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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:
NSEA · 28/02/2018 14:05

My kids are not school age yet, but when they are they will not attend school out of respect for teachers or other pupils. What a ridiculous argument.

It’s snowing and this hardly ever happens. Let them have some fun you old misery.

beepthemeep · 28/02/2018 14:06

Oh no, I'm enjoying the smugness, thank you bumbler. It's hilarious.

CavoliRiscaldati · 28/02/2018 14:07

you're aware we don't all live where you live, yes? I'm in a red alert area.

and the schools are kept opened? Really?

IpreferFrieda · 28/02/2018 14:08

beep

I don’t think my kids now teens and twenties would appreciate me visiting their unis and work places to have a snow fight Grin

The rest of your posts I have no idea what you are on about to be honest you seem to be full of indignation to other parents and that all teachers are angels from heaven. Get your pre schooler outside and build a snowman and work off your indignation Wink

cavoli!

Nope love mine was a 3 mike walk with no pavements and risk the sensible hazards of skidding cars and lorries. Lucky you having s safe walk to school.

Not everyone does as you know the country is a big place and areas can be different to yours Hmm

bobstersmum · 28/02/2018 14:11

I dragged ds age 5 out to school this morning with ds age 4 and dd 10 months in tow in blizzard conditions only to get a text at 10.30 that school was closing, so if its not looking good in the morning I will be keeping him off, if school is closed or not!

IpreferFrieda · 28/02/2018 14:12

There’s two beeps on this thread.

Grin
BarbaraManatee · 28/02/2018 14:13

I was once the only person in my Spanish lesson when it snowed - even the teacher wasn't there! My parents made me go in. The only time I got a snow-day when school was open was at 16 when my parents had gone away for a couple of days leaving me with my 10yo sister. Her school was shut, the person who was supposed to drive her to school had to work & I didn't have anyone else to call. My parents told me off for skipping school. Not sure what else I was supposed to do!

We homeschool our DC so are free to take a snow day whenever we want!

beepthemeep · 28/02/2018 14:17

It was a very simple point. Some parents think they know better than everyone else. There are some shining examples of that on this thread and others. My DB has some stories that would make the hairs on your toes curl (if you had any!). That's all.

You do realise that not everywhere in the country has snow today, right?! We have a tiny bit of frost where I am and that's it.

If we did have snow, and the school was shut, then I'd enjoy the day with DD. If the school was open, and we could get there safely, she'd be going. the snow would still be there after school.

LegallyBrunet · 28/02/2018 14:18

Maybe their just making their own judgement? Their school may be open but they may live too far away to get to it? Or they may be reliant on public transport which may have been taken off? There could be plenty of reasons. I know my brother's school was open yesterday but he didn't go in as he has CP and is very sucseptible to chest infections so my mum didn't want to take that risk

tinkywinky2018 · 28/02/2018 14:19

Some parents think they know better than everyone else

I do know better than everyone else when it comes to my children. Who else do you imagine knows better? Confused

BettySundaes · 28/02/2018 14:19

School open here, everyone in and having a ball. Teachers v kids snowball fight planned for break time. They'll have far more fun there than at home!

HundredsAndThousandsOfThem · 28/02/2018 14:22

My DD's five and this is the most snow she's seen in her lifetime. If she wanted to stay home from school and go sledging (it would be a bit late after school) I'd let her as it's more than possible she'll never got another opportunity while she's young enough to enjoy it. As it is she's fortunate enough to go to a wonderful school where they're spending all day out in the snow playing anyway (only school in the area that's still open) and she was desperate to go in so in she went.

HundredsAndThousandsOfThem · 28/02/2018 14:24

Keeping them off to enjoy the snow? I couldn't live with myself.

lol my god. Unless you live in a part of the country that sees snow every year why on earth would you torture yourself over missing one day of school to have some rare time enjoying the snow.

stealthsquiggle · 28/02/2018 14:24

What BettySundaes said..

My children would far rather be at school playing in the snow with their friends (and being given hot chocolate when they come in) than at home with (at best) a sibling and a slightly reluctant parent to play with.

Valentinesfart · 28/02/2018 14:25

t was a very simple point. Some parents think they know better than everyone else. There are some shining examples of that on this thread and others. My DB has some stories that would make the hairs on your toes curl (if you had any!). That's all

And some people think because they are related to people who work with children, they know better what other people should do for their children! Hilarious innit. Your brother would also tell you that none of your toe hair curling stories were related to parents taking their children out of school on a snow day. What you are talking about has FUCK ALL to do with what anyone else is talking about.

Valentinesfart · 28/02/2018 14:26

Who else do you imagine knows better? confused

Beep does! her cousin works for ofsted don't you know!

Valentinesfart · 28/02/2018 14:27

And apologies to the sensible beep who is going to wonder what she's done wrong now!

BitchQueen90 · 28/02/2018 14:28

If the school is open my DS is going in, end of story. I'm a single parent and can't afford to be taking unpaid days off for snow.

Luckily we only have a dusting here! We live a 15 minute walk from school too so been a non issue for us.

beepthemeep · 28/02/2018 14:29

Well, unless you home educate and spend all your time with them, tinky, no I don't think you can know everything. That's why professionally trained teachers teach them and observe their social interactions outside the home etc. The worst stories I hear or have witnessed are when parents refuse to accept that anyone else has a valid view about their child. That was my point. You see it a lot.

It's your body - do you assume you know better than your dr? It's your house - do you assume you know better than your architect? It's your will - do you assume you know better than your lawyer?

Ultimately of course they are your decisions. The teachers are there to guide and to provide insights into the bits you can't see, because children will act differently in the classroom/playground. But assuming you always know best for your children automatically, and sometimes being a dick about it (see the Vimto mother for an example!) is different to always wanting what's best for them, IMO.

I don't think most people would disagree with that, although they probably also wouldn't agree they ever fall into the PITA category because nobody wants to admit to that! But to bring it back on topic, I agree with the OP: choosing to keep kids off school when it's safe and open sends the wrong message and smacks of "i know best". And I think that's also a rather slippery slope (even if there's no snow in your area Wink)

CavoliRiscaldati · 28/02/2018 14:29

Being judgmental about parents sending their kids to school is just ridiculous. There's still plenty time to enjoy the snow, don't worry, the kids are not locked in a cupboard before or after school. They can go sledging, build an igloo in the garden, build a snowman and have snow ball fights.

The children are not missing out on anything because they are at school for a few hours. My youngest did a communal snowman in the field, they had a blast, and still plenty time to play after school.

They are enjoying their day just as much, so stop judging Smile

tinkywinky2018 · 28/02/2018 14:32

The children are not missing out on anything because they are at school for a few hours

They are also not missing out on anything because they aren't at school for a few hours. If you want people not to judge you, don't do it to others.

Houseinthemouse · 28/02/2018 14:32

Had an amazing morning sledging and snowballs with DS and DSS today!
They are both older teens (18) and there are very few times we all enjoy ourselves together now. I think that’s more important than college sometimes, some real family building time (and I say that as a college tutor myself).
Those of you with little ones don’t yet see how important those rare moments are with older children, especially when you have step kids as well.

DSS went to college on the bus yesterday. College shut at 11. Buses stopped running. Took OH two and a half hours to get him back, and that’s with DSS walking half way.
DS college (and mine) made the wise decision not to open at all.

CavoliRiscaldati · 28/02/2018 14:34

They are also not missing out on anything because they aren't at school for a few hours.
that wasn't the point of the thread... but the replies are that kids miss out if they are sent to school, which is simply not true.

rocketgirl22 · 28/02/2018 14:35

I am praying for snow and quilt day tomorrow.
Snow glorious snow!
dc will spend all day playing in the snow, I will enjoy finding carrots and button for the snow men, hot chocolates and log fire and no school.

Childhood IS exactly this! Unexpected joy. Unplanned fun. They remember days like this forever, so why the HELL would anyone complain? I just can not understand how you would prefer them to go to school when they have the option of the most fun snowy day ever.

The posts on here moaning have forgotten their kiddie compass and how it feels to be a small child glowing with excitement, tongues out at the first snowflake.

Bimbler · 28/02/2018 14:36

although they probably also wouldn't agree they ever fall into the PITA category because nobody wants to admit to that!

Would you admit that you fall into that category?