Would you send your child to school in this weather?

[LaL 418]

I bought a winter coat in FL at Old Navy that I use here in KS.

[GabiandVi 34]

I bought a winter coat in FL at Old Navy that I use here in KS.

We can certainly get coats for cold weather here for a price, but I wouldn't own one if I didn't think I was going to visit colder areas. Tomorrow will be the first time I've worn my winter coat since moving back to this area.

[Malrothien 6]

It is not that uncommon to have cold snaps like this in Florida. In the 16 years I lived there, I can remember at least 6 winters that were cold enough to warrent a winter jacket.

[LaL 418]

We can certainly get coats for cold weather here for a price, but I wouldn't own one if I didn't think I was going to visit colder areas. Tomorrow will be the first time I've worn my winter coat since moving back to this area.

Are you saying coats are more expensive where you are as opposed colder places?

[GabiandVi 34]

According to records here, we haven't had weather like this since '96, and it was 20 years before that that we had such cold weather.

[Malrothien 6]

According to records here, we haven't had weather like this since '96, and it was 20 years before that that we had such cold weather.

I'm not talking about record cold. I'm talking about it being cold period for the state.

[GabiandVi 34]

Are you saying coats are more expensive where you are as opposed colder places?

I'm saying that coats that would keep me warm in 20 degree weather are only sold in certain stores because there isn't the demand for them. (Fl has snowbirds, so maybe there is a greater demand.) I'm saying that they are more expensive than the sorts of coats we buy for the kind of weather we normally have. And, I'm saying that while the priorities of my students are undoubtedly skewed, I'm not surprised, and I don't really blame them for not having proper clothes for weather that we never have, and that while I might not approve of their skewed priorities, I wouldn't send them to school in this weather if they didn't have the clothes for it, which many of them don't. Three cotton hoodies and a pair of cotton pants with cotton socks and tennis shoes, a cotton scarf, and if they are really special some cotton gloves are no match for 20 minutes in the pitch dark waiting in 20 degree weather for a bus that is running late because it is so cold. That's all I'm saying.

[Malrothien 6]

I'm sorry, but that is just weird to me. I always had a scarf, gloves, good socks, thermals, etc. when I lived in Florida.

[GabiandVi 34]

I'm not talking about record cold. I'm talking about it being cold period for the state.

I know. But I'm not talking about being dressed for that sort of cold. I'm talking about being dressed for record cold. This is really record cold for us. It is about 15 or 20 degrees colder than our normal coldest cold. That's a huge difference for people who aren't used to cold.

[Malrothien 6]

I know what record cold in Florida is like in case you missed the 'native Floridian' post.

[GabiandVi 34]

I'm sorry, but that is just weird to me. I always had a scarf, gloves, good socks, thermals, etc. when I lived in Florida.

But what is your cultural background? I did too, but I have to admit, I remember being miserably cold about two or three days a year even with my warm clothing. And that was nothing like the cold we're talking about here. Now, the first time I went to Colorado to ski, I remember my face and feet being miserably cold, but I also remember not being as cold as waiting for the bus (after sunrise, unlike students do today) on cold mornings in my little town in the Deep South. For one, our cold was more humid, but also, we just didn't have the clothes, even though we were well-clothed. And I'm from a fairly affluent background with college educated parents. (And I didn't know what a thermal was until we went skiing.)

I know what record cold in Florida is like in case you missed the 'native Floridian' post.

I'm not from Florida. But my point was that you are talking about being equipped for regular cold in Florida. I'm talking about being equipped for irregular cold in my area. In any area.

[Malrothien 6]

What does my cultural background have to do with planning for any possibility? What does being from an affluent background with college educated parents have to do with this? It doesn't.

I grew up poor, period. I STILL had the sense to be prepared for anything that could happen. I remember it being 17* one night and we were not cold because we had what we needed to be warm.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

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.

Yeah. My mom would have read me the riot act for even thinking about going to school without a jacket.

[bora bora 1]

Yeah. My mom would have read me the riot act for even thinking about going to school without a jacket.

LOL mine too.

[GabiandVi 34]

What does my cultural background have to do with planning for any possibility? What does being from an affluent background with college educated parents have to do with this? It doesn't.

I grew up poor, period. I STILL had the sense to be prepared for anything that could happen. I remember it being 17* one night and we were not cold because we had what we needed to be warm.

Well, I'd be the first to say that my students and their parents don't have a lot of sense with regard to a LOT of things. But I still wouldn't wish them to stand in the cold. Apparantly, your cultural background has a lot to do with it because this is the norm with my students. It is cultural for them.