No School...Again!

WARNING: This post concerns a sensitive topic and it’s not my intention to raise anyone’s blood pressure or make any more enemies…so proceed with a good attitude. However, a sign of a good work is an emotional response from the public so if you blow a gasket, I guess I did my job. Just don’t complain to me about it!

All through life, or at least the first twenty plus years of it, we are told of the tremendous worth of education. Nothing should ever prevent us from receiving a high quality education, unless of course…there’s a couple inches of snow on the ground. In that case, school is closed and it’s a day to protect young children from the elements. Remember, I warned you…and I do tend to exaggerate to make for better reading.

We are well into February and the local schools here have yet to have a week without at least one snow day in all of 2014. They’ve had more vacation days than Obama. Yes, it has been unseasonably cold and I understand the dangers of frostbite but when a sixth grader begins to crave school pizza its time to get back to class. The best thing about snow days should be that they are rare treats, not the standard. It’s a wonder the television stations didn’t list the schools that were open rather than those closed. Maybe I was wrong, but I always thought that the opportunity to learn some reading and arithmetic was worth having to put a pair of gloves on.

Some of the same parents who are likely to not even know the names of all their children’s teachers become deeply invested in their youngster’s scholastic efforts when they have to get themselves to school on a blistery morning. Trust me, I’m not heartless, I adore children and would never wish anything ill upon them, but I believe they are capable of arriving safely at school if the temperature is below freezing. Parents complain about their little ones having to be outside for an extended amount of time to wait on the bus, but then post pictures of the family out sledding. I guarantee the time spent out playing in the snow is much longer than any child would have spent getting to and from school.

I understand and support days of no school when it’s snowing and the roads are in bad condition, but I struggle with when its called due to just being really cold. Seriously, how long would most students have to actually spend outside? Long enough to throw away an entire school day?
Most days on which there has been school there was a two hour delay, which are pretty much wasted days. The periods are shortened, leaving little time to accomplish much, plus lunch.

It really makes no difference to me, I don’t have any kids, and I stay in myself when it’s really cold. I’m just trying to warm you all up by getting your blood boiling…your welcome.