School closures

[jamesxyz]

I feel that the health and safety culture in Britain is killing our society.

Totally agree - I went to school when it was snowing in the 70s & 80s. I fondly remembering throwing snowballs at a teacher while he was trying to write all our names down for throwing snowballs near the building - the more he tried to write htem down the moew kids were throwing them!!

Growing up is all about learning to take risks and the consequences that come with that for good and bad.

My school is closed again today due to ice on the approach roads and on the premises. Although even I appreciate the another day off it's getting a bit ridiculous. Also all the work and marking I could be doing is at school so I can't even do that!!

 

[4F]

Our local rural primary was open yesterday. Snowball fights were allowed at breaktime and several teachers went and joined in with the kids.

Closed today though

 

[Davidc]

My memory (from the 60s) is of several hundred schoolboys turning every bit of outdoor tarmac into an ice sheet, while an exasperated caretaker with a fag dangling from his mouth collected ash from the school boiler room to put on it to stop it being slippery. He never caught up!

 

[Chrisc]

My memory (from the 60s) is of several hundred schoolboys turning every bit of outdoor tarmac into an ice sheet, while an exasperated caretaker with a fag dangling from his mouth collected ash from the school boiler room to put on it to stop it being slippery. He never caught up!

Yep, we used 'build' slides all the time!

 

[steve52]

wow its going in twice then oth? and sad to say i rember walking through 2ft( thats 60cm) snow to get to school, why is there so much fuss?

 

[John Ponting]

Eldest grandson's secondary school was closed yesterday; 2 younger grandsons were at school and the head encouraged them all to go out at play time and organised a snowball 'fight'. Makes a pleasant change.

Daughter went to collect them at end of day and was greated with "you could have come a bit earlier ... we still have to try and get home". One staff said they had problems driving to school in the morning - they live in the same town, less than 2 km away. The grandsons then walked home, passing the homes of 2 staff members on the way.

 

[BearPear]

I would agree that teaching can be a challenging profession, not one that I would choose. However, that is a different issue to the OP.

My kids have been off since Tuesday (age 15 & 17), and I could perhaps see their point when it was really bad that day. However, today the reason given for school being closed is because the car-park is icy. W.T.F??

I am sorry, but that is truly lame. The buses are running, my 2 walk to school, there is no more snow forcast for today, in fact it has been bright sunshine all day. I don't believe that this is a valid reason to keep a school closed. The teachers could park off-site and walk in, as can the children.

I am sure that if they weren't paid, they would be open. The rest of us have to make it to work, one young woman walked to my work on Tuesday. If my parking place was icy, I'd look for somewhere else to park - I wouldn't turn round and go home. By the way, it is a village secondary school which has plenty of streets to park on (not snow-bound) as alternative parking. It beggars belief.

 

[al78]

wow its going in twice then oth? and sad to say i rember walking through 2ft( thats 60cm) snow to get to school, why is there so much fuss?

Perhaps because far less people walk to school? In adverse conditions the simplest modes of transport are much more robust than more modern methods. If you can walk to wherever you need to go and are not in a frail condition then only the most extreme weather will stop you. Takes less to stop people driving.

 

[Night Train]

However, today the reason given for school being closed is because the car-park is icy. W.T.F??

I am sorry, but that is truly lame. The buses are running, my 2 walk to school, there is no more snow forcast for today, in fact it has been bright sunshine all day. I don't believe that this is a valid reason to keep a school closed. The teachers could park off-site and walk in, as can the children.

Our college opened the service entrance to allow cars, staff and student, in on a level entrance to avoid the slipery slope at the main entrance. They are also arranging gritting to ensure it is accessible. In the meantime people are parking anywhere else they can.

I am sure that if they weren't paid, they would be open. The rest of us have to make it to work, one young woman walked to my work on Tuesday. If my parking place was icy, I'd look for somewhere else to park

If we don't make it in because of the snow then we are not paid and that has a knock on effect on our pensions, those of us who have them.

I am making it in for all my classes with a 30 mile drive. Many local students are not.