OT- Snow!

Quote: debaser "I was off for two days due to snow (I'm a teacher too) and I worked all day both days. Most teachers I know spent the days working too. Teachers got bashed all day yesterday on the radio for being "too lazy" to go into work, when everyone else had to.

The one who texted in to say he was off to the pub made me laugh. I could almost hear the phone lines jamming in protest. It was a joke by the way.

My children's school was open both days - less than half the children bothered to come in, even though 95% of them could walk to school.

My school is open today - less than half the kids are here, and ALL of them live within walking distance of the school. Is it the teacher's fault too that they are not in today?

I remember my school shutting for snow in the 70s and 80s. Its always happened. And it's going to get worse and worse, the more law suits that school's have to deal with from parents of children who get injured and the more pressure OFSTED put on school's to improve their attendance.'"

You will note I tried to report and give my experience factually. I specifically avoided expressing an opinion. Was interested in any responses.

FWIW, my opinion is actually:

1. That teacher who was interviewed was guilty of a piece of appalling PR for the profession. She may or may not have been working from home, but several people I have spoken to (one of whom had to pay a lot for an emergency child minder so she could get to work) who saw the clip were scathing about the attitude that came across. It is of course unclear whether the reaction was deserved or otherwise, and we do not know what may have been edited out.

2. I have a lot of sympathy with head-teachers who have to make the close/open decision - damned if they do and damned if they don't most especially because of the heath and safety bollox. And I recall speaking several years ago to a head teacher, of a local school, who used to go to same gym as me - she said that (as in all jobs) there were always some teachers who she knew would not try to get in, and others who bust a gut to. And she was the one who got both barrels from the latter regarding the former, and said what could she do about it? And that point you make about OFSTED attendance %ages - interesting one that, cos not heard it made before. Yet another example of the law of unexpected consequences?

3. I actually agree entirely with your point about parents who seemingly do not make an attempt to get their children to school. You will see I was aiming my "made it in regardless" comment at both teachers and children. I remember last year talking to a teacher who said whenever there was snow or ice, loads of children whose parents who were at home all day (for whatever reason) did not turn up citing the conditions, whereas most of those whose parents had to go to work did. Strange.

4. When I was a kid (I finished school in 1974, and admittedly went to school in a Midlands market town so we had neither quite the weather severity nor quite the hills of this area) I cannot remember a school in the town not opening once due to snow. My mother told me the same. Most of the kids from the many outlying villages made it in, in the school buses. A big difference I recall was that roads and pavements seemed to be cleared far better in those days - most people cleared outside their own houses rather than saying "someone" should do it. And I recall that, for example, whenever it snowed the dustbinmen all changed into snowploughmen. And of course there were far fewer cars about and far more people walked or cycled to school then - and no-one was worried about bloody paedophiles and other vermin.