To think schools should shut in 30' heat

[dragonflyglaze]

I'm a TA in an Infant School in the South East, we break up next Thurs. This week has been tough, the little ones can't cope in the heat and as much as we try and keep them indoors, hydrated etc some of them are just not coping. Never mind the staff who are doing their best to support the children whilst slowly melting.
Next week we are forecast to hit 30' and there's an extreme weather warning. We have to close if its too cold e.g. heating not working, or too windy. I can't understand why there's no rule for extreme heat.

I think @tomatopsste is a bit grumpy from the heat

It's ridiculous. Kids need to buckle down and get on with it. It's not going to get any better. How are they going to cope when they're adults? Do they expect work to let them leave because the weather is hot?

Yes, they do!!

Had it over the weekend with weekend staff and last night!

They cannot cope....plus they have mummy texting them telling them to come home ' it's fine, it's only part time work' and 'they need you more than you need them'

Puts me off employing anymore young people!

Exactly, it specifically says 'substantial changes in working practices and daily routines likely to be required'

The only people who need to 'get a grip' are the ones who think you can evade heatstroke with a stiff upper lip.

I grew up in a hot country and it's totally ridiculous.

Children are more vulnerable to the heat than adults are though - they are more susceptible to heatstroke. And do you really want to treat them like mini adults? Life's going to be shit when you get older so might as well start now 🙄 seems a bit harsh. I think most adults can accept than children have it easier - as they should. Give them a few years of being looked after before nobody gives a shit about them anymore at least.

Not at all.... nice air conditioned office for me !

It's just the "close the schools" cry that winds me up! Six weeks holidays coming up and you want more!

Close the schools for

Wind
Rain
Snow
There's a Y in the day!

It's just never ending and no other profession demands this level of concessions.

Can I ask what business this is?

Altitude and air pressure would certainly have a role to play here too.

I genuinely don’t think this OP is doing this to get more time off or just to be work shy, she seems to be coming from a good place and really does care about her pupils. She said she’s fine not to be paid, she just wants them to be able to learn properly in a decent environment.

I might have interpreted wrong though, a couple of people on this thread seem to think she’s just trying to be lazy. That’s not my feeling at all.

she seems to be coming from a good place and really does care about her pupils

That may be, but she's not thinking through the implications for them of their parents not being able to work.

We should be able to have a conversation about issues arising from the current heat and lack of ventilation in classrooms without people mocking the concerns.
Sensible people don't just parrot get a grip.
We should be able to discuss changing uniform requirements, funding for heat blocking blinds, more water fountains and in specific circumstances giving parents a choice etc etc.

People crying ‘snowflakes’ don’t seem to appreciate small children are vulnerable to the heat. Many workers also have much better conditions than teachers and children. I was in a lovely air conditioned office today. My train home was air conditioned. It was much easier than being at home. I can well see why teachers would be worried by 30 kids in a cramped classroom especially those dealing with the infants.

In and ideal world, yes. Absolutely.

Unfortunately, we don't live in an ideal world.

We have numerous children come into school without a coat when it was raining when they came in.
We STILL have children come into school without a water bottle in this heat.
LOTS of children without suncream on (we had sports day yesterday ffs!!!!)

You'd be amazed I'm sure

Oh I thought she did address that in a previous post and said she realised it would be very difficult re childcare.

Oh I thought she did address that in a previous post and said she realised it would be very difficult re childcare.

Shes not really coming up with any answers to this problem though.

I'm not saying she doesn't mean
well, it's just that it isn't much use to parents if she's working off the naive assumption that everyone's got a parent at home to hold the fort, dole out ice lollies and fill the paddling pool.

A very significant proportion of children won't have that.

I wonder how people would feel if their long awaited doctor appointment got cancelled at the last minute purely because school was closed at the last minute. I can’t say I’d be delighted!

I wonder how people would feel if their long awaited doctor appointment got cancelled at the last minute purely because school was closed at the last minute. I can’t say I’d be delighted!

Exactly

Not mean but a bit naive. Do you know what, I'll take that🤣 I really do love my job and this has been a very interesting discussion so despite some of the negative comments I'm glad I posted.
I shall bow out now and prepare myself for another day in my hot classroom with my hot little children.

"I wonder how people would feel if their long awaited doctor appointment got cancelled at the last minute purely because school was closed at the last minute. I can’t say I’d be delighted,"
But it wouldn't be because the school was closed. It would be because the doctor didn't have an adequate back-up plan in place for emergency childcare.

Also, if you're living in a boiling hot flat, how is it going to be any better?

Most parents also can't take time off if thr schools close (presumably at short notice) every time it's over 30 degrees. Even if you can work from home, you're supposed to be working, not taking the kids to the park and putting trays of ice cubes in the freezer!

Seems the most sensible thing to do really.

It would be because the doctor didn't have an adequate back-up plan in place for emergency childcare.

Just what back up plan do you think would be available to parents if hundreds of thousands of children are sent home at minimal notice?

C'mon now. Can we actually think responses through here, we'd have a much more productive discussion if we did that.

Having a full read of this thread, I'm shocked kids are still expected to wear shirts, ties, jumpers and blazers in this heat! Shorts and t-shirts for a couple of days per year isn't the end of the world, why do some schools still act this way??

So it would be ok to shut secondaries?

Primary schools should be optionally open and only as childcare (no formal education), maybe Y7 too, everyone else at home?

I agree with this. I don’t think schools completely closing would be the answer right now, but it’s reasonable to think that some things should change to make it more bearable for future years, we all know heatwaves will become more common and more severe in the future.