To think closing schools or making them "optional" during the heatwave is putting pressure on working parents and is just a bit silly?

[Suchevilforebodings]

This doesn't actually effect me directly as neither of my children's schools have closed.
But some of the schools iny area are either closing or are making school optional IE: it won't be marked as absence.
I mean.... Really? Do kids actually need tome off because it's hot?
And is it fair on working parents to send out an email the day before to say school is closed? This heatwave was forecast last week.
Even making it "optional" puts the pressure on as the kids will want to stay off and many of their friends will be.
I just think it's bullshit tbh

Playing around with school terms has a knock on effect on the examination and result schedule - that could be changed in time, but it's worth bearing in mind. "Simple" solutions don't always work.

So? I get into work at 7.30am some days and have an hour's commute. I'm hardly on my own on the train either.

The point that was being made is: if the school day starts a couple of hours earlier to account for the heat, that would mean teachers needing to get in at 6am or earlier.

😂 I'm already in at 7 most days with an hour commute. I'm not sure I could get in earlier as trains don't start running until 6.15. I had the carriage almost to myself today, but did miss the old British Rail trains where you could open all the windows wide.

Not sure this helps with the childcare issue as if schools finish early the kids will need picking up during most people working day.

Maybe they could adjust their working day to match.

If it's too hot at school and best for the kids to be at home I understand and wouldn't want them to stay in school.

I would have found it easier as a working parent if the plans for the week were communicated earlier, as in our school they suggested school would be open until late afternoon the day before each time and for 3 days in a row changed to lunch time pick up but I think the forecast today may have got hotter - while difficult to plan I only felt sightly frustrated with the school when I went to pick up and they were actually in an air conditioned class room!!

You're talking about access, not heat. There are contingencies for every state/territory for closures to do with heat. And yes, you're utterly ignoring the basic, if not always adequate design of Australian schools. I can only speak confidently of Victorian state schools with all the utterly shit demountable classrooms, so many with no blinds or adequate heating and cooling.

https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=au+school+closures+due+to+heat&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

Staff are in at 8? my sons teacher gets the same bus we do. He goes in while the kids play in the playground for 10 minutes before school.

@goodoldsussexbythesea Fair play to him - more teachers should do that! Arriving to work 10 minutes before you start is reasonable, no?

I get in just before school starts but that's because I have to drop my own kids off first.

It just means that the work that those teachers are doing early morning, I have to do the night before. But I'm a night owl so that suits me.

So what?

@noblegiraffe And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that! I put my own children first, too.
In what other profession do people routinely arrive up to 2 hours before they start?!
Teachers need to push back.

My son’s school is doing optional pick up at 1. Any children left after 1 will be entertained by remaining staff not taught. There’s two classes with air con so those are being utilised

So saying staff are in at 8 isn't true?

I didn't say it wasn't

No. Saying the poster, i.e your example of the one teacher who arrived at 8.50. was not representative sample.

Jesus.

In what other profession do people routinely arrive up to 2 hours before they start?!

Loads - Chefs. Doctors. Pilots. Cabin crew. That's just off the top of my head.

But my child's school starts at 8:30, you can't tell me teachers are in at 6:30 every day because it's simply not true.

I think at this temp in London in an old Victorian building with little insulation or a portacabin I'd trust the HT to know their school, I do think they should stay open for those that have no childcare as a minimum, and generally think most can operate until 12 quite easily before it gets hot.

@goodoldsussexbythesea More fool them.
Two questions:
What time do you personally arrive at work normally?
What time would you deem as "acceptable" for teachers?

The doctors I know certainly work long hours but they don't arrive early. Chefs - are you confusing when the restaurant is open with when they start work in the kitchens? That will be part of their shift, not some voluntary thing!

@MistressIggi Perhaps the poster thinks teachers actually get paid for all of these additional hours they put in?!! 🤔

When my shift starts and when their shift starts.

Or maybe 10/15 mins before so they can have a cup of tea and settle in.

The school I work in (primary) didn't close. The heat was unbearable, and I went home feeling unwell due to the heat. My son's school (secondary) closed (unheard of, a tornado could tear through the school and they'd stay open!) but he's on work experience, so made no difference to me.

Optional for parents to send their children in or not happened yesterday at the school I work at. Many parents chose that option but a lot didn't. We hit 38c both yesterday and on Wednesday.

Teachers don't work shifts?