The kids missed school today
By dorannmwin
@dorannmwin (36392)
United States
January 16, 2013 2:23pm CST
Last night we ended up having a little bit of icing and it seemed like a good possibility that the schools would be closed today because of the ice. Well, it didn't end up sticking to the roads so school was not cancelled. And I told the kids that they needed to go to school.
Well, despite the fact that the roads were not icy, the sidewalks were and my daughter ended up falling this morning in the front yard and jarred herself pretty badly, so I decided that neither of the children should go to school today. I would rather them not put themselves in danger to walk the block up to the bus stop.
I know that school is quite important, but I do think that there are times that the decisions that are made as far as cancelling school is not always the most accurate decision.
Has there ever been a time in your area that school has/has not been cancelled and you don't really agree with the decision that they made concerning the scheduling of school? Have you ever allowed your children to stay home from school because you do feel like it is a little bit dangerous for them to go to school?
4 people like this
24 responses
@911Ricki (13588)
• Canada
17 Jan 13
I agree with you not worth killing yourself over. I know many times when I was younger they should of cancelled school and they didn't. They use to have to send kids to the hospital with frost bite, because it was so cold you couldn't go outside, yet they did. A few times kids fell, and even got ran over by cars.
2 people like this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
5 Feb 13
You are exactly right. I know that our school district likes for everything to be in favor of the children. However, I do believe that there are times that they make the wrong call.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
18 Jan 13
That is one thing that I can at least give our school district credit for historically. They will close the schools when it is that cold outside.
@bounce58 (17385)
• Canada
17 Jan 13
The complex where our house is like a bowl. The adjacent streets are elevated as compared to roads within our subdivision. To get our of the complex, you'd have to drive up a hill. This is the same for the front and back entrance of the complex. I remember having bald tires on my van and having trouble climbing up the hills that I decided right there and then not to go to school even though it wasn't cancelled. The kids were just more than happy to stay home.
@ZoeJoy (1392)
• United States
17 Jan 13
The safety of children must always come first. The schools don't know of every side road or sidewalk, so parents are also responsible to make decisions based on what is most safe for children. If schools can't accept that, then too bad. But safety has to be the number one priority. Its more important than education.
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
17 Jan 13
Of cpourse. The twins are not going to school ifhurricane is schedued or very heavy rain is forecasted.
I was brought up post war and a very hard childhood. My mother always made us go to school and my sisters had to drag me to school some mornings as the snow was up to my thighs. The toilets were outside of the main buildings and we would be allowed to go home when the water in the toilet bowls had turned into ice
Wasn't funny at the time as our mother did not want us home
Wasn't funny at the time as our mother did not want us home2 people like this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
18 Jan 13
Wow, I could only imagine how it would be to have to be at school until the water in the toilets froze. My best friend used to live in a home where there was no indoor toilet and I remember how cold it could be to go outside to go to the bathroom.
@randylovesdar (4932)
• United States
17 Jan 13
When I was living in Idaho the school district was very picky when they took days off for snow days. One time I remember there was a lot of snow and the temperatures were 20 below and the kids still had school. I was a volunteer at the elementary school and I ended up calling in sick because I did not want Randy driving on the icy and snowy roads. It is sad that the schools do not take children into careful consideration when determining whether to stay at home or go to school.
2 people like this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
18 Jan 13
I honestly believe that our school district would close schools if it was to be that cold outside. We don't usually see temperatures below zero, but it does happen occasionally.
@41CombedaleRoad (5960)
• Greece
17 Jan 13
You were right to stop them going to school, it is your responsibility to make the final decision about the safety of your child, you knew they had to walk on icy pavements and took the sensible decision.
2 people like this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
18 Jan 13
You see, I feel like it is our job as a parent to be an advocate for our children and this is one of the ways that I am able to do that for them.
@Raine38 (12389)
• United States
16 Jan 13
Yeah, lots. I was in college in Manila then and it was the monsoon season. It was raining so hard that the roads and streets leading to the university is flooded. Yet the university administration did not declare cancellation of classes. Of course I want to go to school because that day is the day for all my major subjects and with the midterms just a few days away, I really don't want to fall behind. But when I try to get on my bus, it is full to the brim and seems like everyone else is having transportation issues, on how they can get to their destination and avoid the flood. Right then and there I decided to head back home and not risk getting trampled on by the rest of the commuters and get injured on the way. I did miss my classes but they also cut it half way through because only 5 or 6 students made it there.
2 people like this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
17 Jan 13
In the event of bad weather, I do think that administration should always look out for the best interest of the students. However, when I was in college there were times that there was really bad weather and they would never cancel classes. We didn have a delay once though.
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
16 Jan 13
I don't have kids in school anymore but there are times when the weather is not very nice and it bothers me when they don't cancel. I think of all the kids on country roads and how dangerous it is when the buses go out! Sometimes they leave before the salt/sanding crews have...and that is not right! I am sure it's hard for someone to make the call as they are responsible to the state etc to make sure there are enough days of school to fill the requirements....but seriously sometimes they seem to not be paying attention to saftey...and more to the money issues involved with having school!
2 people like this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
17 Jan 13
In many, many cases, I do think that the ultimate decision is made because of the money and not actually with the safety and well-being of the students taken into consideration.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
17 Jan 13
Since both of the kids have been in school there hasn't been a time that I've kept them home for other reasons. However, before Paul started school there were some times that I would keep Kathryn out for a different reason. A prime example of this was allowing her to miss school when many of her classmates were sick while her father was going through chemotherapy.
@wilsongoddard (7291)
• United States
16 Jan 13
When I was a student, I thought that school should always be cancelled--including on the sunny days. I would have learned far more if I would have simply had access to the public library and free time to study the things that most interested me.
Your school district should have had a two hour delay so that there would not have been such an issue. However, if that decision would have been made, there surely would have been people whining about it ruining their schedules.
2 people like this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
17 Jan 13
Any time that they make any kind of decision, it is never possible to make everyone happy. Most of the time I have to say that I agree with the decision that the school district makes, but in this situation I really don't feel like they made the right decision.
@Arieles (2473)
• United States
17 Jan 13
I have had to make decisions like that before myself. As a parent, my first concern is the safety of my child and if I believe school should have been cancelled because of icy/snowy roads then I will keep them home (this was prior to home schooling). Often it is the the decision of one person that decides to close school. Now today it's snowy, icy roads, etc..and I was thinking they may not have school. All the schools are open, but all the weather reports are drive slow, give yourself extra time to get where you need to be. I've seen those bus drivers drive in the winter and they just always are not the safest. The majority of them get to school on time (were they driving slower on these roads with my kids in that bus?) I just won't take that chance.
I agree with you sometimes those decisions are not always the most accurate. Now, my kids will have school today. We don't have to worry about icy roads or snow. At 9am, they'll be settled down for their morning reading.
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
18 Jan 13
I am always intrigued by those people that are able to home school their children. This was something that I considered, but I ultimately decided to send my children to our public schools here because we are in a very good school district and the school does offer opportunities to my children that I would not be able to give them at home.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
18 Jan 13
I do agree with you that reading at home is something that is very important for our children whether they are in traditional schooling or whether they are home schooled. I do make my children spend time reading each and every day.
I do know that extracurricular activities are available to children that are homeschooled as well. I might change my decision for my children in the future, but for right now, public schooling is working just fine for them.
@Arieles (2473)
• United States
18 Jan 13
I wanted to home school
my first four children, but just didn't "know" how to go about getting it done. With lack of respect from the school officials, bullying, etc..I made the decision with my last two. They are both in the 7th grade and doing very well. My daughters reading has improved considerably over the last year and a half. I contribute this to the mandatory reading hour I give them each morning.
My kids are allowed to go to all public functions (dances, ball games, fairs, etc..) that all the other kids have opportunities for, so it's all good. They both still have friends from their public school days. All extra curricular activities are available to home schooled children..that's why they are (extra-curricular). I love homeschooling my kids
my first four children, but just didn't "know" how to go about getting it done. With lack of respect from the school officials, bullying, etc..I made the decision with my last two. They are both in the 7th grade and doing very well. My daughters reading has improved considerably over the last year and a half. I contribute this to the mandatory reading hour I give them each morning.
My kids are allowed to go to all public functions (dances, ball games, fairs, etc..) that all the other kids have opportunities for, so it's all good. They both still have friends from their public school days. All extra curricular activities are available to home schooled children..that's why they are (extra-curricular). I love homeschooling my kids 
@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
17 Jan 13
Its better when the weather is bad to keep kids out of schools. Buses on the streets, parents taking kids to and from school can cause accidents. Hope weather gets better there soon. Take care...
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
18 Jan 13
Well, we do have a couple more months of winter to go through but that doesn't necessarily mean that our weather will be bad every day.
@SuperShames (780)
• India
17 Jan 13
Hi dorannmwin.
Well nothing such happened during my school days. But yes after coming to college there were lots of incidences when we had college when they should have given us holiday. For instance they had classes even on Christmas. I bunked that day and went to church in the morning. In fact not only in Christmas but also in every national holiday they have classes. Next week we have republic day but I would be busy giving examination on that day. Such is life.
Have a nice day !!!
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
18 Jan 13
I can't think of any reason that I would have ever gone to school over Christmas. We always had school off for Christmas and many of the other major holidays as well. If they would have had school scheduled on those holidays, I probably wouldn't have been there.
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
5 Feb 13
Oh well, I guess in that kind of situation, I can see why you are willing to work on any day of the year because of the challenges with the school that you are attending.
@SuperShames (780)
• India
18 Jan 13
Hi doranmwin.
I am not talking about the initial school here. I am doing MBA from a management school. It is already very difficult to get into the one I am in right now. Apart from that I have so much amount on its fees that I don't have any option but to attend it. Anyways have a nice day ...
@vivek19 (218)
• India
17 Jan 13
Actually, I'm unmarried, but whenever such conditions occurred with me my parents advice me to stay at home but I usually didn't agreed to them and used to go to school as for me studies are more important than staying at home. However if I got into a worse condition than I preferred to stay at home.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
18 Jan 13
I definitely do agree with you that education is very important, but ultimeately, I feel that a child's overall safety is much more important than their studies at school.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
18 Jan 13
Yes, the classwork can be made up and as a parent, I also do a lot of enrichment with my children at home so they are both significantly working above their grade levels.
@shahmi (81)
• Sri Lanka
17 Jan 13
In our country we haven't a problem like that snowing but I think my mother will agree with you because some times my mother doesn't let me go to school when it rains heavily but I don't care about that and I know when I went to school I can get lot of fun so I struggle with my mother but she doesn't let.
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
18 Jan 13
I've never let the children stay home from school because of rain or storms, however I will take them to school and pick them up as opposed to having them stand in the rain.
There have been a couple times that superstorms have been predicted in our area and they will dismiss the children from school early.
@leateagee (3667)
• China
17 Jan 13
It is a good decision as a parent. My mom usually decides when I was still studying. Her reason is that whatever happens, noone can help us so she is becoming over-protective. When I become a parent I will have to weight everything. School is very important. 
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
18 Jan 13
I do agree with you that school is very important, but what good is school doing when your children have been hurt or are put into some kind of danger.
@toyota4k (1208)
• Philippines
17 Jan 13
When my boy was 9 years old, I remembered telling him to rather stay home and not go to school for three days. I would be away that long and won't be driving him to and from school. I hate to let him ride the bus(commuter bus) so, I guessed he would rather be absent.
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
18 Jan 13
I've never done anything like that with my childrenm but I have to admit that the reason that I wouldn't do that is because of the fact that I don't want the kids to be at home alone either.
@Dominique25 (9464)
• United States
17 Jan 13
Yeah I understand what you mean and I would have done the same thing. Yes school is important but there are times when school should be canceled but it's not. And missing a day or two of school because of weather isn't going to mean that they aren't going to be educated or that it will be the end of the world. I hope that your daughter is ok from her fall. That would be scary.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
18 Jan 13
She is okay, but I do have to say that it really was something that did rattle her pretty good.
@BigMoney25 (1286)
• Philippines
17 Jan 13
Well I hope your kid recovers well from that hard fall. Sometimes its your decision to be made whether you gonna let them go to school or not. Sometimes it is not the range of the school or its capacity to tell whether your kids should attend or not. It is part of being a good parent. Goodluck
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
18 Jan 13
Luckily, when it comes down to winter weather in our district, the district will excuse the child's absence if parents don't feel it is safe for their child to go to school.
@ZoeJoy (1392)
• United States
17 Jan 13
You are the parent and you are the one responsible for your children. So, it was your decision, as well as the school's, to decide what is safe for your children. If you felt that the sidewalks are too dangerous, then it is up to you to make the safest decision for your own children.
It does sound like you make the safest decision as the sidewalks are icy and therefore, dangerous.
I home schooled my children for many years. I started with home schooling my children, then I put them into school. An dangerous incident happened on the playground and I realized there wasn't any proper supervision (plus some other reasons) and so I pulled my kids out of public school and we continued with home schooling.
So, I do support parents who make a decision for their children that may be different from the school's decision. Ultimately, we parents are responsible for our children. You made a responsible and wise decision because you considered the safety of your children first.
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
18 Jan 13
I considered home schooling my children, but I really didn't feel like I was properly equipped to be able to do that for my children. You see, my daughter is a gifted-child so in many ways I feel like she is smarter than me and they have access to gifted resources at their school. My son is just in kindergarten, but he had the opportunity to be enrolled in Spanish immerersion, which I feel like is giving him a leg up in life and I wouldn't have been able to do that with him at home either.
@deepu27dec (65)
• India
17 Jan 13
I remember bunking school to play cricket with friends. Or faking illness to skip school in winters. It is difficult to wake up early in winters :-) School days wwas so much fun.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
18 Jan 13
When I was in high school, we would always skip school during the fall and the spring when the horseracing track was running. I think there were hundreds of us that could have gotten in trouble for skipping as it was certain where we would have been.
