AIBU to think school closures ignore parents' work commitments?

@toffeeappleturnip this is the right approach where it is possible but it isn't practicable in all jobs.

For example, if medical staff such as surgeons and midwives need to take time off abruptly it'll lead to cancelled surgeries and dangerous conditions for patients. Same issue with social care, prisons, food production, utilities, courts etc. We should have learned about the knock-on impacts of school closures from the covid inquiry - even a closure of a week could affect disadvantaged children and families immensely.

In which case it makes even more sense to fund schools to a point where they can stay open in extreme heat instead of having to close.

They are clearly currently not fit for purpose.

Believe me, the humidity was worse in Malaysia, especially when you are going around in the rainforest and mangrove swamps.

DH made me walk 16 km in 39 degrees C in Greece. I drew the line, at being expected to go without lunch too! After doing it, I walked back to the village on my own for lunch. Greek farmers look at bird watchers like they are mad!

Fair enough then, I stand corrected. I haven't been inside a school properly for years, I'm going off my distant memory. My daughter is about to start primary in September and the rooms seemed spacious on a brief visit, but then I didn't see what it's like with 30 kids. I don't know what the answer is. Life is so bloody expensive for just the basics for many at the moment and taking time off work is frowned upon by many workplaces even when the reason is genuine.

This isn’t even a logical response.

Yes of course, however in order to fund the schools, we have to work. So of course it’s a problem when schools close for weather reasons (when every other work place is open).

So you want ill children and staff. You wouldn’t even treat dogs with such lack of thought.

Why are schools funded? So that we can have an educated workforce.

What is the point of funding schools if they're impossible to actually learn in?

Houses are nothing like schools . You have 30 plus humans crammed in rooms that are far too small with windows that can’t open properly sometimes with 1 or 2 whole walls that are windowed in often metal or horrifically badly designed buildings. I’ve been in school all day, it’s nothing like being in a house with 4 people. Not even close.

Who do you think fund the schools if not working parents?

I don't think there's many homes that have air con 😂. It's hot at school... oh wait.. it's hot at home too. How are people coping in hospitals and care homes? Not much choice there. If some parents don't work, they lose their pay, they may also lose their job.

Ok so then you can pay for air con in said childcare as kids and staff getting ill due to overheating is totally unacceptable and not going to be tolerated however much you want it to be.

If there is no childcare..... Sorry wrong word.. education.. how does the average family pay their bills, as lets be honest two parents have to work in most areas of employment now just to pay bills. School is education but it also acts as childcare allowing parents to work and contribute to society!

Homes don't have 32 teenagers packed into small rooms with no blinds and non opening windows usually.

My home is definitely not hotter than my classroom, and my home doesn't contain 30 sweaty kids who are meant to be learning Pythagoras.

At home, my kids can flop on the sofa, stick their feet in a basin of water, eat an ice lolly and basically do fuck-all. No one is forcing them to pretend that any worthwhile learning is taking place.

And it was neither as hot nor as humid. Totally different situation. The highest temperature in 1976 was 35.9 and that was a one off in one place (Cheltenham).

👍🙄 I was waiting for this 🤣🤣

Teachers are educators not babysitters. Many parents seem to assume that

in a family home you have more options to cool your children down, cold baths/showers, paddling pools in the shade, lying down in the coolest room etc etc it’s not just about aircon! It’s about preventing heat stroke.

You know nothing that happened in the pandemic was as a result of anything a teacher said, right? Plus we were trying to save your child’s life. Believe me, teaching in person is a fuck ton easier than online…

Usually, all the key dates are on the school calendar on the website, which no-one ever checks, and then the short notice email is the reminder.

But family homes don't have air-conditioning and they will be just as hot, if not hotter than the school (think 7th storey, 2 bed flat in Central London).

I do understand if they close. However they can f off if they think I'm doing online learning with them, I will be working!

Our school have offered optional early pick up after lunch every day this week. School is open and wrap around ect will function as normal. It was 35 degrees here at 2.30 this afternoon and has only just dropped to 33 degrees. They emailed yesterday afternoon at 2pm

There was a lot of scrambling around in our group chat last night for childcare swaps and playdate afternoons. Lots of parents are in the office today, Wednesday and Thursday and have mandatory office days. Others were WFH. My friend had booked a desk in the office to work as it had Aircon, another of my friends has mandatory days in the office. A few work for the NHS and prison services and cannot just drop or swap shifts with a days notice.

There were a lot of roped in grandparents, great grandparents and aunts and uncles at pick up today. Lots of parents picking up multiple friends children. According to my friend whose child had to stop due to no childcare there were 8 children this afternoon who stopped. She's currently frantically trying to get her family to cover Wednesday, Thursday and Friday as her child is very upset he was left at school and has come out of school very hot and uncomfortable.

I think the issue isn't the closing of schools for hot weather, it is the sheer lack of support network most parents have when they need to find childcare at very short notice. Lots of people live miles away from relatives. Barely anyone can afford a SAHP to cover something like this. Workplaces are only so flexible. There is very little to almost 0 term time childcare scheme parents can use at a moments notice. Whilst schools are not childcare, almost everyone and everything works on the assumption that a child will be in school Monday - Friday 8.30/ 9-3/ 3.30 during term time. With many schools offering wrap around to cover the 8am-5.30 core hours.

School is not free childcare. If your child’s health is at risk, it is absolutely your job as a parent to keep them safe at home.

However, I do think it is a joke that in 2026 schools are so antiquated that children are having to go home. Of all the things we should be plugging money in to, it should be our future.