AIBU to think school closures ignore parents' work commitments?

School is education. Not a babysitting service.

I’ll tell you what’s not sustainable. Everything coming to a standstill when the weather gets hot, when we know it’s probably going to happen several days/weeks a year from now on. It’s only June, we’re almost certain to have more very hot days coming up. And what “backup plan” do you suggest when there’s another thread discussing how childminders are all closing for the afternoons too. As a society we will need to start coming up with better plans than this.

There is no learning going on when children are overheating, uncomfy and sweaty. We are only in the amber area and today has been rediculously warm in the classrooms even with us taking every step we can to keep them cool. The children are grumpy and unable to focus, We (very rightly!) spent half of the day filling water bottles and the children were back and forth to the toilet.

We aren’t shutting but I get why schools where it is even hotter are!

Tell me you don’t work in a school without telling me!
At home kids can have cool showers, maybe a paddling pool, ice lollies. They can spread out. They can strip off.
At school there are 30+ bodies in one room, often with two or three walls made entirely of glass, so like a greenhouse. As for blinds .. often these don’t work or are simply not provided.
Do you really think teachers haven’t thought to go off the curriculum and to slow down?

How does she think teachers are keeping classrooms cool? With what? When I taught the walls were predominantly glass, no fan let alone air con, one tap with lukewarm rather than cold water and 30 small bodies plus me and a TA. I remember the 2022 heatwave. It was awful. I felt so worried being responsible for all these hot little beings age 5-6 with nothing at my disposal other than wet flannels (which I got the children to bring in). Luckily my HT sent the children home at lunchtime as the temperature in my south facing classroom was in the 40s.

Malaysian schools (like many in tropical places) are built with ventilation in mind. The key is that it is 22 - 32 degrees C, so they do not need to be built to conserve heat like British buildings are.

I have been to school in the tropics with no air con but we had lovely open buildings made of wood, high ceilings, awnings, lots of shade, ceiling fans... it is not a useful comparison.

That said, even in Malaysia, they are finding that not all buildings are suitable as temperatures increase so are looking how to improve them:
https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/803581

Malaysia also has specific temperature thresholds for closing:
The two-level alert system:
A Level 1 alert is issued when daily maximum temperatures of 35–37°C persist for at least three consecutive days. A Level 2 (heatwave) warning is issued when temperatures of 37–40°C persist for three days in a row. Free Malaysia Today
What schools must do at each level:

• 35–37°C for 3 consecutive days (Level 1): Outdoor activities must be suspended, including cross-country runs, camping, drills, and other outdoor activities. China Daily
• Above 37°C for 3 consecutive days (Level 2): Schools may close. This is part of guidelines set by the Ministry of Education since 2023

We had an email at 1315 saying we could pick our kids up from 1330. Interesting observation not many kids were left! Schools across the Trust all closed tomorrow also. Is showing 40 here currently.

My classroom has no fan, despite promises. I did go into another room that had a fan and unless you stood right by it, it made no difference. Really to make a difference it would need to be those big ceiling fans.

Pity one of the kids cant throw up on her

But Bridgette Phillipson said this …

Bridget Phillipson said: “I know hot weather can be a struggle. But my message to families is simple: if your child’s school is open, you should keep sending them into school. Teachers are relaxing uniform rules, keeping classrooms cool, making sure children are hydrated, teaching critical skills like water safety, and avoiding vigorous activity on the hottest days. If your child has medical needs which mean you’re especially worried about the heat, talk to your school about what they can do.
“Every day of absence and lesson missed has a cost – and that cost falls hardest on our most disadvantaged pupils and working class communities. So, pack a water bottle, put on the sunscreen, and trust that your child’s school has got this.”

Talking out her arse. Obviously not about disadvantaged pupils but keeping classrooms cool.

Yeah, because you are customers. Please don't believe the private school system is built up for the good of the nation!

I was dropping off some rechargeable fans at my DD classroom earlier, she's the teacher. Her own fan paid for by her is on the children as there is nothing provided. The sick room has overflowed into reception and there was lots of crying and stunk of vomit. It was sad to see. A school with small classrooms and over subscribed. With a concrete playground with little shade. Parents had the choice to collect or not send in.

I'm both a parent and an educator. I understand that it's inconvenient. I don't have short-notice childcare available either.

But schools are there to educate. They are not day care centres and they are not childcare. Their first priority is the wellbeing of all children under their jurisdiction, and decisions will be made with that consideration first in mind, as it should be.

My child is my responsibility. If I can WFH my child can still be with me. If I have formal arrangements in my workplace, appointments or meetings that can't be run online, then I shall simply have to cancel them until I'm available. And no, I might not have time to supervise any school work set. It's inconvenient. But schools and employers have their responsibilities, and I have mine. All will prioritize accordingly.

There is too much of an assumption nowadays that people's responsibilities in fact belong to someone else. Ie. 'if you won't move seats because I haven't booked/paid for one, and you're sitting next to my child on a flight, then you automatically become said child's babysitter for the dutation'. Er, no. It doesn't work like that.

Nor does this.

yes. And no.

There is a cost of living crisis - families aren’t able to get by on one income while mum bakes pies and watched soaps at home all day.

it is infantile to suggest that school doesn’t also provide a significant role in propping up the economy of households and the country by freeing parents up to work - which this DUMPSTER FIRE of an economy demands of them.

How are parents meant to get ahead (or even tread water) in their careers when the rug can be pulled out for so many reasons.

Schools need to be fit for purpose. The planet is only getting hotter.

A lot of cities across the world struggle to manage in 40 degree heat and they are built for it and acclimatised. People die every year due to heat there are reported excess deaths in the past in France, Chicago and India. I feel faint in anything over 25 due to numerous health conditions, my partner has a heart condition and his hands swell and he’s breathless in the heat. We are a country that has most of the year cool weather so are not used to working and just getting on with it in 40 degree heat, if you can that’s great!

I don't get time off in hot weather so no I dont applaud them. They need to crack on like everyone else in the UK.

We’re talking a couple of days here. Nurses and doctors are examples of key workers in this situation, not people providing non-essential services.

Why? What did teachers do wrong during the pandemic?

This is fine BUT parents are very much encouraged to work as much as they can once children are school age. There are posts on here sneering at women who stay home as what on earth can they be doing all day? The only way some parents can work is because their children are in school or wrap around care via the school. I work part time so I am able to cover some holidays and emergency events such as these, I am also fortunate to be able to wfh. However not everyone can. We can't have it both ways, expect people to be working and then expect them to drop everything should the schools suddenly close.

Of course they know you're not necessarily doing that, a lot of head teachers are working parents 🙄

We know. Did you not take advantage of the fact your children were in school to go to work?

Well said.

Everyone who works is a key worker. They all pay taxes which keeps the country running.

Schools are there to provide an education. They are not a childcare provision.

I agree finding childcare at short notice is awful. Last week I had to take a day off as DS was sick in the night. Today I’m leaving school early (should’ve had Yr 11 now before anyone wonders why a teacher is posting!) as DS’ school is closing early (mine isn’t). I take unpaid leave for all emergencies. We’ve never had other childcare options either. Teachers do understand.