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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:
DanglingMod · 06/01/2022 22:35

And yet I'm 99% sure that what would happen, like it always has, is teachers spending the entire morning in gridlocked traffic, or walking 6 miles and kids standing at bus stops waiting for school transport which doesn't turn up before giving up and going home, and there might be sonatina online by 1pm. Or more likely the next day. Amd only if the teacher and student has access to the technology.

Fedupsotired · 06/01/2022 22:36

Yup, this is happening.

This thread is hilarious, we normally have threads saying how rubbish teachers are, never work or plan and now everyone is saying they should have a snow day 🤷🏼‍♀️. You can't win can you!!

In my school we have to have learning on by 10am

Idontknowlondon · 06/01/2022 22:36

[quote Pedalpushers]@etulosba also grew up in the North and same, never had a snow day in my life. It snowed but it seems we just got on with it Confused[/quote]
That's fine when your teachers all live close enough. But when DH was a teacher, the kids could walk to school but some teachers lived more than 45minutes away and there needs to be a certain number of teachers for safety. Snow days were usually due to staffing issues, not kids unable to get in.

RavingAnnie · 06/01/2022 22:42

I think I might be having WiFi problems on that day.....

StripyHorse · 06/01/2022 22:43

I have said this to my daughters before.

They are both secondary now.

Their former primary school would probably try and incorporate playing in the snow as part of the learning (big on wellbeing).

RaraRachael · 06/01/2022 22:43

Staff will be told to put s full day's work on Google classroom which none of the kids will do because they'll all be out having fun in the snow.

And who can blame them?

SmellyOldPartridgeinaPearTree · 06/01/2022 22:45

@Fedupsotired

Yup, this is happening.

This thread is hilarious, we normally have threads saying how rubbish teachers are, never work or plan and now everyone is saying they should have a snow day 🤷🏼‍♀️. You can't win can you!!

In my school we have to have learning on by 10am

No one cares if teachers get a snow day, it's for the kids!
BeMoreGoldfish · 06/01/2022 22:48

Our wifi never works in the snow - no idea why? 🤷‍♀️

gogohm · 06/01/2022 22:49

Seems fair, remember the kids here don't get snow days anyway, the disadvantage (aka advantage Grin) of living on the coast

Forgothowmuchlhatehomeschoolin · 06/01/2022 22:50

@BlowDryRat

Nooo! Snow days are the best! I don't remember having any until I was at secondary. Half the school was up on the local hills with toboggans and flasks of tea. It was ace.

The last snow day the DC had was in the horrible winter lockdown last January to March when they weren't allowed to see any of their friends. All rules went out of the window for that one day. They played in the snow with their friends for hours. No harm done.

Same here....at least half the school were over the hills sledging, including the deputy head teacher with her children! Best day and it broke lockdown up beautifully!
Fedupsotired · 06/01/2022 22:54

@SmellyOldPartridgeinaPearTree I agree I think snow days are brilliant for the kids but that's not how it seems to work now.

I'm glad my children got snow days to remember

AnxiousWeirdo · 06/01/2022 22:58

Yeah DD is 7, it's the same for her also. She's also expected to log on when she's off school sick as well..... Now that really is a step too far.

ThesecondLEM · 06/01/2022 23:00

When we had snow last year during online teaching DDs school gave them a snow day. Such a lovely thing to do when it was all a bit pants for everyone.

TheLovelinessOfDemons · 06/01/2022 23:06

@FawnFrenchieMum

It’s never a full days worth of work though for primary aged kids, so in our house it would either be work for a couple of hours then go out and play or get out early, home, warm shower, warm clothes and log on for a couple of hours after lunch.

High School age, they have missed enough and need much learning as they can get.

It is for DS 10. 9 - 2.30. It definitely depends on the school.
Whatinthelord · 06/01/2022 23:09

@AnxiousWeirdo

Yeah DD is 7, it's the same for her also. She's also expected to log on when she's off school sick as well..... Now that really is a step too far.
What? That’s horrible….I’d refuse.
Sparklespangle · 06/01/2022 23:10

To be fair to DDS school as well as a snow day during lockdown they were also given a random MH/wellbeing day off. The instructions were (have a happy day, watch TV, go to the park, do a craft, ride a bike) this was when there was no end in sight and applied to the whole school including teachers, office staff etc. The upper management worked to keep the key worker children in school but they also had a fun day in school.

TheLovelinessOfDemons · 06/01/2022 23:11

@Downton57

I'm 60 and can still remember my complete unbridled joy when I was 8 and my dad said he wasn't going to be able to get the car out the drive as the snow was so deep (we lived several miles from the school) and we were all going to have a snow day. A whole day of building snowmen, making snow angels, igloos, snowball fights and hot chocolate in front of the fire. It's so sad kids will lose out on that incomparable feeling.
I remember in secondary school I couldn't get to school as my DGM's car couldn't get through the snow. In the local evening paper that night was a photo of our Norwegian headmistress skiing to school. Showing us all up.
Tiredalwaystired · 06/01/2022 23:20

While we’re in a pandemic and schools are prepped for home working we will lose them. If and when the world returns to normal and the snow catches everyone by surprise then the planning won’t be done in advance and we will be back to normal.

TheLovelinessOfDemons · 06/01/2022 23:20

@hapagirl

Ugh no!! I still have great memories from the Beast from the East with the kids.
School wasn't shut at all with the Beast from the East. Also they weren't allowed to have snowball fights. Luckily the after school club they went to was a bit more relaxed, DS then 6 threw a snowball at one of the club staff, who grabbed him, grabbed a handful of snow and smooshed it into his face. It was hilarious. Xmas Grin
bendmeoverbackwards · 06/01/2022 23:27

@Idontknowlondon it’s not one or the other though is it? Children can embrace nature at school break times, after school, weekends and holidays.

Some children have really struggled with lockdown learning. There are many children who don’t have the right equipment or parents who can facilitate home learning. For them, every school day counts.

bendmeoverbackwards · 06/01/2022 23:29

Also not all children enjoy being out in the snow or want to be out all day.

BashStreetKid · 06/01/2022 23:38

@KiloWhat

What noooo

It's a childhood right of passage

Hardly, given that half the country doesn't get enough snow to justify it.
MackenCheese · 06/01/2022 23:40

Can i just add that schools round here will NOT let them play out in the snow at lunch and break times if the school opens on a snowy day. Health and safety and all that.... 🙄🙄

etulosba · 06/01/2022 23:46

That's fine when your teachers all live close enough. But when DH was a teacher, the kids could walk to school but some teachers lived more than 45minutes away and there needs to be a certain number of teachers for safety.

A different era. I travelled 25 miles to school. If teachers couldn’t get in, prefects took their class.

backtolifebacktoreality · 06/01/2022 23:46

Why is it a step too far? Kids have missed loads of school over the past couple of years so should be learning from home if possible!