Day #4 of the ice, snow, and freezing rain makes for a great day to rest and stay under the covers.
Saturday, February 28, 2015
Ice and Snow Days
This has been a crazy week full of freezing temperatures, ice, and snow. While I have enjoyed my yard being covered in white, it has raised two points of discussion that have truly irritated me.
1. Schools are closed, and parents are irritated about being home with them.
2. Schools making decisions about whether or not schools will be closed, and parents getting angry no matter what decision is made.
On Monday and Tuesday, February 23rd & 24th, my school district, along with the majority of those around us, decided to close. It was great that both decisions were made the night before, and we could actually sleep through the night, not setting alarms.
I don't like having Ice/Snow Days. We were just off for Christmas and then we get a day off for MLK, Jr Day. I look forward to the built in Snow Day holidays later in the semester when we need a day off to rejuvenate. I hate to use a Snow Day when it isn't necessary. However, I do not want anyone on the road when they are bad. I know what a hard decision it has to be for school districts to make.
I know there was a wave of excitement moving across the Metroplex Tuesday night and Wednesday morning from all the parents/loved ones who had been locked up with children for two days. Monday evening and Tuesday brought many Facebook comments from parents about their frustration of being at home with their children. The number of comments I saw really angered me. All I wanted to yell (and post in all capital letters) was "They are your children! You had them! You think it is hard to deal with them for 2 days? Try being their teacher all year. The teachers spend time with your child and 20+ more every day for more hours than a parent has them. Try being a teacher on the day it is snowing while still at school. Come on, people!" The more comments I saw, the more I bit my tongue. I tell you, it almost fell off.
We were back in school on Wednesday and Thursday. Heading to bed Thursday night, meteorologists were forecasting 1-4 inches of snow on Friday, followed by freezing rain. When we awoke, nothing was falling, and roads were fine. My district and most surrounding districts made the decision to have a normal day of school. Then . . . around 9:00 or so, the snow began. It kept falling and falling. What was melting due to traffic on roads was refreezing making layers of ice under the snow. A few districts started closing at 10:30, 11:00, 12:00, 1:45, etc. My district chose to stay open and run buses at regular times. For parents who wanted, they could pick-up their children for excused absences due to weather. Bridges, road shoulders, and parking lots were icy and slick, but the most driven parts of the highways were fine. Later in the evening, I read the district's Facebook posts about staying open and then I read parents' comments. Again, complaining, which frustrated me again.
I completely understand the fear parents have about the safety of their children. I respect that. However, a district has to do what they think is best for the majority. When schools close, many times, students are going home to empty homes. Parents struggle to get home due to weather and traffic, and getting home earlier makes for even more difficulty. If schools are closed, children who depend on schools for meals don't get them. They go hungry every day schools are closed. Parents always have the right to pick-up their children when they think they are in danger. However, they do not have to complain or gripe at the district for the decision they are making when it is being made for the whole.
At no point does a district or administrator set-out to make people's lives difficult or put children in danger. Decisions have to be made for the good of the whole and with the details/information that they have at the moment. Not everyone will be happy, and I understand that. I just wish parents stopped to realize what all goes into a district's decision.
Here are few pics:
1. Schools are closed, and parents are irritated about being home with them.
2. Schools making decisions about whether or not schools will be closed, and parents getting angry no matter what decision is made.
On Monday and Tuesday, February 23rd & 24th, my school district, along with the majority of those around us, decided to close. It was great that both decisions were made the night before, and we could actually sleep through the night, not setting alarms.
I don't like having Ice/Snow Days. We were just off for Christmas and then we get a day off for MLK, Jr Day. I look forward to the built in Snow Day holidays later in the semester when we need a day off to rejuvenate. I hate to use a Snow Day when it isn't necessary. However, I do not want anyone on the road when they are bad. I know what a hard decision it has to be for school districts to make.
I know there was a wave of excitement moving across the Metroplex Tuesday night and Wednesday morning from all the parents/loved ones who had been locked up with children for two days. Monday evening and Tuesday brought many Facebook comments from parents about their frustration of being at home with their children. The number of comments I saw really angered me. All I wanted to yell (and post in all capital letters) was "They are your children! You had them! You think it is hard to deal with them for 2 days? Try being their teacher all year. The teachers spend time with your child and 20+ more every day for more hours than a parent has them. Try being a teacher on the day it is snowing while still at school. Come on, people!" The more comments I saw, the more I bit my tongue. I tell you, it almost fell off.
We were back in school on Wednesday and Thursday. Heading to bed Thursday night, meteorologists were forecasting 1-4 inches of snow on Friday, followed by freezing rain. When we awoke, nothing was falling, and roads were fine. My district and most surrounding districts made the decision to have a normal day of school. Then . . . around 9:00 or so, the snow began. It kept falling and falling. What was melting due to traffic on roads was refreezing making layers of ice under the snow. A few districts started closing at 10:30, 11:00, 12:00, 1:45, etc. My district chose to stay open and run buses at regular times. For parents who wanted, they could pick-up their children for excused absences due to weather. Bridges, road shoulders, and parking lots were icy and slick, but the most driven parts of the highways were fine. Later in the evening, I read the district's Facebook posts about staying open and then I read parents' comments. Again, complaining, which frustrated me again.
I completely understand the fear parents have about the safety of their children. I respect that. However, a district has to do what they think is best for the majority. When schools close, many times, students are going home to empty homes. Parents struggle to get home due to weather and traffic, and getting home earlier makes for even more difficulty. If schools are closed, children who depend on schools for meals don't get them. They go hungry every day schools are closed. Parents always have the right to pick-up their children when they think they are in danger. However, they do not have to complain or gripe at the district for the decision they are making when it is being made for the whole.
At no point does a district or administrator set-out to make people's lives difficult or put children in danger. Decisions have to be made for the good of the whole and with the details/information that they have at the moment. Not everyone will be happy, and I understand that. I just wish parents stopped to realize what all goes into a district's decision.
Here are few pics:
Saturday, February 21, 2015
TALE 2015
Today, my BFFs and I attended and presented at TALE (Texas Association of Literacy Educators). We led a session on Be an Active Reader and a round table session about building a culture of literacy in a school. It is always great meeting authors and talking with fellow educators.
Book signing with Donalyn Miller
Me doing my part of Be an Active Reader.
Sorry they aren't clearer.
The Literacy Triad
Book signing with Steven Layne
Our selfie before heading to the Board Meeting and dinner.
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