Will Schools Be Closed Tomorrow?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really hope they reconsider. I almost think that our unfamiliarity with these temps make people on this site and, probably in MCPS quite cavalier. If we saw these temps more often, chances are we'd be much more cautious about sending buses and children out in this cold.

If we saw these temp more often, we will not think twice to send the children to school.

Look, it is cold but not so cold that people who live in colder climate do not routinely see. This is not the -50 wind chills the upper Midwest region is experiencing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about kids who walk to school? The walk for some of my kids' friends is a little less than a mile--that's a long time to be out in the cold, and not everyone can afford winter coats.

If not all kids have winter coats, then that is the problem we should be addressing. The idea that we close school because not all kids have winter coats is ridiculous. we should just get them coats. e.g. every year you have a place where kids' old winter coats are donated and redistributed to the kids who don't have them. Done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about kids who walk to school? The walk for some of my kids' friends is a little less than a mile--that's a long time to be out in the cold, and not everyone can afford winter coats.

If not all kids have winter coats, then that is the problem we should be addressing. The idea that we close school because not all kids have winter coats is ridiculous. we should just get them coats. e.g. every year you have a place where kids' old winter coats are donated and redistributed to the kids who don't have them. Done.

There are many schools who do this already. But how do you propose to do this on a larger scale? Do you realize how poor some of our MCPS schools are? high percentages on free and reduced meals, ratty clothes, inappropriate clothes

I'm fairly certain Josh's wife will be driving the kids to school today. So while his life - as the face of MCPS, I'll add - is cushy, there is an entire underclass that struggles. He's already f-ed himself nationally with Duncan. Now he's f-ed himself on a local level. not that I care - I'm actually glad he did this to himself.

When will he learn that we're not Boston or NY or Chicago or Toronto?

[Anonymous]

Okay so now we have to buy everyone coats?? Come on already. Those kids probably need to be in school the most. 2 warm meals, heated school. Bet that is better than being home alone. Parents need to work and most don't have the luxury to stay home. It is cold, that is it. Your kids will survive. Geez

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about kids who walk to school? The walk for some of my kids' friends is a little less than a mile--that's a long time to be out in the cold, and not everyone can afford winter coats.

If not all kids have winter coats, then that is the problem we should be addressing. The idea that we close school because not all kids have winter coats is ridiculous. we should just get them coats. e.g. every year you have a place where kids' old winter coats are donated and redistributed to the kids who don't have them. Done.

There are many schools who do this already. But how do you propose to do this on a larger scale? Do you realize how poor some of our MCPS schools are? high percentages on free and reduced meals, ratty clothes, inappropriate clothes

I'm fairly certain Josh's wife will be driving the kids to school today. So while his life - as the face of MCPS, I'll add - is cushy, there is an entire underclass that struggles. He's already f-ed himself nationally with Duncan. Now he's f-ed himself on a local level. not that I care - I'm actually glad he did this to himself.

When will he learn that we're not Boston or NY or Chicago or Toronto?

I like the way you present getting coats to kids as some kind of insurmountable problem. Far easier just to close the entire school system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about kids who walk to school? The walk for some of my kids' friends is a little less than a mile--that's a long time to be out in the cold, and not everyone can afford winter coats.

If not all kids have winter coats, then that is the problem we should be addressing. The idea that we close school because not all kids have winter coats is ridiculous. we should just get them coats. e.g. every year you have a place where kids' old winter coats are donated and redistributed to the kids who don't have them. Done.

There are poor children without coats everywhere, all over the country. It is not rational to cancel school because people don't have coats.

Those same kids without coats would likely be left home alone, perhaps in unheated houses without food, if school is cancelled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Okay so now we have to buy everyone coats?? Come on already. Those kids probably need to be in school the most. 2 warm meals, heated school. Bet that is better than being home alone. Parents need to work and most don't have the luxury to stay home. It is cold, that is it. Your kids will survive. Geez

+1

And most kids take buses such that they are outdoors for a matter of minutes, not hours, in this weather.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Okay so now we have to buy everyone coats?? Come on already. Those kids probably need to be in school the most. 2 warm meals, heated school. Bet that is better than being home alone. Parents need to work and most don't have the luxury to stay home. It is cold, that is it. Your kids will survive. Geez

+1.

So much misplaced sympathy. These kids' parents are also least likely to be able to take time off work, I bet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about kids who walk to school? The walk for some of my kids' friends is a little less than a mile--that's a long time to be out in the cold, and not everyone can afford winter coats.

If not all kids have winter coats, then that is the problem we should be addressing. The idea that we close school because not all kids have winter coats is ridiculous. we should just get them coats. e.g. every year you have a place where kids' old winter coats are donated and redistributed to the kids who don't have them. Done.

There are many schools who do this already. But how do you propose to do this on a larger scale? Do you realize how poor some of our MCPS schools are? high percentages on free and reduced meals, ratty clothes, inappropriate clothes

I'm fairly certain Josh's wife will be driving the kids to school today. So while his life - as the face of MCPS, I'll add - is cushy, there is an entire underclass that struggles. He's already f-ed himself nationally with Duncan. Now he's f-ed himself on a local level. not that I care - I'm actually glad he did this to himself.

When will he learn that we're not Boston or NY or Chicago or Toronto?

I like the way you present getting coats to kids as some kind of insurmountable problem. Far easier just to close the entire school system.

It is wimpy to close the entire school system down. Sorry but DCPS and MCPS had it right. Get the kids in a warm school, get their minds working and the lower income kids get a warm breakfast/lunch and their parents don't lose their daily income or possibly their jobs by not showing up for the 2nd time in a few days.