To think 'snow days' are pathetic

[Toddlerteaplease]

I understand if you live very rurally and genuinely can't get out. But snow in cities is rarely that bad. NHS staff don't take days off for a bit of snow. Last time we had severe snow. Not one person on my entire unit missed work. Even though schools were closed.

It's true that back in the sixties when I grew up, we walked to school in all weather however bad and schools didn't close because of snow. Most people got to work too.
This is because most people worked locally. Teachers mostly lived near to the schools they taught in as did the dinner ladies etc.
Schools close now because the staff can't get in because of the road conditions and delays. You can't have hundreds of kids turn up for school where there aren't enough adults to supervise them.
As for NHS staff, they don't ALL make it into work in bad weather conditions. I would agree they try their hardest but using them as a reason everyone else is pathetic is ridiculous.

Not read the whole thread, but the thing about other countries not grinding to a standstill when they get snow annoys me too.

I've heard that in some countries, unexpected heavy rainfall can cause transport issues and school closures, simply because the infrastructure isn't geared up for it.

In Gloucestershire right now and some parts haven't had that much at all. Hardly any buses have been cancelled even in areas that are often pretty unpleasant after a light snowfall (hills etc). Was a little slippy leaving my little road but after that roads totally fine, even though two inches of snow on the paths and still falling. Journey to work same time. Yet almost all the schools have closed. Madness.

my kids secdonaries were both closed.
Thye have kids from rural areas coming in by coach. On most of the village roads it will not have beengritted, the coach companies cancel te coaches, the school closes.

I am fine with that. I would much rather they closed than people have crashes on roads because they don'[t know how to drive in the snow etc.

I used to live in a country where it was snowy for half the year. I really don't think people in UK understand how much infrastructure it takes to keep roads clear and buses running.
There was an army of people out at 5am in the dark clearing the snow form bustops, and from the road edges. Then a fleet of snowploughs, snow collecting mahcines and trucks passed through collecting the snow. No gritters, it was too cold.
Even then, after aheavy snow fall, only major roads would be open on the first day, then second and third level roads.

Every neighbourhood employed people to clear the snow from their pavements and round the doors of blocks of flats.

As it is not reasonale to have fleets of snowplough standing ready just in case we have one day of snow, much better that we just close and then re-open tomorrow when it is all gone

in some areas, especially more rural, you get told to travel for essential travel only, snow can get bad quite quickly, trains and buses get cancelled, so yes sometimes a snow day is necessary, as annoying as it is, if its not safe then its not safe!

My school closing is usually dictated by the bus companies. The school is on the top of a big hill. If the bus companies won't go up the hill in the weather then we don't open.

My children’s school has closed (secondary) no buses are running and we have loads of snow and it’s still falling.

The teachers haven’t been having a snow day though. My email has been pinging all morning with work for them and links of resources they can use. Ds even had a link to click on where the teacher had recorded a video explaining what to do.

Well personally I'd sooner take a "snow day" and work from home than run the risk of having an accident or getting stuck somewhere. We live quite rurally so a lot of our roads are currently the joyous combination of sheet ice buried under a smattering of snow. My commute is an hour and a half each way on a good day, and given the conditions seem to vary from road to road I'd rather not risk it.

Not to mention I always get a shit load more done when I work from home, so not only have I got the bulk of my reports done this morning, I've also managed to catch up on the life admin I'd usually have to cram into the weekend.

Another hour, another bash a teacher thread.

I thought the LA decided which schools closed and which opened.

Not usually. Its usually the head teacher (assuming they can get in) and the site supervisor who assess conditions and take into account whether school buses are prepared to run.

With regards to schools, many staff commute long distances and can’t physically get into school so it makes more sense to close the school. I teach in a city college and we only close in extreme snow when it’s just not safe to open.

We do a delayed start here. Roads are usually cleared by 9.30 so school opens at 10am. I'm not far from the borders and we get a good bit of snow every year.

All the primary schools closed round here but my dd’s.
They don’t want to loose their “outstanding” ousted rating though so I think there would have to be 12ft of snow before it closed which is fine by me !

*ofsted!

It's about acceptable risk. As a nation we've pretty much decided it's not worth investing in the infrastructure you need to keep functioning through snow because it's not financially worth it given how rare snow events are.

When there's no provision for snow, I need a pretty good reason to risk injury by going out, thanks.

Should also add that our amazing site manager has been up and gritting the playgrounds by 6am so the kids can still come in .

Years ago everything was as dangerous and people walked 3/5 miles to school in whatever conditions

It’s health n safety over the top

Why do schools close so easily? I feel like they just can't be arsed.

Have you seen the difference in traffic during school holidays? Closing schools gets a good chunk of morning traffic off the roads, so they can be cleared more easily.

Uk citizens - oh my god I’m exhausted and I need a day off!

Also UK citizens - I can’t believe I have to take a day off due to a bit of snow!

We stay really rural so when there’s snow the village in on lockdown pretty much. The school is shut because the teachers don’t live local and can’t get here. I understand shutting places is annoying but people don’t always live where they work.

Housingcraze - years ago, thousands of people were killed or maimed in unsafe working conditions in the UK. We have health and safety legislation for a reason.

I'm a teacher. I didn't make the decision to close my school, but closed it is, and I'm not intending to fight my way there just to prove to the poster back there that I can be arsed.

I have, however, spent the morning planning in detail for next week, and catching up on some other essential paperwork, so for once I will be able to have a free weekend. You know, like lots of other professionals have.

Is that OK with everyone?

There may be more snow where staff live, and they have problems getting in to work.
Just because where you live or where the school is has just 3cm, doesn't mean it's the same everywhere. It's easy to forget that when you look out of your window.

Schools cannot open with too few staff - there are ratios to consider.
Too many parents would be quick to litigate if an incident happened whilst the school was 'understaffed'
They don't want to close- they just have to.

Can I just say that I think teachers are completely amazing, they rarely deserve the shit fired at them from parents.
We will miss them when they are gone.

I don't remember ever having a snow day growing up in Denmark. I do think it happens but there would need to be a snowstorm and warnings to avoid going outside. I'm sure the kids love it though