AIBU to think school closures ignore parents' work commitments?

[OhNoItsThePinkyPonk]

AIBU to think that the school doesn’t take much account of parents’ need to work? Primary school have just announced they won’t be opening for the rest of the week, but it’s OK because they’ll be sending us online work for us to do with the children, and whilst they are sorry they have had to cancel sports day we shouldn’t be too upset because they’ve have rescheduled it for a couple of weeks time. Like, I totally get they have to put the safety of the children first and if it’s too hot it’s too hot, but what do they think I’m
doing when the kids are at school, preparing beautiful dinners, ensuring the craft box is topped up, pining wistfully for the moment they come home? FFS, my job obviously comes second to my children and of course I’ll cancel planned surgeries and clinics where I need to. It’s not the emergency that bothers me, it’s the blasé way in which it’s communicated as though it’s a
minor inconvenience, not a major major f’ing headache with serious second and third order effects.

phew, that’s better. Now to go and get the little darlings…

Houses are nothing like schools . You have 30 plus humans crammed in rooms that are far too small with windows that can’t open properly sometimes with 1 or 2 whole walls that are windowed in often metal or horrifically badly designed buildings. I’ve been in school all day, it’s nothing like being in a house with 4 people. Not even close.

Why are schools funded? So that we can have an educated workforce.

What is the point of funding schools if they're impossible to actually learn in?

So you want ill children and staff. You wouldn’t even treat dogs with such lack of thought.

Yes of course, however in order to fund the schools, we have to work. So of course it’s a problem when schools close for weather reasons (when every other work place is open).

This isn’t even a logical response.

Fair enough then, I stand corrected. I haven't been inside a school properly for years, I'm going off my distant memory. My daughter is about to start primary in September and the rooms seemed spacious on a brief visit, but then I didn't see what it's like with 30 kids. I don't know what the answer is. Life is so bloody expensive for just the basics for many at the moment and taking time off work is frowned upon by many workplaces even when the reason is genuine.

Believe me, the humidity was worse in Malaysia, especially when you are going around in the rainforest and mangrove swamps.

DH made me walk 16 km in 39 degrees C in Greece. I drew the line, at being expected to go without lunch too! After doing it, I walked back to the village on my own for lunch. Greek farmers look at bird watchers like they are mad!

In which case it makes even more sense to fund schools to a point where they can stay open in extreme heat instead of having to close.

They are clearly currently not fit for purpose.

@toffeeappleturnip this is the right approach where it is possible but it isn't practicable in all jobs.

For example, if medical staff such as surgeons and midwives need to take time off abruptly it'll lead to cancelled surgeries and dangerous conditions for patients. Same issue with social care, prisons, food production, utilities, courts etc. We should have learned about the knock-on impacts of school closures from the covid inquiry - even a closure of a week could affect disadvantaged children and families immensely.

Their comments about their jobs and the children they taught. I try not to think about it as it enrages me.

Very much agree - low paid workers are the least likely to be able to have flexibility from their employers and the least able to afford time off work.

I'm lucky my DCs school is staying open, like many working parents I barely have enough annual leave to cover school holidays so I would have to take unpaid leave if it closed.

I'm not against schools closing because of the heat but as OP says there should be recognition that closures will be acutely difficult for some.

It's not childcare. You may use it as such but they are not there to provide that service. You should always have a back up plan. I understand parents need to work but it's not the schools responsibility to be there just so you can go to work

How do they cope if there's several kids? Don't they wind each other up / fight?

Germany is so organised.

I'm sorry, school is 100% free childcare.

Because there is no daytime alternative for school aged children. Part of the deal is: Kids are in school, adults are in work.

It was brought in in Victorian times partly to enable parents to work.

It literally keeps the country running.

Maybe not 32 but plenty live in crowded homes, maybe high rises, with less than ideal conditions in a heatwaves. Some will have windows with restricted opening.
School may be a relative haven from the heat.
I know it is difficult to accommodate all needs and eventualities but I think there needs to be some degree of flexibility and lateral thinking to manage the heat.

Incidentally, DCs go to school in London and said it wasn’t too hot in the classrooms, no air conditioning. PE was cancelled but they could wear PE kit.

Our secondary school is open for key worker kids, they do have a couple of air conditioned rooms. Primary school not at all. Perhaps they should have contingency plans to pool resources to those who most need it

What do you suppose happened if kids were ill and no parent at home or no home phone? Its only the last generation everyone has had mobile phones you know

Thankfully out of this nonsensical situation for a few years now. I agree with OP - yes the safety of children comes first and if it means the school has to close to all dc and most staff, so be it. But the flexibility to drop everything and rearrange things with less than 24 hrs notice is often very, very difficult if not nigh on impossible in many situations.

As many, many posters on MN already know, there might have been a few socio-economic changes that have enabled more women to work whilst having young dc there is still a long way to go. From the home to the workplace.

But im not sure 4 peopleb n a small 1 bed flat with windows that only open an inch are much better off tbh

School windows often only open 1 inch and 1 bed flats are often bigger than most classrooms with significantly less people in!

The one im thinkingnof has a front room which is 10ft by 9ft 8.

Schools also have playgrounds to get frsh air as well

Yes - everyones jobs are important to the running of the country. But for many jobs, whilst a couple of unscheduled days off may be disruptive, work can be caught up on at a later date. For some key workers they just can't be absent e.g. imagine a paeduatric intensive care without sufficient staff because those who are parents have to say home because school is closed.

There was a sick bay and a school nurse.
That doesn't exist anymore.

We don't have to compare everything to the 1950's do we?

Where are you getting the 50s? My DDs school hadca sick bay and nurse and that was in the 2000s

And maybe it should exist

They're not literally locked in. They can leave to go somewhere shady or cool like a library or shopping centre.