Would you send your child to school in this weather?

[GabiandVi 34]

Like most of the country, we are experiencing especially cold weather. It's supposed to be about 20 degrees F tomorrow morning when the students are meant to catch the bus (at about 6:00 AM). We never have this kind of weather and our winters are rather short, so while my students might wear expensive shoes, flashy bling, mulitple tatoos, or gold grills, understandably, they don't spend money on heavy winter coats. Many of them walk around school with towels as blankets rather than any coat at all. We can't even get really cold-weather clothing here except at sporting goods stores. And their uniform pants are cotton.

I'm not blaming the school board for not cancelling school. I understand where they are coming from. And as far as I'm concerned, I would rather teach tomorrow than have to make up a day come summer time. But I don't think I'd send my child to school on such a day. Most schools here are designed so that you have to go outside to get from class to class.

Would you send your child to school in this sort of weather if they didn't have the clothing for it?

[Darnell 8,478]

No.

[GabiandVi 34]

Never mind. Just got the call that school has been cancelled. There is supposed to be ice on the roads, and drivers here aren't used to driving on ice, so it is too dangerous to put kids in buses. Good decision. And I'm happy for my students that they don't have to decide to freeze their butts off or rack up an unexcused absense.

[Mags 112]

If your students have expensive shoes, bling, grills and tattoos then, in my opinion, it's their own damn fault for not having a coat. These things are not cheap. Not buying a coat is their choice and they should suffer the consequences.

Now, poverty is a different matter but, even then, there are local charities and winter coat drives that are there to help.

Edited January 7, 2010 by Mags

[GabiandVi 34]

If your students have expensive shoes, bling, grills and tattoos then, in my opinion, it's their own damn fault for not having a coat. These things are not cheap. Not buying a coat is their choice and they should suffer the consequences.

Now, poverty is a different matter but, even then, there are local charities and winter coat drives that are there to help.

Normally, I would totally agree with you. But they really don't need the coats. Even the ones who have spent money on coats don't have coats that are adequate for this sort of weather.

[natty bumppo 297]

Normally, I would totally agree with you. But they really don't need the coats. Even the ones who have spent money on coats don't have coats that are adequate for this sort of weather.

guess the school better teach life science ... home ec ... how to survive life ... how not to be a victim classes

did the kids or parents ever hear of layering?

[GabiandVi 34]

guess the school better teach life science ... home ec ... how to survive life ... how not to be a victim classes

did the kids or parents ever hear of layering?

Again, I would agree. But seriously, expecting these kids to have clothing adequate for this weather would be like expecting to find an AC in an igloo. We have this sort of weather once every ten or twenty years here. Actually, I'm not sure if it has ever been as low as 20 degrees here. We hit below freezing once or twice a year on average, but below freezing means 30 or 31 degrees, maybe as low as 28.

[natty bumppo 297]

Again, I would agree. But seriously, expecting these kids to have clothing adequate for this weather would be like expecting to find an AC in an igloo. We have this sort of weather once every ten or twenty years here. Actually, I'm not sure if it has ever been as low as 20 degrees here. We hit below freezing once or twice a year on average, but below freezing means 30 or 31 degrees, maybe as low as 28.

is it time to send the parents back to school?

heck layering a t-shirt, shirt, sweat shirt, light jacket would go a long way. If they have clothing to handle the 40-50 degree range it's a good start.

oh well ... at least they will stay home. hopefully the homes will be with heat.

[ScottThuy 140]

I live near the bottom of Florida.. almost the southernmost point... we dont see freezes often, but Coats, sweaters hoodies etc are available at every dept store... What area of the US does not have coats for sale in the winter? I understand they may not have snow gear, but a decent coat and layers of other clothes should be available anywhere in the US...

[Malrothien 6]

I'm a native Floridian. Of all the years I lived in Florida, I ALWAYS had a warm coat and sweatshirts.

[ScottThuy 140]

May be a pain in the butt digging that coat or sweater out, also born and raised here and always had one as well... I blame the parents...

[bora bora 1]

Again, I would agree. But seriously, expecting these kids to have clothing adequate for this weather would be like expecting to find an AC in an igloo. We have this sort of weather once every ten or twenty years here. Actually, I'm not sure if it has ever been as low as 20 degrees here. We hit below freezing once or twice a year on average, but below freezing means 30 or 31 degrees, maybe as low as 28.

Where do you work?

I see some similarities between your school and mine, except that my students ARE poor. However, it is cold in January/February in central Florida and parents should, and can, afford sweatshirts.

Now I just wish the kids would stop wearing shorts in 30 degree weather.

[LaL 418]

Like most of the country, we are experiencing especially cold weather. It's supposed to be about 20 degrees F tomorrow morning when the students are meant to catch the bus (at about 6:00 AM). We never have this kind of weather and our winters are rather short...

Coats aside - I don't know anyone who doesn't have enough clothes to layer for inclimate weather. IMO - of course they should go to school unless canceled.

[GabiandVi 34]

Where do you work?

I see some similarities between your school and mine, except that my students ARE poor. However, it is cold in January/February in central Florida and parents should, and can, afford sweatshirts.

Now I just wish the kids would stop wearing shorts in 30 degree weather.

Oh, my students are poor as well. I think this school where I'm teaching this year has a slightly lower percentage of students on free breakfast, free lunch than where I taught (in the same district) last year, but that means it's in the 80s rather than nearly 100%. But they still manage to have the things I mentioned. But I can understand why they wouldn't spend money on expensive pieces of clothing they don't need but a few days a year.

Our students don't wear shorts in any weather because it's not uniform, but also because they are cold natured. But I've taught kids who wore shorts and tee-shirts in below freezing weather. These were rich kids, though.

[GabiandVi 34]

I live near the bottom of Florida.. almost the southernmost point... we dont see freezes often, but Coats, sweaters hoodies etc are available at every dept store... What area of the US does not have coats for sale in the winter? I understand they may not have snow gear, but a decent coat and layers of other clothes should be available anywhere in the US...

Coats are available, but the coats that we have here, and probably that you have there, are not meant for 20 degree weather. When I've lived in really cold places, I have had completely different types of coats than the ones I grew up wearing.

And again, while these kids spend money on things that I might not approve of, I really can't blame them for not spending money that they really don't have on expensive clothing that they would usually only need a couple of days a year.

I have really warm coats for my daughter, but I'd be hard put to find some pants that would keep her warm if she had to stand for 20 minutes in this sort of cold waiting for a bus in the dark. She has outgrown the lined pants that I had for her, and I wouldn't know where to get more for her at this late date. Of course, I'm in a position where I would not have to have her wait in the cold, and anyway she is too young to be riding a bus much less waiting for one in the cold.