Would you send your child to school in this weather?

[HannahP 119]

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

I'm not entirely sure how to explain it. To some extent, all coats are probably available everywhere. But for the most part, the majority of coats (&cheap costs) tend to be regional. I've a fairly warm wool coat in KS -- but I'd have trouble finding the same down-padded, very thick Michelin-man coat that I needed in ND here in KS.

[GabiandVi 34]

This has really opened my eyes to how far down in the trenches I'm teaching. I'm shocked at how far from reality the expectations of the responders have been, no offense to the responders. It is testiment to how far your expectations drop after you've been exposed to the world I teach in. I count myself as holding higher standards than most of my colleagues. But the truth is, if it were up to me, I WOULD allow them to skip school because their parents have not bought them coats. I am not surprised that my students don't have coats, and it's the least of the things that I worry about with regard to them, their welfare, and their future expectations. It's sad, I'm sure, but apparently, a lot of people on this forum don't have a clue about how a whole lot of people in this country live. It gives me hope and dashes my hopes at the same time.

It gives me hope because it reminds me that there are areas of this country where this sort of thing is completely foreign. It is so commonplace to me that I am not only not shocked by it, but I expect it. It dashes my hopes because it reinforces my feelings that my students live a desperate lifestyle. But I have to deal with their reality, not the reality that I want for them.

[LaL 418]

Uh ok.

[Malrothien 6]

Your response also shows that you know NOTHING about any of us. I grew up poor. I grew up without a lot of things. One Christmas we had food and presents from a church. So DO NOT preach to me that I "don't know how some people live." Honey, I've been there, done that.

Before you pass judgement on what some people know, maybe you should bother thinking that you don't know anything about them.

[Niels Bohr 72]

Wow! I went to school in the snow with flip flops sometimes back in the days. I don't care if I'm cold or not as long as I get that A and perfect attendance.

Edited January 8, 2010 by Niels Bohr

[Amby 490]

Wow! I went to school in the snow with flip flops sometimes back in the days. I don't care if I'm cold or not as long as I get that A and perfect attendance.

AMEN!

Consolemaster always has his priorities straight

[William33 110]

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.

I would sacrifice everything to ensure my child was well protected from the cold. No excuses.

[GabiandVi 34]

Your response also shows that you know NOTHING about any of us. I grew up poor. I grew up without a lot of things. One Christmas we had food and presents from a church. So DO NOT preach to me that I "don't know how some people live." Honey, I've been there, done that.

Before you pass judgement on what some people know, maybe you should bother thinking that you don't know anything about them.

You're right. I know nothing about you and you know nothing about me. I'm not passing judgement on you.

It's not about being poor. It's about culture, as I said before. My students live in a world with priorities that are, apparently, foreign to you. And they were foreign to me as well. I sometimes get disgusted by their priorities. I get frustrated and bitter about them. But then I realize that I'm not liking my students, so I drop my expectations. Then I forget that other people have not dropped their expectations. And like I said, it gives me hope to be reminded that the world I grew up in still exists. It gives me hope that I might find a world in which I can insulate my daughter from exposure to this sort of world. I know that sounds terrible, but it's how I feel. In the meantime, I have to work in the world of my students. I actually like them, surprise to me.

You misunderstand me.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

... a lot of people on this forum don't have a clue about how a whole lot of people in this country live.

It's a very big country. That's true almost by definition.

I would sacrifice everything to ensure my child was well protected from the cold. No excuses.

I don't have a child but if it was too cold and I couldn't afford a coat I'd probably fuсking kill myself. I mean, I'd be a total loser, right? I'd deserve it.

But that would still leave the child without a coat so perhaps it isn't such a bright idea.

Boy, am I glad I thought that one through.

[GabiandVi 34]

I would sacrifice everything to ensure my child was well protected from the cold. No excuses.

I think probably the majority of my students' parents feel no guilt or shame that their children don't have proper protection from this cold. I don't think my students think there is anything wrong with it either. But the ones who do would probably keep their children home tomorrow if they couldn't afford a proper coat. That would be one way of protecting them.

[ScottThuy 140]

Your response also shows that you know NOTHING about any of us. I grew up poor. I grew up without a lot of things. One Christmas we had food and presents from a church. So DO NOT preach to me that I "don't know how some people live." Honey, I've been there, done that.

Before you pass judgement on what some people know, maybe you should bother thinking that you don't know anything about them.

Ok, I will run up to get some Timbits...

[Malrothien 6]

Ok, I will run up to get some Timbits...

I totally don't get your post.

[ScottThuy 140]

I totally don't get your post.

Ok I wont go get em...

[christeen 966]

You're right. I know nothing about you and you know nothing about me. I'm not passing judgement on you.

It's not about being poor. It's about culture, as I said before. My students live in a world with priorities that are, apparently, foreign to you. And they were foreign to me as well. I sometimes get disgusted by their priorities. I get frustrated and bitter about them. But then I realize that I'm not liking my students, so I drop my expectations. Then I forget that other people have not dropped their expectations. And like I said, it gives me hope to be reminded that the world I grew up in still exists. It gives me hope that I might find a world in which I can insulate my daughter from exposure to this sort of world. I know that sounds terrible, but it's how I feel. In the meantime, I have to work in the world of my students. I actually like them, surprise to me.

You misunderstand me.

Then the true issue is NOT that the kids have coats, but that you have dropped YOUR expectations that they should put education as a priority and thus you want OTHERS to also drop that expectation... However, if we drop this expectation then we have given up on this group of kids... They should be EXPECTED to find a way to get to school whether it is 20 degrees or -20. If they do not have a coat, then it is reasonable that if they are still EXPECTED to be in school, that they will find the necessary clothing (layers of t-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts can go a long way in protection from the cold) OR they would impose the expectation on their parents to put their education and ability to attendence in school as a priority.

I am a Floridan born and raised, not well off and my mother would not imagine keeping me from my education because it was "record" cold out. I would get an extra couple of shirts and a sweatshirt or sweater under my lightweight jacket and off I would go... I was EXPECTED to be in school.

I think the sad thing is that you are the educator and you seem to have lost the drive to Expect more from your kids and thus they have lost the drive to meet or exceed the expectations set of them... I dont think it is a cultural issue, but a society issue that we are so easy to give up on setting high expectations for kids reglardless of background, the cold weather and keeping them home for lack of owning a coat is just a manifestation of this apathy and double standards that, regarless of their intentions, keep underprivlidged children from reaching their potential.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I am curious in what State you are teaching - I am getting that it is not Florida yet people are talking about Florida.

I remember when I first moved to Georgia - and we are currently running 20 to 25 degrees below normal as well - our highs are where our lows normally are - I was surprised that I could find heavy winter coats on sale in the stores. One late September morning we had a day in the low 60s after days of high 70s to 90s. I was astonished when I went out that morning to see child after child bundled up in winter coats with fur hoods! That first winter I only wore a sweatshirt jacket all winter - nothing more was needed. This winter, however, I have broken out my winter coat that I brought with me from Canada. I see students - teenagers mainly - walking around with light jackets, wearing shorts and even t-shirts in spite of the frigid cold. I KNOW it isn't because they can't afford coats in this neighbourhood, nor that it is that warm coats are not available, because they are. For these kids, it is a 'choice' - it is not 'cool' to be bundled up and so they don't. Back in Canada it was the same. Teenagers went out in winter without hats and mittens and jackets unbuttoned because that was 'cool' (in more ways than one!).

If cost is a problem, there are plenty of warm second hand coats available at places like Good Will for around $5. I shop Good Will regularly and see them there.

And what is it with 'towels'? Towels give no warmth - it really sounds like some sort of affectation. There are throws and blankets available that would provide much more warmth. I suspect that there is a strong element of 'choice' in this situation rather than just not being prepared for cold weather.

Anyway, again, in what State do you teach?