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…

Today my classroom hit 41 degrees and we are not at the peak. I vomited today. A number of pupils sent home due to fainting and vomiting. Instead of complaining feel grateful that your children’s safety and well-being is being prioritised Teachers are parents too. We understand. We care! Hence, school closing.

The school I work in will remain open as it has air conditioning, however so many parents have decided to keep their dc at home/go to the beach/impromptu holiday.

Our school has given us the choice. The only classrooms that dont have AC are the foundation ones so they have said those kids can stay home if we want and it'll be authorised.

Mine will go in as we have to work, and I also cant deal with the drama of her big sister having to go in!

School is for the well being and education of children. You assume they will always be able to go in when you get a job but that’s not always going to be the case. School does not revolve around your job it revolves around the children.

Agree op. I am happy for the schools to close but I resent the implication that means I can do some complex project with the children. I'll be juggling childcare with working from home

It hasn't reached 35 degrees this last couple of days and yet learning has largely ground to a halt in my school by 11.

So many learning hours are lost to heat in inadequate classrooms, it should be a scandal. I think people are only starting to talk about it now because schools are actually having to close.

What needs to happen is the country needs to start adapting. Schools (and many other buildings) NEED air con as standard!

Loads of state schools are also staying open so it's not just your lovely little prep school. Different buildings behave differently in hot weather, some are fine some are dangerously hot.

yes fair enough - I can imagine it's hard for the kids and the staff to be productive in some buildings.

Why should they go? Well in the country I live in they HAVE to go and if they don’t there are sanctions for that

This. Heatwaves like this are going to become normal in a few years & we need to adapt as soon as possible.

It would cost millions and schools are already crying out for other things.

Iron would also cost a lot to run. Where is the money going to come from?

It absolutely does.

But the expectation for parents to deliver homeschooling doesn’t trump work commitments.

I think maybe there might be some adjustments to the summer term in the long run? Starting at 7am and finishing at 1pm. I believe quite a few hot countries do it like this.

What do you expect them to do?

They can’t do right for doing wrong in some people’s eyes.

There isn’t any and education has never been a priority for spending. The government most likely thinks a few days of closures outweigh the economic cost and of course they won’t be blamed as they leave it to schools to make the decisions.

Just had email to say my children’s school is closing at 1pm. No word on mine - but here’s hoping!

No, I'm not, and I'm not hostile either. I understand perfectly what you are trying to say, but you don't seem to understand what I am saying.

The law is that you have a responsibility to ensure your child has a FT education.

Schools have been set up with the purpose of removing that responsibility from the parents IF the parent wants them to. That's to ensure all children get the education they deserve. It's not to ensure you can go to work, or have a two salary income, or anything else. You remain responsible for your child- you're just not responsible for providing an a academic education.

IF you take them up on that offer, you are agreeing to them providing the education they consider suitable and supporting their rules. If you don't want to, you have to make alternative arrangements, it's really that simple.

It IS your problem to deal with it if they can't safely have the children in school. Parents spend a lot of time complaining that schools aren't catering enough to their specific needs, whilst conveniently forgetting that free (at the point of use) mainstream education is a huge privilege that many children worldwide do not have access to, ever. And their parents have to work too.

Why don’t you suggest they offer a key worker group? Most schools have at least one room with air con.

I get what you’re saying about work but yesterday there were people on here moaning about schools NOT closing.

It’s really easy just make it optional.

I totally agree with the OP but at least they have told you, one of my kids schools haven’t made up their mind yet so not sure what I am doing about work tomorrow!

I think DD's school have approached sensibly. Cancelled sports day, cancelled PE. Parents are given option to collect at 1pm, but they can stay until 3.30 if needed. They recognise that for some children, such as those who live in high rise flats, and those with challenging home lives, that being in school is the safer option. And that if those who can collect do so, there is less children so they can move then to the cooler areas of the school/have fewer in a classroom so less body heat building up.

It suprised me how many collected early though. Yesterday my girls were ones of only 6-7 in their classes who stayed.

The problem with this, is suddenly half the children have keyworkers for parents. I remember during covid, when my girls were entitled to attend due to me being an nhs clinician - they could only have 8 in, but they had 15 asking so could only offer each child 2-3 days. No proof was asked for and parents openly boasted of lying, and some didn't even work!

Yep it's so frustrating. I had a slightly cathartic interaction today though.
HT of a local school was in the queue for the coffee shop after school, absolutely seething about the NHS, that her outpatient appt tomorrow has been cancelled at short notice. Me: "yes it's a terrible shame. I've had to cancel my clinic too. No one else to take the kids you see, as school is closing". It took a while for the cogs to turn but she got there eventually.
I'm not sure why they think kids will be better off at home anyway, no one I know has AC in their house!

Well, it’s pretty humid, and the temps are in excess of 35. Up to 40+ in some places. So your point is moot.