Would you send your child to school in this weather?

[Malrothien 6]

No, it's just poor parenting.

[GabiandVi 34]

No, it's just poor parenting.

Well, then the culture of my students is to have poor parenting. I wouldn't say that I disagree, but you're the one who said it.

[Malrothien 6]

I didn't say anything about culture.

[GabiandVi 34]

I didn't say anything about culture.

But this IS their culture.

[Jenn! 918]

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

No, I wouldn't. That kind of weather is normal here, so we are equipped, but if I lived in FL it would be different. Kids grow out of clothes so quickly - why would you buy clothing that they are most likely never going to have a chance to wear?

[Niels Bohr 72]

I found someone's leather jacket that valued at $600 in the trash a few days ago. Apparently, there was a dispute between two lovers. So, one threw out the cloths while the boyfriend was away. I took it. Wow! I'm such a cheapo. But, hey, it's mines now.

[natty bumppo 297]

I found someone's leather jacket that valued at $600 in the trash a few days ago. Apparently, there was a dispute between two lovers. So, one threw out the cloths while the boyfriend was away. I took it. Wow! I'm such a cheapo. But, hey, it's mines now.

until one day he comes home ... notices you are wearing his jacket ... and decides to take it back.

then we might be reading about your experience in the ER ....

[ScottThuy 140]

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

I have seen snow here in Fla 3 times. 1 in WPB in mid 70's, 2 above Orlando in mid 80's and then in Daytona in 2001.... ok it was flurries but it was snow... the cold in Fla is actually a colder feeling temp than in the north because of the humidity here.. a wet cold.... compared to a dry cold... I would rather 10 degrees up north than 30 in Fla...

Floridians may be used to wearing shorts and going to the beach, but we all know that there is a good chance we will see hard freezes or frost every 10 years or so...

unless one is in the USVI or PR, it would not be wise to not have a good coat of some sort... worth having even for that rare occasion...

[ScottThuy 140]

I found someone's leather jacket that valued at $600 in the trash a few days ago. Apparently, there was a dispute between two lovers. So, one threw out the cloths while the boyfriend was away. I took it. Wow! I'm such a cheapo. But, hey, it's mines now.

I bought 3 really nice leather coats at Kohls two years ago in the spring when the temps had risen.. marked 90% off from $400+ got an extra discount for using the charge card on top of that... still doesnt compare to your dealio Niels...

[ScottThuy 140]

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'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.

Deep south? More south than Florida? Regular cold in Florida?

[HannahP 119]

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

To be fair, I would never use a coat I bought in KS in ND.

[Malrothien 6]

I have seen snow here in Fla 3 times. 1 in WPB in mid 70's, 2 above Orlando in mid 80's and then in Daytona in 2001.... ok it was flurries but it was snow... the cold in Fla is actually a colder feeling temp than in the north because of the humidity here.. a wet cold.... compared to a dry cold... I would rather 10 degrees up north than 30 in Fla...

Floridians may be used to wearing shorts and going to the beach, but we all know that there is a good chance we will see hard freezes or frost every 10 years or so...

unless one is in the USVI or PR, it would not be wise to not have a good coat of some sort... worth having even for that rare occasion...

Oh for sure. I'm in Vancouver, BC until next week and the cold is the same - wet and ugh. I'd much rather a dry cold! I can remember snow twice growing up. I believe it snowed the year I was born.

The funny thing is - apart from the really bad hard freeze - every year we worried about the orange trees. Nothing new or exciting, but I guess you and I are used to it and not surprised by cold in Florida.

[LaL 418]

To be fair, I would never use a coat I bought in KS in ND.

why not? I am not getting this regional coat business at all!

[Nessa 23]

children can't skip school because their parents don't want to buy them a coat. buy winter clothes for your child and be a responsible parent.

Edited January 8, 2010 by Nessa

[GabiandVi 34]

Deep south? More south than Florida? Regular cold in Florida?

If you are used to -20 being as cold as it gets, when it suddenly drops to -40, you might not be prepared. If you are used to 40 degrees being as cold as it gets, you might not be prepared for 20 degrees. That was my point. But you missed my other points as well. You bought a coat 90% off of $400. That's still $36 for a once-in-a-lifetime deal. My students might spend as much as $36 for a run-of-the-mill sale on a coat that would be warm enough for our four or five days of cold weather a year (our regular cold.) But that coat won't be warm enough for this record level cold (our highly irregular cold.) In addition, they don't have the shoes that would keep you warm in a hard freeze, or the gloves, or the pants. I'll agree that my students have bad parents and mixed up priorities, but I think reasonable people could understand why they wouldn't be equipped for once-in-ten-year (your discription) weather. I do get disgusted by students who have expensive shoes and fancy cell phones, but carry a towel around rather than wear a coat, but I can't seem to be judgemental about them not being prepared for a hard freeze. It hasn't happened in their lifetimes before now.