Should our schools have closed?
Having fallen over this morning outside my constituency office in Whitchurch I could easily see why Cardiff Council had decided to keep all schools in the city closed today. It now appears that some people are criticising the Council and schools for caving in to the weather too quickly.
Keeping children out of school is of course a headache for parents who have to juggle their work responsibilities as a result. One would also expect a knock on effect for businesses who become short staffed although looking at the villages in my constituency having few customers is probably having more of a negative impact.
Schools have a responsibility for the safety of their pupils. Looking at the paths and playgrounds, unless the Council has an exhaustive supply of grit, it is obvious that the school site is currently a hazardous place to be. Getting to school for many would also have been difficult with side roads remaining untreated and dangerous to drive or walk along. If we expect schools to act in loco parentis then we should expect them to put the welfare of those children first. I am therefore supportive of what the Council has decided.
There is however a further difficulty. As we know long term weather forecasts are fairly useless, until recently no-one predicted this weather, and some are now saying that the freeze will continue for some time with snow likely on the weekend. It begs the question as to how much planning can actually occur and when a local Council is close to exhausting its supply of grit to whom can it turn for help?
January 7th, 2010 at 3:33 pm
Thank you! I’ve been getting fed up of people complaining and moaning about school closures. Any chance people get to moan about schools and teachers in instantly jumped upon.
January 7th, 2010 at 6:27 pm
Hmmm. Divided thoughts on this. Jon is right, schools must act in the best interests of the children – in loco parentis – but my first concern is “has H&S got to this again” – I remember as a kid walking to school through deep snow, and I still try my best to get to work in that situation as well. Hard coded in my DNA I guess…
Secondly – I work in the transport industry, and like my colleagues and competitors, we go through hell and earth to keep the system working in the event of bad weather. I notice that the airlines, bus companies are getting a pasting in the press from people who are trying to travel – but since many of the people giving them a pasting have presumably given up trying to get to work, how do they suppose the transport workers do?
We are in danger of becoming a ‘wrapped in cotton wool’ society….
January 7th, 2010 at 6:38 pm
A voice of reason at last. A number of people do not realise the pressure headteachers are under when making the decision to close the school or keep it open. Surely all parents can see that it is the safety of their children and the staff that is paramount when making such a decision.
If one child were to fall and get injured a number of people would jump ond the bandwagon to blame the Headteacher and LEA!!
January 14th, 2010 at 9:53 am
I agree that the children should be kept off school but as other adults have to get to work no matter what the weather then surely teachers should go in to work in order to finish the marking etc that takes up so much of their extra time.
(I am a former teacher before I get accused of being unfair!!)