Snowflake teachers.

System

I lived 10 miles from my school - journey was on a school run bus - no direct public buses to get there.

Even on days where there was a little dusting, the bus never turned up. As my parents worked, I had no other choice than go home. On one occasion my Dad was at home and he refused to drive the 40 mile journey as if there was no bus in the morning, no bus will be supplied after school.

After a while, I gave up even turning up to the bus stop when it snowed. Wasn't going to risk my health as prone to chest infections in those days to stand around for 20 mins. Asked a sensible lad did the bus turn up and the answer was no.

baza52

neilmcl wrote: »

How did that go

lol you could fit the whole convo in a single text message

Loanranger

My school buses, all four of them morning and afternoon, never failed to turn up during the long hard winter of 62 to 63. There were two significant hills en route. As children we just turned out for school with no idea that we might have a day off. Mind you, this was the height of the Cold War, no pun intended, and we lived our lives happily to the Beatles and the ever constant threat of nuclear annihilation from the Soviets. We developed stamina and a strong work ethic.
Not suggesting that children today have it easier or more difficult but simply stating how it was.

lincroft1710

Loanranger wrote: »

My school buses, all four of them morning and afternoon, never failed to turn up during the long hard winter of 62 to 63.

The snow fell and it froze and never melted in that winter. But they never closed the schools. Some afternoons when we should have been playing football, we were allowed to go home because of frozen pitches, but otherwise lessons as usual.

(I actually think that at my school if you had failed to turn up because of the weather, you were expected to do the honourable thing and fall on your sword)

ThumbRemote

Loanranger wrote: »

I worked in universities and there was a requirement that all staff lived within a certain radius. No reason for teachers to not be subject to a similar rule.

Possibly the worst suggestion anyone has ever made on these boards.

Can you imagine being a teacher and meeting the kids you teach when you're out shopping? Or even worse, their parents? Especially the ones who would (at best) think this was the ideal time to have an impromptu parents evening. Or at worst the ones with some sort of grievance against something you'd done.

Or even worse, living close enough to a secondary school so the children could find out where you lived?

And presumably in more deprived areas the schools would just carry on without teachers, if they couldn't find any willing to move nearby. Some teachers already work in quite challenging schools, insisting the move into the area would kill a school off immediately.

Loanranger

ThumbRemote wrote: »

Possibly the worst suggestion anyone has ever made on these boards.

Can you imagine being a teacher and meeting the kids you teach when you're out shopping? Or even worse, their parents? Especially the ones who would (at best) think this was the ideal time to have an impromptu parents evening. Or at worst the ones with some sort of grievance against something you'd done.

Or even worse, living close enough to a secondary school so the children could find out where you lived?

And presumably in more deprived areas the schools would just carry on without teachers, if they couldn't find any willing to move nearby. Some teachers already work in quite challenging schools, insisting the move into the area would kill a school off immediately.

You are perfectly entitled to your opinion of course as I am mine but I regard the children's education as more important than the poor teachers feelings in the supermarket. It is called the child centred approach.
It is clear that steps need to be taken to solve the problem of children not getting the minimum number of days teaching.

pjcox2005

Loanranger wrote: »

What sort of message does closing the school give to the children? That it is ok not to strive, that it is ok to give up at the first hint of difficulty?
In the United States a closure for a snow day is added on to the end of term to ensure that the children are not missing out on their education.
I worked in universities and there was a requirement that all staff lived within a certain radius. No reason for teachers to not be subject to a similar rule.

Bit devils advocate here but perhaps it teaches them to use common sense and not take a difficult journey for the sake of presentism, or that one day is hardly going to impact, so to have balance in life, accept a change of plan and not get stressed with the outcome is beneficial. Perhaps it’s the value of a family day or the fun of the snow that may last as a memory with them.

I didn’t take days off for snow that I recall, but it’s amusing to see those whining about one school day using the label of snowflakes on teachers. It really isn’t that big a deal, even though I think people could be more prepared so that it’s only more significant snowfall that creates an issue.

ThumbRemote

Loanranger wrote: »

You are perfectly entitled to your opinion of course as I am mine but I regard the children's education as more important than the poor teachers feelings in the supermarket. It is called the child centred approach.

If you think a child's education is important, you'd want good teachers. Not teachers who don't get a break, get harassed at home, leave the profession because the hassle isn't worth it, don't take jobs in difficult areas, spend teaching time dealing with the police.

How can we improve teaching? Let's ruin teachers personal lives! Are you Michael Gove?

Loanranger wrote: »

It is clear that steps need to be taken to solve the problem of children not getting the minimum number of days teaching.

Is it clear? Is it really causing a problem? Are you even sure that there are schools not giving the required number of hours/days? Maybe there's some slack built into the school day and term plan already.

You're suggesting extreme measures to solve what isn't even a problem.

peter_the_piper

Equally important to good teachers is good parenting, helping with the homework, reading, maths etc. Not everything can be placed on teachers shoulders.

DD starts for work at 07.30 and gets home at 05.30, 5 days a week, cooks dinner then spends another hour or two (and time weekends)with homework, plans, letters etc. Don't complain about teachers until you've spent a week doing their job.

pollypenny

Loanranger wrote: »

My school buses, all four of them morning and afternoon, never failed to turn up during the long hard winter of 62 to 63. There were two significant hills en route. As children we just turned out for school with no idea that we might have a day off. Mind you, this was the height of the Cold War, no pun intended, and we lived our lives happily to the Beatles and the ever constant threat of nuclear annihilation from the Soviets. We developed stamina and a strong work ethic.
Not suggesting that children today have it easier or more difficult but simply stating how it was.

Likewise.

The difference is that there were considerably fewer vehicles on the roads then. Freight went by rail and most people who could caught a bus rather than risk their cars in the snow.