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AIBU?

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Original poster

Unaceptable taking a "snow day" when schools are open

409 replies

Creambun2 · 28/02/2018 11:28

It really annoys me that the vast majority of schools are open in my area, yet many, many children have been taken out of school by parents "to enjoy the snow". Talk about lack of respect for the staff and other pupils who bother to turn up. We only have a couple of cm of snow!

OP posts:
beepthemeep · 28/02/2018 17:20

Hope you're paying for private school with that cavalier attitude to the cost of educating your kids, shinycat!

Makingworkwork · 28/02/2018 17:22

My secondary school is the only on in the LEA open and the headteacher is very proud. Lots of students not in as the weather forcast for the afternoon was poor and many students travel. Some staff missing from school due to weather. Students not allowed outside at break and lunch time. Local childcare closed early today and predicting they won’t be open tomorrow.

Staff mean while have had a difficult long drive, had to do extra duties, not been able to teach new material and deal with grumpy students who are missing out on playing in the snow.

Valentinesfart · 28/02/2018 17:23

And if she were she'd still be paying for public education (like we all do).

The same money spent snowday or not.

tinkywinky2018 · 28/02/2018 17:29

schools here are closed for the rest of the week.

beepthemeep · 28/02/2018 17:31

You say "spent". I say "wasted" if the attitude is "fuck it, I'll keep them off whenever I feel like it" as shinycat is saying. Why should the schools dictate when they open and close indeed... why should teachers not have the right to strike... jeez, you couldn't make it up.

No surprises that you agree with it though! 🙈

DesertSky · 28/02/2018 17:39

Luckily, practically all the schools in my area have been closed. Good thing as we’ve had up to 30cm of snow! Happy for the kids though as it’s been years since they’ve properly seen the stuff!

Valentinesfart · 28/02/2018 17:42

beep. You're embarrassing yourself. Truly. You have no idea what you're talking about. I don't care how many Christmas trees you put around a blackboard it's painfully obvious to anyone reading this you're in for a massive shock very soon.

fleshmarketclose · 28/02/2018 17:43

Dd's school is closed again tomorrow, I'm delighted. Public transport is no longer running here anyway so it would be difficult to get there and I wouldn't be happy with her walking particularly when part of the journey is on roads with no pavements. Had it not been closed I would have made the decision myself regardless as to whether the school was open tbh because I'd consider it my decision as to whether or not it was safe to travel.

beepthemeep · 28/02/2018 17:52

No, Valentina, you just don't like hearing how you come across, that's all. You can make stupid and ill-informed comments about decorating blackboards to try and denigrate, but you'll be wrong. All that shows is that you have no idea. But still think you know best.

IpreferFrieda · 28/02/2018 17:54

Beep

Again no idea what on Earth your points apart from telling us your every living relative is a disgruntled teacher and that despite having one pre school aged child you feel able to lecture other parents who actually have school aged children and have far more real life experiences of parenting than you say you have.

As a mum of 5 kids can I respectfully advise you never ever be smug as a parent or set your parenting ideals in stone as you will get kicked up the arse by your own child.

Parenting is like that.

beepthemeep · 28/02/2018 17:55

More advice? Keep it coming. You really don't get the point, do you? Grin

IpreferFrieda · 28/02/2018 17:55

On the contrary valentinas posts have been thoughtful and sensible.

MaisyPops · 28/02/2018 17:55

As a teacher who doesn't have strong feelings about snow days, this is ridiculous:
The schools are quick enough to shut the school for 1 or 2 days for snow when it suits THEM, or have a PD day when it suits THEM, or go on strike coz they want more money, when it suits THEM

  1. The snow days aren't taken when 'it suits' us. Funnily enough there are big things in schools which have been cancelled today because we are closed. Otherwise it's a bloody amazing coincidence that hundreds of schools today just happened to have the same need to close for our benefit.
I mean, it's for my benefit that I lose a whole day of ks4/5 teaching. Obviously
  1. The PD days are written into the school year. They are generally published over a year in advance on council websites. The children don'r lose any teaching time for PD days. They are additional days for staff ADDED ON to term time. Your child wouldn't be in school if we scrapped them because they aren't in term time.
  2. Teachers don't get a say on strike days. They are set nationally. We can only have pay and conditons as an official readon for striking but actually ig you read anything else about why staff strike then you might actually learn something.

You sound like you have a huge chip on your shoulder and next to no understanding about education beyond 'rawr me no like teachers. Teachers be mean and schools are rubbish'.

tinkywinky2018 · 28/02/2018 17:55

beep, you're sounding like a loon by now you know?

IpreferFrieda · 28/02/2018 17:55

No I don’t get your points chick. No one has have they?

DobbyIsAFreeElf · 28/02/2018 18:02

99% of the schools in my area shut today, we have about 7 inches of snow. The school I work at remained open and most classes had at least 25 kids turn up. They've been able to play out, sledge down the hill and it didn't put a stop to farming lessons this afternoon for a group of children.

Sandsnake · 28/02/2018 18:08

I grew up on the south coast and we never, ever got snow. We had a few inches when I was about nine for the first time. Mum (teacher) had a snow day but our school was open. She kept the three of us off to enjoy our first snow when she could have spent the day chilling indoors with some super rare child free time. I still remember the fun we had and it adds to the very many reasons I adore her.Smile

ReanimatedSGB · 28/02/2018 18:13

I was thinking 'I have no memory of fun snow days from primary school' - and then I realised that this is because I don't think it ever snowed heavily enough to close the school when I was primary age.

I do remember school closures for snow when I was 16 or so (winter of 81-82), being sent home around lunchtime and actually sitting in the caff up the road smoking fags with a mate for an hour or so before braving the bus ride...

Idontbelieveinthemoon · 28/02/2018 18:23

In the nine years I've taught at my school I've had one snow day. Just one. I don't strike for a laugh or even decide when strikes happen, I don't decide when we have training days, I don't decide term dates, I don't have a say in who gets holidays authorised in term time and I don't judge parents who give their DCs down days occasionally or keep them off for snow days if they feel it's necessary.

A snow day off school isn't going to harm my curriculum or planning. It happens occasionally. My own DCs need time off when they're unwell or sent home and we get on with it because it's the attitude when they're at school that matters most. Parents who actively dislike teacher care only going to make life that bit harder for their DCs.

user1492877024 · 28/02/2018 18:23

Valentinesfart

IpreferFrieda

tinkywinky2018

As a newcomer to this thread may I suggest that not only do the three of you come across as bullies, but also, incredibly immature. This constantly agreeing with each other, the smug remarks and the constant need to have the last word really makes you sound rather silly.

tinkywinky2018 · 28/02/2018 18:26

No, you may not suggest such a daft and patently untrue thing.

beepthemeep · 28/02/2018 18:29

Here's how it goes, Frieda, as you say you've not got it:

Me - wow, some people on this thread are really patronising and assume they know best. I don't want to be like that

Valentina/Frieda/bumbler/tiggy - how dare you! We know best!! You don't know, your views and experiences are invalid because your kid is younger!! Come back to us in a few years! listening to policy makers and assisting with lessons and lesson planning and social events at school for many years and hearing what makes things difficult is utterly irrelevant and worthy only of a putdown to make me feel superior! "Of course I know best, I'm the parent"!! "Calm down "love/chick"!

Me - yep, you're exactly the sort of people I was talking about and would never ever want to be, cheers.

Bimbler · 28/02/2018 18:32

Still having a hissy fit I see.

tinkywinky2018 · 28/02/2018 18:35

Me - yep, you're exactly the sort of people I was talking about and would never ever want to be, cheers

If you don't think you know best for your own children I'd worry about your parenting. are you lacking in confidence?

IpreferFrieda · 28/02/2018 18:49

user

This is aibu. If I think a poster is I say so and if I agree with another poster I say so that’s kind of the point of aibu.

Beep how on Earth is it patronising to say you know your own child best? And you are the best judge of your family circumstances.

Your posts are unfsthomable to me really but it’s your right to post so that’s fine.

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