School closures are snow joke

janninew

Just to add in isn't the teachers decision to close a school, its the head teachers and the governors, who do not take the decision lightly!

jaydeeuk1

My wifes school is open, despite a school on the same road being closed (has never closed since she went to school there as a child despite being in Derbyshire). In fact when I took her in this morning I had to drive past 2 schools that were closed. I don't mind driving in snow, but conditions today were terrible and imo should not be open. Most staff live out in the sticks yet expected to get in. The decision is down to the head teacher, and the ironic thing is that she has kept the school open but decided not to come in herself.

Fat andy seems the kind of Dad who would send his kid to school in shorts and without a coat :rolleyes:

Proc

janninew wrote: »

I work in a large secondary school and we had a child slip yesterday on the ice (Council has run out grit!) Parents came in to see the Head yesterday afternoon saying they were going to sue! The head has decided to close the school today as the playground is like an ice rink and kids will be kids, most of the teaachers are in though and we will spend the day planning, marking etc.

If I was the Head, I would send a letter to all the parents saying something like;

"We would be delighted to have the school open. However, unfortunately a child slipped over on 5th Jan 2009 in the playground as they were unaware that the ice was actually slippy. The child's parents are now threatening legal action, and we do not want to leave ourselves exposed to a similar situation."

Word would soon get around which pricks-for-parents are contributing towards the upset.

chris_n_tj

FatAndy wrote: »

I would grit it myself but I've made the effort to get to work to do the job I get paid for.

I accept that the council should send someone to grit the area but I can't accept that a bunch of well trained and well paid teachers can't somehow work out how to transport a couple of hundred kids sixty feet or so between the school gates and the front door of the building. I'm sure most of the parents would happily carry the kids such a short distance in order to avoid losing a days pay.

Well trained yes, (and they pay for their own training, in order for the likes of you to have a go.) I know what I would do. Well paid, i dont think so, they havnt had a decent pay rise in years.
How do I know this? I read, and watch the news. This I can do because I was taught to do so many years ago by a bunch of brilliant teachers.
Three cheers for all the teachers in our fair land. I for one give my thanks to past and present teachers withever they are.
Chris n TJ

pitkin2020

FatAndy wrote: »

I would grit it myself but I've made the effort to get to work to do the job I get paid for.

I accept that the council should send someone to grit the area but I can't accept that a bunch of well trained and well paid teachers can't somehow work out how to transport a couple of hundred kids sixty feet or so between the school gates and the front door of the building. I'm sure most of the parents would happily carry the kids such a short distance in order to avoid losing a days pay.

10-15 years ago i doubt it would have closed but most councils ( businesses and individuals too now) live in fear of the ambulance chasers as society has become such a "where theres blame theres a claim" its just not worth the risk, the cost of closing down is far cheaper than being sued by a few parents because their child slipped on ice and broke an ankle/arm/leg etc.
As mentioned by others just because your area has no snow, doesn't mean that where the teachers live there isn't they don't live at the school in case you weren't aware.
Well done for getting to work though, hope your not wastuing your companies time posting on a forum, unless of course you working for MSE??

missile

FatAndy wrote: »

I would grit it myself but I've made the effort to get to work to do the job I get paid for.......

.... and instead of working I am skiving on the internet :rotfl:

If you don't want the responsibility, don't have the kids

oxenryd

I agree with all the suing comments, and for that reason alone the school should be closed. Do you really want your school/council budget to go on payouts just for a few days closure

oxenryd

missile wrote: »

. :rotfl:

If you don't want the responsibility, don't have the kids

Ooooooooh, controversial

janninew

Proc wrote: »

If I was the Head, I would send a letter to all the parents saying something like;

"We would be delighted to have the school open. However, unfortunately a child slipped over on 5th Jan 2009 in the playground as they were unaware that the ice was actually slippy. The child's parents are now threatening legal action, and we do not want to leave ourselves exposed to a similar situation."

Word would soon get around which pricks-for-parents are contributing towards the upset.

That just seems to be the world we live in now a days! Nobody takes responsibility for themselves! The poor kid is in a bad way, but it was an accident which could have happened anywhere! I wonder what kind of parents leave their sick child a couple of hours after he was injured to threaten the school with legal action? They have probably already got an appointment with a solicitor and will probably win thousands of pounds in compensation, which will have to come out of the schools budget! We can't win, if we close we get accused of skiving, if we stay open, somebody gets injured and we get sued!!

pitkin2020

oxenryd wrote: »

I agree with all the suing comments, and for that reason alone the school should be closed. Do you really want your school/council budget to go on payouts just for a few days closure

paycuts and services, who ever sues for an accident like this may make a few quid but everyone else that uses the service will suffer in the long run.