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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

No more snow days for kids

134 replies

Snowflakesandroses · 06/01/2022 20:17

It’s been snowing pretty heavily here today and it’s due to snow again overnight and into tomorrow…my DP works in a school and was told that if the school has to shut tomorrow due to the snow that he’ll be expected to work from home using the online classroom and kids are expected to log on remotely to join in lessons, the same as they did during lockdown.

AIBU to think this is a step too far?

OP posts:
FeelingBlu92 · 06/01/2022 21:38

@colourfulpuddles Don't you think there should be far more to childhood than formal education? Like having fun, and enjoying new sensory experiences, and learning through play, and socialising, and being out in the fresh air, and expressing creativity with a rare material, and being physically active as opposed to slumped in front of a screen? I certainly do.

Kite22 · 06/01/2022 21:41

But surely, snow days mean a parent has to take time off work?
Doesn't that eat into annual leave?

If small dc are not at school, the parents would have to take time off work to care for them whether the school set work or not, surely ?

It says in our schools handbook that the first day of snow closure shall be set aside for the fun of a snow day and subsequent days shall be online. How great is that?

I love this, and want to work at your school, and would want my gdc to go to your school

IncompleteSenten · 06/01/2022 21:43

Sounds sensible.

CowMarshland · 06/01/2022 21:44

Still a snow day, not every second of the day will be online. Sorry Bobby was feeling a little ill so needed a break (as he’s building a snowpig outside)

JabNotInArm · 06/01/2022 21:45

I think our school would take a sensible approach and allow time for the kids to play outside. If they didn't, I suspect our internet/electricity would be disrupted for the day by the weather and we'd be forced to spend the day throwing snowballs

Idontknowlondon · 06/01/2022 21:45

Just say no! Snow days happen in our house.

Idontknowlondon · 06/01/2022 21:46

Sorry, obvs your DH can't say no! It's his job. I mean as parents we can.

starfishmummy · 06/01/2022 21:48

@BaronessEllarawrosaurus

Sorry can't do online lessons without advance warning, we need to borrow an extra laptop as all the ones we have are normally in use during a work day (that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it)
I was thinking that. Parents may have to have borrowed equipment for lockdown that they can't get at short notice for snow!!
eagerlywaitingfor · 06/01/2022 21:51

When I was a kid and it snowed... we went to school. We walked, and all the people with houses by the pavements went out with shovels and brooms and cleared the paths. They'd go to the salt grit bins with their buckets and spread it about. The council would be out clearing the roads.

Mind you, this was in the late 1960's & early 70's when the memory of the winter of 62/3 was still strong in everyone's minds. What was six inches of snow for a few days compared with six feet of the stuff for months?

Snow days. Huh.

Whatthefucketyfuck · 06/01/2022 21:52

There was talk of snow a few weeks back. Our head said to plan for work but on line/live lessons would not be necessary for day 1. Purely so staff and children could find some time to enjoy the snow if it came, unconstrained by on-line timetables.

Online lessons would be required if there was a second day.

Secondary school head. How fabulous.

Snow didn't happen. Gutted.

LadyCatStark · 06/01/2022 21:54

I live by the sea and have never had a snow day in my entire life 😭 I thought they were just a thing on American TV!

stayathomer · 06/01/2022 21:56

It's a childhood right of passage
Yes!! All for kids not missing too much but every kid should think 'yeesss!!!!' when they see snow as it's a potential for a snowday!!!

AngelicaElizaAndPeggy · 06/01/2022 21:58

Tragically, our WiFi is not allowed to work properly on school snow days. Such a shame!

Chimley · 06/01/2022 22:00

AIBU to think this is a step too far?

YABU. Honestly. It's the 21st century. Now we can school from home of course the weather isn't going to get in the way any more.

Kca29 · 06/01/2022 22:01

I would just let them have a snow day anyway unless they have actual video lessons, let them play in the snow!!

I guess it depends how often it snows where you live. Where I live on the coast it rarely rarely snows. So if it ever does (last time must have been been 4 years ago), the kids school would always let them have a snow day I think 😅

thaegumathteth · 06/01/2022 22:01

We had loads of snow last year when schools were closed , the teachers basically did a zoom call in the meeting then encouraged the kids to get out in the snow if they could. They can do learning in the snow if they really must such as construction , temperatures etc. She was primary age and ds was secondary and wasn't interested in going out in the snow anyways.

blueberryporridge · 06/01/2022 22:03

When we lived in Switzerland, the first day it snowed each year all the children at our DD's village nursery/primary school were asked to come in clothed and equipped for a snow day at school the next day.

All the classes also used to regularly spend timetabled sessions playing in/exploring the local woods throughout the school year.

We need more of this in the UK!

Thepowerofthelook · 06/01/2022 22:04

Our secondary school did this in November and one teacher set some work and asked them to make snowmen and send pictures in, the other teachers all set work/did online lessons. Some teachers did have their own dc present as their schools were closed (similar to lock down).

Pirrip1868 · 06/01/2022 22:05

Snow days full stop were a step too far. Never had ‘em in my day unless the heating system conked.

justasking111 · 06/01/2022 22:06

Sadly our internet went down Miss X 😂

Daisydoor12 · 06/01/2022 22:06

There is more to a child’s life than formal education. Snow days are like a rite of passage I have great memories of mine. If we were fortunate to have a snow day my children would be enjoying it not sat working online at least for the first day.

MsFogi · 06/01/2022 22:08

I know I realised this after the first lockdown when the school had to close due to a burst water main and they went online. Unexpected days off school are one of life's pleasures and should be enshrined in law!!

bendmeoverbackwards · 06/01/2022 22:08

YABU

It’s a great idea, they’ve missed so much education as it is, why not embrace the technology?

Idontknowlondon · 06/01/2022 22:11

@bendmeoverbackwards

YABU

It’s a great idea, they’ve missed so much education as it is, why not embrace the technology?

Because I'd rather my kids embraced nature.
Sparklespangle · 06/01/2022 22:11

Brilliant memories of snow days (although I grew up in Surrey so probably like 3 my whole school life)

Go to bed with the snow falling gently, get up in the night and peep out the curtains, snow is deeper (very exciting stuff!)

Wake up in the morning and it's deep (for surrey) maybe 3 inches.

Then we wait by the radio, they read out the closure list our school not on it, eat breakfast.

They read it out again, not us, brush teeth and hair.

They read it out again, nope, uniform on.

But then... IT HAPPENS! ITS US! SNOW DAY!!!!

Uniform off, warm clothes on and down to the park!