Just been watching the news this morning and there are schools shut over 1-2in of snow :manson:

 

As someone who grew up in the 70's,80's, 90's with some winters having drifts several feet deep, a foot of lying snow, snow not melting for weeks on end it is embarrassing to watch schools close over 1-2" on "health and safety" grounds

 

Why can't the kids just walk to school ? I had to walk through drifts to get to school, why are schools closed because it is too cold ? we were made to turn up and were allowed to wear a duffel coat in class if it was too cold

 

What will happen if a polar low sweeps Britain will there be no schools open for weeks ?

 

Is Britain too obsessed with health and safety or is it just a pampered generation of kids ?

im with you on this.... i was 5 in the bad winter of 62-3 and only missed school when i was ill , in the 60's it snowed every winter, properly too and we never had a school closure. its fcukin ridiculous!

 

what are the kids doing if they arnt in a nice warm dry classroom?... they are OUTSIDE playing in the very snow and ice that are supposed to be danger-fukkin-ous !!!!! BONKERS!

Kids are growing up too soft today.

 

Could you imagine a kids TV programme like Tiswas be made today, of course not due to Health & Safety & Political Correctness.

 

Just think when I was at secondary school I played Rugby in icy conditions, got fairly tackled and I ended up with my chin hitting the quite icy ground first. As I result I had an abscess in my mouth and ended up with a dead tooth.

 

Nowadays if that happened the parents with sue the school authorities.

 

I think it is absolutely pathetic. But then again we live in a society where hurt emotions are worth more in financial compensation than life, physical arms & limbs.

 

As a result we are producing a nation of snivelling selfish David Van Day's.

MMMM I think that stupid dick and dom in the bungalow was like tiswas, and growing up in the 80's my school quite often shut in bad weather and it was for health and safety reasons, such as the boiler system did not work adequately to heat the school to the required minimum temperature on really cold days, so it was unsafe to open..... I don't see the point of this thread you don't know the reasons each individual school closed for, so how can you say its health and safety gone mad?

MMMM I think that stupid dick and dom in the bungalow was like tiswas, and growing up in the 80's my school quite often shut in bad weather and it was for health and safety reasons, such as the boiler system did not work adequately to heat the school to the required minimum temperature on really cold days, so it was unsafe to open..... I don't see the point of this thread you don't know the reasons each individual school closed for, so how can you say its health and safety gone mad?

 

Rochdale have had ALL schools in the region closed for THREE days, is impossible that every school has a broken boiler, the amount of level lying snow in Rochdale was 5cm on its highest level, is there any justification for a council to shut every school in a borough over 2 poxy inches of snow ?

Apparently in Yorkshire HALF of the schools were closed. But according to someone this is mainly because that it was taking an hour to travel 10 miles... I do agree that it really is pathetic, I mean in times like this of course people are going to be late it's only natural. One of the main reasons though, is I reckon schools are scared that parents will sue them if they get injured in the snow... I remember back at school we used to be banned from going outside if it was at all icy snow. :lol:

It may also be that the roads are considered dangerous, as accidents increase in snowy weather, and by reducing traffic on the road you are actually reducing accidents and saving lives, and what better way to do this than shut schools

It may also be that the roads are considered dangerous, as accidents increase in snowy weather, and by reducing traffic on the road you are actually reducing accidents and saving lives, and what better way to do this than shut schools

 

Then the kids can just walk to school, I had to walk through drifts and EIGHT inches of lying snow to get to school during harsh winters in the 70's so todays kids surely can walk through 1-2" of snow ?

 

We are approaching what could well be the harshest winter since the very early 90's which could in theory lead to WEEKS of lying snow so are the kids of this country expected to have weeks without an education ?

If individual kids living in outlying villages genuinely cannot get into their schools in larger towns and cities because of the snow cutting off roads, or there's been a road traffic accident, then that is a totally different story, the whole SCHOOL shouldn't have to shut down, because I cant see how it would be a problem for kids actually living in the towns or cities to get to school, the only time public transport stops is in the most extreme of conditions, such as blizzards; mind you though, I guess this in itself could be part of the concern, what if the kids manage to get in on buses or trains, then the weather takes a turn for the worst, and the buses/trains stop running because of the snow...? Kids could be trapped with no easy way of getting home if they are miles from the school... And it would be a real problem when you are talking about kids from villages going to schools in larger urban areas...

 

I guess I can see both sides of the argument here.... With so many kids being 'bused' around from point A to point B to go to school, quite often living in one end of town and going to school in the other (thanks to these bloody League Tables and what have you...), and so few actually going to the nearest schools in their neighbourhoods, I guess, this might be on the minds of local authorities too...

 

I used to love walking through the snow to get to school, but then, I didn't really have to walk very far to my school, 10 minutes tops and I was there.... My parents sent me to the schools nearest home, it's not really like that nowadays, thanks to League Tables....

 

 

Then the kids can just walk to school, I had to walk through drifts and EIGHT inches of lying snow to get to school during harsh winters in the 70's so todays kids surely can walk through 1-2" of snow ?

 

Easy for you and I to say that though innit...? I'm betting you were like me and went to the nearest local school, so distance wasn't an issue.... All too often these days you're getting kids living in one end of a town or city and going to school in a different borough almost (say, from Hackney to Camden, which is a good 4 or 5 miles distance).... And if public transport gets called off because of bad weather, well, you get my drift yeah.....? And it would be even worse when you're talking about kids coming from outlying towns, how the hell would they get home if the overground was cancelled...?

Rural schools i can understand, because the staff and most of the pupils don't actually live in the town itself.

 

My high school was very rural, the catchment area was beyond massive yet we never shut because Cupar just doens't get snow. Unless a lot of teachers can't get in they would keep my school open

im with craig on this.... theres NO reason to shut schools just because of a bit (and i mean a BIT ) of snow. yes we walked to and from school, home at dinner times too, whatever the weather.

yes we walked to and from school, home at dinner times too, whatever the weather.

 

Yeah, but when you only live about a 10 minute walk from your school, it's easy to do that innit...? It was never an issue for the likes of you, me and Craig cos we all went to schools in our immediate catchment areas I'm guessing... Too many kids are being bused and ferried around in cars from one end of a town or city to another these days, they've no idea of routes or have a particularly good sense of direction because someone's driving them.... If public transport stops 'cos of bad weather or dodgy driving conditions, and parents dont have cars, it could lead to trouble with kids getting lost whilst trying to walk home through unfamiliar streets...

 

I guess the most logical solution in many ways is to go back to the days of "local schools for local kids...".

Yeah, but when you only live about a 10 minute walk from your school, it's easy to do that innit...? It was never an issue for the likes of you, me and Craig cos we all went to schools in our immediate catchment areas I'm guessing... Too many kids are being bused and ferried around in cars from one end of a town or city to another these days, they've no idea of routes or have a particularly good sense of direction because someone's driving them.... If public transport stops 'cos of bad weather or dodgy driving conditions, and parents dont have cars, it could lead to trouble with kids getting lost whilst trying to walk home through unfamiliar streets...

 

I guess the most logical solution in many ways is to go back to the days of "local schools for local kids...".

 

i believe all primary/junior schools (in urban areas...obviously not in the rural areas) have a local catchment area, so a huge percentage at least (id suggest over 95%) of primary school kids ARE within walking distance. my primary school was a mile away, so home for dinner, 4 mile walking every day regardless of weather. you do travel further to secondary schools, but even so... roads are gritted nowdays, buses run, a roads in urban areas are very rarely closed/impassible due to snow.

 

nah m8.... theres no need to close MOST schools in MOST cases just because a few flakes of white stuff fall.

I can remember wayyy back (i.e. Year 5/6) we were band from playing tag, Headteacher said it was for health and safety reasons and that we were recommended from then on to play games that where non-contact.

 

We still all did Bulldog back then though. :P

It may also be that the roads are considered dangerous, as accidents increase in snowy weather, and by reducing traffic on the road you are actually reducing accidents and saving lives, and what better way to do this than shut schools

If an entire county of schools were shut down but if not a child + parent would of died (of course no-one would know) then it would be completely worth it imo.

 

I missed school on tuesday even though by lunchtime i obviously shoudln't have :heehee:. There were 2 miles of ungritted roads in the Peak District though :smoke:. Main roads are fine, even in 8 inches of snow (the most i've seen) its ok as long as they've been gritted.

ok it snowed on Tuesday. I woke up - saw the snow and thought ..... ooo I had better set off a bit earlier for work - I did and got to work in plenty of time.

 

by 9am half teaching staff had reached school - we let in the kids - wrapped them up and then went out and had snowmen making competitions. This was the most snow most of the kids in our school had ever seen. By 10.30 am all staff had managed to get to school and most kids.

 

We all piled into the school hall for hot chocolate and hot vimto. The rest of the week continued untouched.

 

We were the ONLY school in our area that was open :o

 

A school within 500 yards of us remained closed for 3 days???? Why???

Rochdale and Oldham schools just announced they were shutting - even when further expected snow didn't turn up.

 

My sons both had 2 days off - even tho both of them have exams coming up.

 

I am appalled that schools were allowed to close for NO GOOD REASON.

 

I accept that some staff members may have found it difficult to get to work on time on Tuesday - but the rest of the week there was NO excuse at all.

Trust me, my colleagues and I have contacted the Education Authority asking when we can have 3 days off for Christmas shopping?

ok it snowed on Tuesday. I woke up - saw the snow and thought ..... ooo I had better set off a bit earlier for work - I did and got to work in plenty of time.

 

by 9am half teaching staff had reached school - we let in the kids - wrapped them up and then went out and had snowmen making competitions. This was the most snow most of the kids in our school had ever seen. By 10.30 am all staff had managed to get to school and most kids.

 

We all piled into the school hall for hot chocolate and hot vimto. The rest of the week continued untouched.

 

We were the ONLY school in our area that was open :o

 

A school within 500 yards of us remained closed for 3 days???? Why???

Rochdale and Oldham schools just announced they were shutting - even when further expected snow didn't turn up.

 

My sons both had 2 days off - even tho both of them have exams coming up.

 

I am appalled that schools were allowed to close for NO GOOD REASON.

 

I accept that some staff members may have found it difficult to get to work on time on Tuesday - but the rest of the week there was NO excuse at all.

Trust me, my colleagues and I have contacted the Education Authority asking when we can have 3 days off for Christmas shopping?

 

lol...

 

nice to have an 'insiders' view :)

 

Yeah, but when you only live about a 10 minute walk from your school, it's easy to do that innit...? It was never an issue for the likes of you, me and Craig cos we all went to schools in our immediate catchment areas I'm guessing... Too many kids are being bused and ferried around in cars from one end of a town or city to another these days, they've no idea of routes or have a particularly good sense of direction because someone's driving them.... If public transport stops 'cos of bad weather or dodgy driving conditions, and parents dont have cars, it could lead to trouble with kids getting lost whilst trying to walk home through unfamiliar streets...

 

I guess the most logical solution in many ways is to go back to the days of "local schools for local kids...".

You've saved me the trouble of making exactly the same point.

i believe all primary/junior schools (in urban areas...obviously not in the rural areas) have a local catchment area, so a huge percentage at least (id suggest over 95%) of primary school kids ARE within walking distance. my primary school was a mile away, so home for dinner, 4 mile walking every day regardless of weather. you do travel further to secondary schools, but even so... roads are gritted nowdays, buses run, a roads in urban areas are very rarely closed/impassible due to snow.

 

nah m8.... theres no need to close MOST schools in MOST cases just because a few flakes of white stuff fall.

 

 

You've saved me the trouble of making exactly the same point.

 

in reply to grimly ... covered that already.... or are you saying its right to close schools for 3 days when it snowed for 1 morning? :wacko: