most of the schools are out! What has happenned to society? I can't remember ever having a day off school due to weather. When the heating broke we had lessons in our coats! Is this some sort of health and safety effect?

[sophie_1003]

Actually; we'll be expected to make up the time out of our INSET days so not exactly a 'bonus day off'.
I don't mind delays it's the lethal conditions I don't like. I'm not going to risk my safety for one days work.
So what parents' have to deal with schools being closed? Schools are there to provide education not a babysitting service.

[Prudie]

Bloody hell Joe you're at your idle teachers again. Schools close at a hint of snow to stop the risk of parents suing them and the country up in arms if they have an accident while travelling in/out.

[sherrardk]

God grief, you moan about everything. The teachers don't shut the schools (expect they would be shut more often if that was the case). And if you want 13 weeks holiday, work in a school. We are just getting some extreme weather and the powers that be decide to shut schools to keep the kids safe on the roads and because the pupil teacher ratio would be below what is permitted if some staff can't get into school (teachers don't tend to live so close to where they work these days due to the fact that they don't want the scroats that they teach knowing where they live or bumping in to them on their own time).

[joeluke]

gness.....'My contract required me to report to my nearest school if weather conditions prevented me attending my own school.'

That sounds like an excellent idea, wonder why the authorities don't implement it nowadays?

Parents are fined if they take their kids out of school to go on holiday out of term time because it affects the kids' education but unnecessary school closures due to a bit of snow affect kids' education too but that's fine huh?

[Sparkles62]

I went to a little old church school, can't ever remember it closing for anything, when it snowed, we walked to school in our wellies and took our slippers to wear in the classroom.
Was a right rigmarole when you needed the loo, cos they were outside, on the far side of the yard. Out of your slippers, into your wellies, coat on and trudge across the yard, reverse it all when you got back, then try and defrost by the fire when you got back.

[sherrardk]

Pay the fine and take them (I don't agree that it affects their education that much - think it just teachers making up rules, who are a bit jealous that they can't go on holiday in term time). Would be pointless for some kids to show up on a snowy day with just some of the teachers there, nothing would be achieved. It is safer for them to stay homes, agree it is hard for parents but some teachers might have to stay home to look after their kids who might be off school because of the snow.

[sophie_1003]

How will it affect their education if the days are made up from training days when they otherwise wouldn't have been in? They can't make the days up from unauthorised holidays (or authorised ones for that).
That report to your nearest school thing is still in place in some LAs but I think the logistics of it make it more difficult than it's worth. Also when I was doing supply having someone to talk to who vaguely knew the kids was a godsend; can't imagine turning up to a school full of teachers who didn't know the school or children!

[sophie_1003]

Agree there sherrard! So glad I'm in nursery so can just tell the parents that they won't get in trouble if they take their child on holiday in term time!

[joeluke]

Sophie......'I'm not going to risk my safety for one days work.'

You've rather shot yourself in the foot with that comment I'm afraid, and actually proved my point about teachers taking the easy 'it's snowing so I'm not going in' option.

What would happen if everyone in employment had that attitude??? Then the country really would grind to a halt

[Prudie]

Thousands of people have had the day off or been sent home early today. Did you have a bad time in your schooldays? you've really got a thing about teachers.

[sophie_1003]

Good; would rather the country grind to a halt for one day than people risked their safety going in to work.

[joeluke]

sherrard.......'Would be pointless for some kids to show up on a snowy day with just some of the teachers there'

Hardly pointless - kids would not miss any lessons and working parents wouldn't have to suddenly take days holiday/unpaid day off/arrange childcare at short notice

It has a major knock on effect

[starone]

Some people go on thank goodness. The chiropodist turned up, and the milkman.

[sherrardk]

With Sophie on this one (teaching is thankless enough, without risking your life to actually get there). Lots of teachers travel 20 - 30 miles to work, would think that's quite unusual. Would have thought that most (not all) people work quite local to where they live. Stands to reason they would be less likely to travel if they don't know if they are going to get home. Last place I worked had maybe 90+ teaching staff and at least 90% lived over 20 miles away. Maybe it's different in teaching. What do you for a living Joe?

[DaisyNonna]

When teaching in a special school in Bradford I trekked with other teachers three miles through the snow to open the school so the pupils would be sure of getting a cooked meal at lunch time. No pupils. Special buses to bring the children in were cancelled. Stop putting all the blame on teachers.

[sherrardk]

The teachers wouldn't teach the lessons if a substantial number of students were absent. Know it's tough for working parents but organised working parents should have a plan for things like snow days (they're your kids - schools aren't baby sitters).

[sophie_1003]

joeluke have you ever worked with children, had children or even been a child?? Getting kids to concentrate on anything when there is something as exciting as snow outside is pointless; if the children had stayed in this afternoon I can almost guarantee that there would have been a snowman building competition and snowball fight outside instead of lessons. Some worthwhile learning opportunities in there but nothing they wouldn't get from playing out with their friends and families and they'd still be 'missing out' on the planned lessons which would have to be delivered at a later date.

[joeluke]

Warehouse supervisor, I actually travel 20 miles to work (by road)

.......and I got up this morning, saw several inches of snow........and got on with it and drove to work (obviously cos I'm not a teacher)

[joeluke]

Sherrard......I know schools aren't 'babysitters' but we pay our taxes so our kids are entitled to receive a full education.

Apart from schools name me another organisation which closes when we get snow?