Schhols closed again

I forgot to mention, CH, that we are in Shropshire, not that far from you, and we are definitely stuck.

johnny.if someone had stopped to offer you a lift.how much would you have remembered the stranger danger lecture and got into the warm car........

or if you had fallen or been hit by a branch and gone unconsious in teh snow..........

schools have to be extra careful with other peopels kids...if anyone has ever looked after someone elses children for the day...........you must know that you are always more cautious than with your own

As a teacher, I've always made it in to be told that school is closed!

Teachers don't close schools. Most secondaries are at the mercy of bus companies. Also, if it looks like weather will get worse during the day (as is the case today) it is easier to not open rather than have to close halfway through the day and end up with staff and kids not able to get home.

From a practical point of view, if schools are closed then the amount of traffic on the roads is halved. On a snowy day, this can mean that other people can get into work. Rush hour traffic in the snow is mental - now imagine it with the school run as well.

Johnny, this too is rural England. I have just seen a coach from the company that run the school buses drive perfectly safely up the main road and turn off down the lane (that's where their depot is)

We have about 3" of snow; we have no road closures locally. If my wife can get to work 17 miles away perfectly safely and on time, any teacher within 17 miles of our local primary could do the same.

As for 'it might be difficult to get home,' this is Worcestershire, not Antarctica. I would have mild sympathy, but it's not exactly a Titus Oates scenario.

I made it in to work today, got the train as I didn't fancy driving my RWD car (or any car for that matter). It took 3 hours, I can normally drive it in about 45 minutes. My biggest fear is that I'll be trapped in Basingstoke.

In Hampshire the BBC forecast was showing "Heavy Snow" for most of the day, so I can see why you'd want to close schools.

The 10K I'm running on Sunday might get cancelled too

Crash Hamster wrote (see)

I also don't get what's so bad about being 'stranded'? Here in semi-rural Worcestershire that would mean 'having to walk two or three miles in 3" deep snow in temperatures of about -1' at most. Not beyond the capacity of most able-bodied adults or school-age children, especially bearing in mind that we knew it was coming...

I think most people on here wouldnt think anything of that - but the vast majority of the public don't use their legs for anything more than a stroll round Tesco - and even then they'll avoid the frozen goods aisle in winter.

I know colleagues who struggled for 3 hours to drive 3 miles home. I'd have walked it easily in 1/3 the time. Its fine if you have the kit - as us outdoorsy types do. 

Crash Hamster - You seem to be focusing on completely the wrong point. Teachers aren't the issue. They have no say in the matter. The decision is made based on the children, not the teachers.

Blame the contracted private bus companies, blame the local authorities, but the teachers have zero say in closing the school. As one person has already noted you'll find a good few teachers no doubt went into work today only to get there and be sent back home again. Not their fault.

Wilkie _ Yes Canada does deal with the winter better. Are those complaining happy to pay increased council taxes to pay for the vehicles and personnel to be used to operate them for poor winter conditions?

That's sort of my point, Cougs; it's a mindset. There are always excuses as to why people can't do things and it's a really bad thing to teach to children.

The frozen goods aisle line is genius, BTW

CH. Local conditions differ. Here, the forecast was spot on. The snow is about 15cm deep. It had eased off, but it picked up again about half an hour ago. As for the safety of walking children, they may be ok to walk ( a moot point for the four year olds) but it would be potentially hazardous to share the single track lanes with traffic. As it happens of course, there has not been any traffic for the past 5 hours, apart from a single tractor.

Tom77, I work in Basingstoke and intend getting the train from here then walk home, otherwise bus then walk, or run home with the head torch, it's 12 miles but have done it before and great in the snow.

At no stage have I blamed the teachers, Eggy,  just pointed out that they can get to work. If they can get to work, there's no reason to close the schools. It's an excuse and you're now erpetuating it by blaming local authorities.

Do lorry drivers get the day off in snow? Gritter drivers? If not, PSV drivers shouldn't either. They're professionals, they should be thae last ones on the roads, not the first off.

It's all excuses for skiving.

Anyone know if Stubbington 10k is on, was cancelled two years ago for ice.

Safer to share single track lanes with traffic now than when the roads are clear; the traffic is going much slower. I've just been out for a run down single track lanes and it's lovely

On the school buses issue, if there are no buses, an individual may not be able to get to school, but that's still not a reason for the school to close, just for attendance to be a little lower.

and not all children have the correct clothing and so after walking 3 miles in snow they then hace to spend the day in wetclothes and shoes.and how does a school dry hundreds of coats and gloves.no open stoves now......

and if it gets worse are they just expected to open their gates and tell young children.go on go now run along home.....

yes they probably are too overcautious and shut a couple of times in a year. when they might have stayed open...............but then when they get it wrong its major problems for everyone........

and for those who do get into work..how many of them are sitting around chatting about the weather..... checking websites and face books for updates all the times on traffic and trains and snow............they are hardly doing a full days work..no wonder the bosses send them home early

CH - I disagree. The decision is made based on safety. True sometimes they will get it wrong, but those moaning about lazy teachers etc would be the first to go for the kill over somes job should their child get injured. They wouldn't blame themselves, they'd blame the teacher, school and local authority.

Piers. I don't know about Stubbington but the message is that the "Fan Dance" fell race over the Brecon Beacons is going ahead, with a warning that parking may be difficult due to the snow drifts!

Just seen a HGV driver interviewed on TV in Herefordshire. His boss has phoned him to say it isn't worth the risk of trying to complete his delivery and to return to base!

You are nbot going to be able to get close to the fan dance to park unless you have a 4x4

Seren, they'd close at normal time if I had my way; none of this 'closing early' lark.

I know a lot of you will think I'm hard (and wrong); in turn, all I hear is excuses and denial. I'm done

Crash Hamster. Sorry to keep on, It is not safer to share lanes with vehicles that may not be able to stop safely because of the ice under the snow. I witnessed an excruciating slow motion straight line skid at the junction in the village. The car was travelling at less than 10mph, but was not able to stop. Even at that low speed the mass of the car would give it enough energy to cause serious damage to a small child.

You seem to have made up your mind on the matter but it is not as simple as you are making out.

seren nos wrote (see)

so I have no sympathy for parents who have to miss school (I assume you mean work?) for a day for weather.....they have to have a plan in place incase the child is ill so then they should just use that one........

 

Earlier on you were saying that parents ought to be at home, playing in the snow with their kids and making happy memories.

And everyone has turned up for work here, and is doing a normal day's work, (except the few who think the Uni ought to close and send them home because of two inches of slush).