What do we think will happen on Monday?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Moreover - in all my years on this site, FCPS parents have shown themselves to be the most self-important and aggrieved about school closures, often demanding openings when NO other district does and griping at length about legitimate closures. Yet this majority of this thread is commentary of people saying their streets aren’t passable, sidewalks are blocked, how will people drive in reduced lanes, etc etc. If THAT is the tenor of the postings here, those concerns are almost certainly broadly shared by the people who are liable for school transportation-related injuries or accidents and are in charge of determining when/if it’s safe to open.

You never know who is posting on here. Could be Gatehouse or teachers posing as parents who just want another day off.

Really, grow up. Teachers enjoy snow days like anyone else but most of us are also parents so we want our kids back in school as much as anyone else AND I don’t think any of us are enthused about the idea of closures and the cascade of issues that come from things that have to be shifted as a result continuing into another week. There’s federal and state testing going on, remediation and prep for state testing that is coming, school events that aren’t easily moved. It’s so dumb and juvenile to just pretend teachers sit on here pretending to be something they’re not.

No, teachers get unearned PTO and are not required to find childcare during snow days, or go to work regardless of the conditions. No other profession gets that. You don’t enjoy snow days “like anyone else” and so please check your privilege.

I’m a teacher in my 20s who lives with roommates who are all consultants who can work remote. My roommates worked less this snow week than I did lol.

So your roommates aren’t either of the referenced groups— parents responsible for finding childcare or people required to go to work. Check your privilege because you’re contributing to the narrative of entitlement.

Calm down. You said “no other profession” enjoyed the snow days so I just pointed out that some of the highest paid professions in the area let you work from home. It’s bonkers to try to dunk on teachers as some privileged class in Fairfax County.

When it comes to wanting schools closed, teachers are a privileged class. They get to stay home and get paid for doing nothing!

They’re not being paid to stay home. Think of it this way: you buy tickets for a concert. The concert is postponed. You get to see the concert another time. The musicians are only paid for one concert. It’s the same with school. Teachers will have to make up the days, and they will not be paid twice.

They will not make up these days. 10 are in the calendar. Teachers see these as an entitlement.

My God, you are such a malcontent! When those days dont get used, teachers still work at school. They don't think they are entitled to ten snow days. Get over yourself.

Scroll back a few pages and you will find a post saying just that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Moreover - in all my years on this site, FCPS parents have shown themselves to be the most self-important and aggrieved about school closures, often demanding openings when NO other district does and griping at length about legitimate closures. Yet this majority of this thread is commentary of people saying their streets aren’t passable, sidewalks are blocked, how will people drive in reduced lanes, etc etc. If THAT is the tenor of the postings here, those concerns are almost certainly broadly shared by the people who are liable for school transportation-related injuries or accidents and are in charge of determining when/if it’s safe to open.

You never know who is posting on here. Could be Gatehouse or teachers posing as parents who just want another day off.

Really, grow up. Teachers enjoy snow days like anyone else but most of us are also parents so we want our kids back in school as much as anyone else AND I don’t think any of us are enthused about the idea of closures and the cascade of issues that come from things that have to be shifted as a result continuing into another week. There’s federal and state testing going on, remediation and prep for state testing that is coming, school events that aren’t easily moved. It’s so dumb and juvenile to just pretend teachers sit on here pretending to be something they’re not.

No, teachers get unearned PTO and are not required to find childcare during snow days, or go to work regardless of the conditions. No other profession gets that. You don’t enjoy snow days “like anyone else” and so please check your privilege.

I’m a teacher in my 20s who lives with roommates who are all consultants who can work remote. My roommates worked less this snow week than I did lol.

So your roommates aren’t either of the referenced groups— parents responsible for finding childcare or people required to go to work. Check your privilege because you’re contributing to the narrative of entitlement.

Calm down. You said “no other profession” enjoyed the snow days so I just pointed out that some of the highest paid professions in the area let you work from home. It’s bonkers to try to dunk on teachers as some privileged class in Fairfax County.

When it comes to wanting schools closed, teachers are a privileged class. They get to stay home and get paid for doing nothing!

I’m a teacher. I’ve worked every single day since the snow and ice started falling, including weekends. I’m taking a break from work now just to write this!
PLEASE follow me around for a day. Any day. Then tell me I do nothing.

I know mocking and insulting teachers is a sport on this site, but I’m tired of it. Find something better to do with your time. Go shovel out a narrow street. Then maybe we can get schools open and you can stop complaining about lazy teachers. Heck, this lazy teacher will even join you once I complete my plans for tomorrow.

Huh I’m not a teacher hater but confused. You had enough work to fill 3 8-hour days you would have been in school teaching? I presume you will say grading? If you are also working weekends, when would you have fit in all this grading if school had been open if you’re already working 7 days a week?

DP.

I used those days last week to reduce my work load on other days. Instead of working 8 hours on Saturday, I was able to take the day off to spend it with my family. It also meant my days on Thursday and Friday were only 10-hour days instead of being 12-to-13-hour days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Moreover - in all my years on this site, FCPS parents have shown themselves to be the most self-important and aggrieved about school closures, often demanding openings when NO other district does and griping at length about legitimate closures. Yet this majority of this thread is commentary of people saying their streets aren’t passable, sidewalks are blocked, how will people drive in reduced lanes, etc etc. If THAT is the tenor of the postings here, those concerns are almost certainly broadly shared by the people who are liable for school transportation-related injuries or accidents and are in charge of determining when/if it’s safe to open.

You never know who is posting on here. Could be Gatehouse or teachers posing as parents who just want another day off.

Really, grow up. Teachers enjoy snow days like anyone else but most of us are also parents so we want our kids back in school as much as anyone else AND I don’t think any of us are enthused about the idea of closures and the cascade of issues that come from things that have to be shifted as a result continuing into another week. There’s federal and state testing going on, remediation and prep for state testing that is coming, school events that aren’t easily moved. It’s so dumb and juvenile to just pretend teachers sit on here pretending to be something they’re not.

No, teachers get unearned PTO and are not required to find childcare during snow days, or go to work regardless of the conditions. No other profession gets that. You don’t enjoy snow days “like anyone else” and so please check your privilege.

I’m a teacher in my 20s who lives with roommates who are all consultants who can work remote. My roommates worked less this snow week than I did lol.

So your roommates aren’t either of the referenced groups— parents responsible for finding childcare or people required to go to work. Check your privilege because you’re contributing to the narrative of entitlement.

Calm down. You said “no other profession” enjoyed the snow days so I just pointed out that some of the highest paid professions in the area let you work from home. It’s bonkers to try to dunk on teachers as some privileged class in Fairfax County.

When it comes to wanting schools closed, teachers are a privileged class. They get to stay home and get paid for doing nothing!

I’m a teacher. I’ve worked every single day since the snow and ice started falling, including weekends. I’m taking a break from work now just to write this!
PLEASE follow me around for a day. Any day. Then tell me I do nothing.

I know mocking and insulting teachers is a sport on this site, but I’m tired of it. Find something better to do with your time. Go shovel out a narrow street. Then maybe we can get schools open and you can stop complaining about lazy teachers. Heck, this lazy teacher will even join you once I complete my plans for tomorrow.

Huh I’m not a teacher hater but confused. You had enough work to fill 3 8-hour days you would have been in school teaching? I presume you will say grading? If you are also working weekends, when would you have fit in all this grading if school had been open if you’re already working 7 days a week?

It’s the end of the quarter. If these snow days were the first three days of 3rd quarter, I actually would’ve had days off. But for many departments, those last three days were scheduled as summative makeup days anyway so that teachers could spend the class period finalizing the gradebook. I had students emailing me with late work and makeups all last week. Not to mention end-of-Q trainings, meetings, planning for the next quarter, etc. End of 2nd quarter is one of the busiest times of the year for HS teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just went to APS forum to see what they are saying.

Zero debate on this topic and dead thread.

That thread about APS was last updated yesterday afternoon. I’d hardly call that “zero debate.”

This kind of incident is horrible and increases in likelihood with the current one lane road situations.

April 28, 2005 ARLINGTON, Va. — Law agencies and transportation safety officials have begun investigations into the cause of an accident between a school bus and a trash hauler that left two students dead and injured 15 others last Monday.

According to The Washington Post, investigators closed the intersection where the accident took place for nearly four hours while trying to determine how the two vehicles were positioned at the time of the collision.

Police said sifting through the evidence and analyzing the results of the reenactment could take weeks or longer.

The collision killed 9-year-old Lilibeth Gomez, a third-grader at Hoffman-Boston Elementary School, instantly. Harrison Orosco, 7, died Wednesday at a local hospital from a severe head injury. The drivers of the two vehicles survived but required surgery for wounds they suffered in the collision.

There aren’t great solutions but hopefully everyone will be kinder to each other than they are on here tomorrow as the kiss and rides will be HORRIBLE!

Really? An article from 2005 about a dead child. A new low.

History is a warning - always. Be a better person and show some compassion. This may have happened 20 years ago, but it is still heartbreaking.

Nope I’m going to go with stop being a gruesome tragedy troll drumming up a 20 year old accident involving a child that NAMES A CHILD to try to sway a debate about school opening.

Gross.

You are an angry person. Go outside and shovel some ice to get rid of that negative energy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Moreover - in all my years on this site, FCPS parents have shown themselves to be the most self-important and aggrieved about school closures, often demanding openings when NO other district does and griping at length about legitimate closures. Yet this majority of this thread is commentary of people saying their streets aren’t passable, sidewalks are blocked, how will people drive in reduced lanes, etc etc. If THAT is the tenor of the postings here, those concerns are almost certainly broadly shared by the people who are liable for school transportation-related injuries or accidents and are in charge of determining when/if it’s safe to open.

You never know who is posting on here. Could be Gatehouse or teachers posing as parents who just want another day off.

Really, grow up. Teachers enjoy snow days like anyone else but most of us are also parents so we want our kids back in school as much as anyone else AND I don’t think any of us are enthused about the idea of closures and the cascade of issues that come from things that have to be shifted as a result continuing into another week. There’s federal and state testing going on, remediation and prep for state testing that is coming, school events that aren’t easily moved. It’s so dumb and juvenile to just pretend teachers sit on here pretending to be something they’re not.

No, teachers get unearned PTO and are not required to find childcare during snow days, or go to work regardless of the conditions. No other profession gets that. You don’t enjoy snow days “like anyone else” and so please check your privilege.

I’m a teacher in my 20s who lives with roommates who are all consultants who can work remote. My roommates worked less this snow week than I did lol.

So your roommates aren’t either of the referenced groups— parents responsible for finding childcare or people required to go to work. Check your privilege because you’re contributing to the narrative of entitlement.

Calm down. You said “no other profession” enjoyed the snow days so I just pointed out that some of the highest paid professions in the area let you work from home. It’s bonkers to try to dunk on teachers as some privileged class in Fairfax County.

When it comes to wanting schools closed, teachers are a privileged class. They get to stay home and get paid for doing nothing!

I’m a teacher. I’ve worked every single day since the snow and ice started falling, including weekends. I’m taking a break from work now just to write this!
PLEASE follow me around for a day. Any day. Then tell me I do nothing.

I know mocking and insulting teachers is a sport on this site, but I’m tired of it. Find something better to do with your time. Go shovel out a narrow street. Then maybe we can get schools open and you can stop complaining about lazy teachers. Heck, this lazy teacher will even join you once I complete my plans for tomorrow.

Huh I’m not a teacher hater but confused. You had enough work to fill 3 8-hour days you would have been in school teaching? I presume you will say grading? If you are also working weekends, when would you have fit in all this grading if school had been open if you’re already working 7 days a week?

I don’t get it done easily. That’s the whole point.

130 essays x 15 minutes an essay: 32 hours of sustained grading.

My students submitted essays right before the snow hit. I actually had a week to get them done. Usually I have to add 2-3 hours a night for two weeks on top of my regular evening work to get through a stack. In this case, the snow gave me a chance to get it done in a week.

So no, I’m not going to sit here and be called lazy. I’m over the insults, which make me wonder why I’m giving up so much of my time when people are so insulting and unappreciative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just went to APS forum to see what they are saying.

Zero debate on this topic and dead thread.

That thread about APS was last updated yesterday afternoon. I’d hardly call that “zero debate.”

This kind of incident is horrible and increases in likelihood with the current one lane road situations.

April 28, 2005 ARLINGTON, Va. — Law agencies and transportation safety officials have begun investigations into the cause of an accident between a school bus and a trash hauler that left two students dead and injured 15 others last Monday.

According to The Washington Post, investigators closed the intersection where the accident took place for nearly four hours while trying to determine how the two vehicles were positioned at the time of the collision.

Police said sifting through the evidence and analyzing the results of the reenactment could take weeks or longer.

The collision killed 9-year-old Lilibeth Gomez, a third-grader at Hoffman-Boston Elementary School, instantly. Harrison Orosco, 7, died Wednesday at a local hospital from a severe head injury. The drivers of the two vehicles survived but required surgery for wounds they suffered in the collision.

There aren’t great solutions but hopefully everyone will be kinder to each other than they are on here tomorrow as the kiss and rides will be HORRIBLE!

Really? An article from 2005 about a dead child. A new low.

History is a warning - always. Be a better person and show some compassion. This may have happened 20 years ago, but it is still heartbreaking.

Nope I’m going to go with stop being a gruesome tragedy troll drumming up a 20 year old accident involving a child that NAMES A CHILD to try to sway a debate about school opening.

Gross.

As someone who taught at that school and lived through the tragedy, I’m not just “drumming up a 20 year old accident” It is in my mind when bad weather rolls in because it was awful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just went to APS forum to see what they are saying.

Zero debate on this topic and dead thread.

That thread about APS was last updated yesterday afternoon. I’d hardly call that “zero debate.”

This kind of incident is horrible and increases in likelihood with the current one lane road situations.

April 28, 2005 ARLINGTON, Va. — Law agencies and transportation safety officials have begun investigations into the cause of an accident between a school bus and a trash hauler that left two students dead and injured 15 others last Monday.

According to The Washington Post, investigators closed the intersection where the accident took place for nearly four hours while trying to determine how the two vehicles were positioned at the time of the collision.

Police said sifting through the evidence and analyzing the results of the reenactment could take weeks or longer.

The collision killed 9-year-old Lilibeth Gomez, a third-grader at Hoffman-Boston Elementary School, instantly. Harrison Orosco, 7, died Wednesday at a local hospital from a severe head injury. The drivers of the two vehicles survived but required surgery for wounds they suffered in the collision.

There aren’t great solutions but hopefully everyone will be kinder to each other than they are on here tomorrow as the kiss and rides will be HORRIBLE!

Really? An article from 2005 about a dead child. A new low.

History is a warning - always. Be a better person and show some compassion. This may have happened 20 years ago, but it is still heartbreaking.

I was not a parent in 2005. I was just thinking everyone who is pushing for school tomorrow may regret it if there is a tragic accident tomorrow.

It won’t be my kid as I will drive my kids to and from school. How about that kid whose parents have to go to work and leave the kid to walk to the bus stop or school alone? I’m sure there will be many.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Moreover - in all my years on this site, FCPS parents have shown themselves to be the most self-important and aggrieved about school closures, often demanding openings when NO other district does and griping at length about legitimate closures. Yet this majority of this thread is commentary of people saying their streets aren’t passable, sidewalks are blocked, how will people drive in reduced lanes, etc etc. If THAT is the tenor of the postings here, those concerns are almost certainly broadly shared by the people who are liable for school transportation-related injuries or accidents and are in charge of determining when/if it’s safe to open.

You never know who is posting on here. Could be Gatehouse or teachers posing as parents who just want another day off.

Really, grow up. Teachers enjoy snow days like anyone else but most of us are also parents so we want our kids back in school as much as anyone else AND I don’t think any of us are enthused about the idea of closures and the cascade of issues that come from things that have to be shifted as a result continuing into another week. There’s federal and state testing going on, remediation and prep for state testing that is coming, school events that aren’t easily moved. It’s so dumb and juvenile to just pretend teachers sit on here pretending to be something they’re not.

No, teachers get unearned PTO and are not required to find childcare during snow days, or go to work regardless of the conditions. No other profession gets that. You don’t enjoy snow days “like anyone else” and so please check your privilege.

I’m a teacher in my 20s who lives with roommates who are all consultants who can work remote. My roommates worked less this snow week than I did lol.

So your roommates aren’t either of the referenced groups— parents responsible for finding childcare or people required to go to work. Check your privilege because you’re contributing to the narrative of entitlement.

Stop slinging the word privilege around. It’s old and tired. Get over your obstacles and find some resilience instead of finger pointing at someone because their obstacles and advantages are different from yours.

Privilege is the correct word here: people who will face no financial or professional consequences advocating for long term closures because it’s beneficial to themselves, while disregarding the impact on others.

I can easily get my kid to school. But not if gatehouse decides to privilege teachers over students again.

Dude, this isn’t about teachers! Stop it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Moreover - in all my years on this site, FCPS parents have shown themselves to be the most self-important and aggrieved about school closures, often demanding openings when NO other district does and griping at length about legitimate closures. Yet this majority of this thread is commentary of people saying their streets aren’t passable, sidewalks are blocked, how will people drive in reduced lanes, etc etc. If THAT is the tenor of the postings here, those concerns are almost certainly broadly shared by the people who are liable for school transportation-related injuries or accidents and are in charge of determining when/if it’s safe to open.

You never know who is posting on here. Could be Gatehouse or teachers posing as parents who just want another day off.

Really, grow up. Teachers enjoy snow days like anyone else but most of us are also parents so we want our kids back in school as much as anyone else AND I don’t think any of us are enthused about the idea of closures and the cascade of issues that come from things that have to be shifted as a result continuing into another week. There’s federal and state testing going on, remediation and prep for state testing that is coming, school events that aren’t easily moved. It’s so dumb and juvenile to just pretend teachers sit on here pretending to be something they’re not.

No, teachers get unearned PTO and are not required to find childcare during snow days, or go to work regardless of the conditions. No other profession gets that. You don’t enjoy snow days “like anyone else” and so please check your privilege.

I’m a teacher in my 20s who lives with roommates who are all consultants who can work remote. My roommates worked less this snow week than I did lol.

So your roommates aren’t either of the referenced groups— parents responsible for finding childcare or people required to go to work. Check your privilege because you’re contributing to the narrative of entitlement.

Calm down. You said “no other profession” enjoyed the snow days so I just pointed out that some of the highest paid professions in the area let you work from home. It’s bonkers to try to dunk on teachers as some privileged class in Fairfax County.

When it comes to wanting schools closed, teachers are a privileged class. They get to stay home and get paid for doing nothing!

If you feel they re so privileged and that they get paid to do nothing, why don't you apply to be a teacher? You clearly think they have a cushy job. Go join them.

Y'all are ridiculous and you know that's not the point being made.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On one hand, what makes Friday different than today in terms of snow, road and sidewalk, which would not call for another closure? I sure don’t see a difference in my neighborhood. On the other hand, DC is equally a mess but still opened on Thursday and Friday. Why can’t FFX. They should institute a liberal leave policy in these type of days.

DC has much more public transportation and tighter walking zones. While not perfect, the city has better ability to navigate school transportation than the car-dependent suburbs which rely on buses, longer routes for walkers, and kiss-and-ride lines. To me it makes sense that DCPS can open when Montgomery/Fairfax/Loudoun just can’t.

Why would Metrobusses be safer but school busses less safe. What a Gatehouse talking point…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Moreover - in all my years on this site, FCPS parents have shown themselves to be the most self-important and aggrieved about school closures, often demanding openings when NO other district does and griping at length about legitimate closures. Yet this majority of this thread is commentary of people saying their streets aren’t passable, sidewalks are blocked, how will people drive in reduced lanes, etc etc. If THAT is the tenor of the postings here, those concerns are almost certainly broadly shared by the people who are liable for school transportation-related injuries or accidents and are in charge of determining when/if it’s safe to open.

You never know who is posting on here. Could be Gatehouse or teachers posing as parents who just want another day off.

Really, grow up. Teachers enjoy snow days like anyone else but most of us are also parents so we want our kids back in school as much as anyone else AND I don’t think any of us are enthused about the idea of closures and the cascade of issues that come from things that have to be shifted as a result continuing into another week. There’s federal and state testing going on, remediation and prep for state testing that is coming, school events that aren’t easily moved. It’s so dumb and juvenile to just pretend teachers sit on here pretending to be something they’re not.

No, teachers get unearned PTO and are not required to find childcare during snow days, or go to work regardless of the conditions. No other profession gets that. You don’t enjoy snow days “like anyone else” and so please check your privilege.

I’m a teacher in my 20s who lives with roommates who are all consultants who can work remote. My roommates worked less this snow week than I did lol.

So your roommates aren’t either of the referenced groups— parents responsible for finding childcare or people required to go to work. Check your privilege because you’re contributing to the narrative of entitlement.

Calm down. You said “no other profession” enjoyed the snow days so I just pointed out that some of the highest paid professions in the area let you work from home. It’s bonkers to try to dunk on teachers as some privileged class in Fairfax County.

When it comes to wanting schools closed, teachers are a privileged class. They get to stay home and get paid for doing nothing!

I’m a teacher. I’ve worked every single day since the snow and ice started falling, including weekends. I’m taking a break from work now just to write this!
PLEASE follow me around for a day. Any day. Then tell me I do nothing.

I know mocking and insulting teachers is a sport on this site, but I’m tired of it. Find something better to do with your time. Go shovel out a narrow street. Then maybe we can get schools open and you can stop complaining about lazy teachers. Heck, this lazy teacher will even join you once I complete my plans for tomorrow.

Huh I’m not a teacher hater but confused. You had enough work to fill 3 8-hour days you would have been in school teaching? I presume you will say grading? If you are also working weekends, when would you have fit in all this grading if school had been open if you’re already working 7 days a week?

I don’t get it done easily. That’s the whole point.

130 essays x 15 minutes an essay: 32 hours of sustained grading.

My students submitted essays right before the snow hit. I actually had a week to get them done. Usually I have to add 2-3 hours a night for two weeks on top of my regular evening work to get through a stack. In this case, the snow gave me a chance to get it done in a week.

So no, I’m not going to sit here and be called lazy. I’m over the insults, which make me wonder why I’m giving up so much of my time when people are so insulting and unappreciative.

I knew you must be a high school teacher assigning writing. I appreciate this must take a long time to grade and most teachers hardly assign any writing as a result. Thanks for doing it. Writing is single biggest weakness in public school curriculum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On one hand, what makes Friday different than today in terms of snow, road and sidewalk, which would not call for another closure? I sure don’t see a difference in my neighborhood. On the other hand, DC is equally a mess but still opened on Thursday and Friday. Why can’t FFX. They should institute a liberal leave policy in these type of days.

DC has much more public transportation and tighter walking zones. While not perfect, the city has better ability to navigate school transportation than the car-dependent suburbs which rely on buses, longer routes for walkers, and kiss-and-ride lines. To me it makes sense that DCPS can open when Montgomery/Fairfax/Loudoun just can’t.

Why would Metrobusses be safer but school busses less safe. What a Gatehouse talking point…

Little kids take school busses - kids are smaller, more vulnerable, harder to see… and they don’t have a full developed pre-frontal cortex, so they might decide to have a snowball fight in the street without thinking about dangerous outcomes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On one hand, what makes Friday different than today in terms of snow, road and sidewalk, which would not call for another closure? I sure don’t see a difference in my neighborhood. On the other hand, DC is equally a mess but still opened on Thursday and Friday. Why can’t FFX. They should institute a liberal leave policy in these type of days.

DC has much more public transportation and tighter walking zones. While not perfect, the city has better ability to navigate school transportation than the car-dependent suburbs which rely on buses, longer routes for walkers, and kiss-and-ride lines. To me it makes sense that DCPS can open when Montgomery/Fairfax/Loudoun just can’t.

Why would Metrobusses be safer but school busses less safe. What a Gatehouse talking point…

Little kids take school busses - kids are smaller, more vulnerable, harder to see… and they don’t have a full developed pre-frontal cortex, so they might decide to have a snowball fight in the street without thinking about dangerous outcomes.

Do you think elementary school students in DC Don’t take Metro bus? How do you think they get to school? In both cases it’s on the parents to make sure their kids get on the bus safely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Moreover - in all my years on this site, FCPS parents have shown themselves to be the most self-important and aggrieved about school closures, often demanding openings when NO other district does and griping at length about legitimate closures. Yet this majority of this thread is commentary of people saying their streets aren’t passable, sidewalks are blocked, how will people drive in reduced lanes, etc etc. If THAT is the tenor of the postings here, those concerns are almost certainly broadly shared by the people who are liable for school transportation-related injuries or accidents and are in charge of determining when/if it’s safe to open.

You never know who is posting on here. Could be Gatehouse or teachers posing as parents who just want another day off.

Really, grow up. Teachers enjoy snow days like anyone else but most of us are also parents so we want our kids back in school as much as anyone else AND I don’t think any of us are enthused about the idea of closures and the cascade of issues that come from things that have to be shifted as a result continuing into another week. There’s federal and state testing going on, remediation and prep for state testing that is coming, school events that aren’t easily moved. It’s so dumb and juvenile to just pretend teachers sit on here pretending to be something they’re not.

No, teachers get unearned PTO and are not required to find childcare during snow days, or go to work regardless of the conditions. No other profession gets that. You don’t enjoy snow days “like anyone else” and so please check your privilege.

I’m a teacher in my 20s who lives with roommates who are all consultants who can work remote. My roommates worked less this snow week than I did lol.

So your roommates aren’t either of the referenced groups— parents responsible for finding childcare or people required to go to work. Check your privilege because you’re contributing to the narrative of entitlement.

Calm down. You said “no other profession” enjoyed the snow days so I just pointed out that some of the highest paid professions in the area let you work from home. It’s bonkers to try to dunk on teachers as some privileged class in Fairfax County.

When it comes to wanting schools closed, teachers are a privileged class. They get to stay home and get paid for doing nothing!

I’m a teacher. I’ve worked every single day since the snow and ice started falling, including weekends. I’m taking a break from work now just to write this!
PLEASE follow me around for a day. Any day. Then tell me I do nothing.

I know mocking and insulting teachers is a sport on this site, but I’m tired of it. Find something better to do with your time. Go shovel out a narrow street. Then maybe we can get schools open and you can stop complaining about lazy teachers. Heck, this lazy teacher will even join you once I complete my plans for tomorrow.

Huh I’m not a teacher hater but confused. You had enough work to fill 3 8-hour days you would have been in school teaching? I presume you will say grading? If you are also working weekends, when would you have fit in all this grading if school had been open if you’re already working 7 days a week?

I don’t get it done easily. That’s the whole point.

130 essays x 15 minutes an essay: 32 hours of sustained grading.

My students submitted essays right before the snow hit. I actually had a week to get them done. Usually I have to add 2-3 hours a night for two weeks on top of my regular evening work to get through a stack. In this case, the snow gave me a chance to get it done in a week.

So no, I’m not going to sit here and be called lazy. I’m over the insults, which make me wonder why I’m giving up so much of my time when people are so insulting and unappreciative.

I knew you must be a high school teacher assigning writing. I appreciate this must take a long time to grade and most teachers hardly assign any writing as a result. Thanks for doing it. Writing is single biggest weakness in public school curriculum.

Thank you! It’s rare to see kind words on this site. And you’re correct, it is a weakness. That’s the very reason I try to do so much of it.

Again: thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just went to APS forum to see what they are saying.

Zero debate on this topic and dead thread.

That thread about APS was last updated yesterday afternoon. I’d hardly call that “zero debate.”

This kind of incident is horrible and increases in likelihood with the current one lane road situations.

April 28, 2005 ARLINGTON, Va. — Law agencies and transportation safety officials have begun investigations into the cause of an accident between a school bus and a trash hauler that left two students dead and injured 15 others last Monday.

According to The Washington Post, investigators closed the intersection where the accident took place for nearly four hours while trying to determine how the two vehicles were positioned at the time of the collision.

Police said sifting through the evidence and analyzing the results of the reenactment could take weeks or longer.

The collision killed 9-year-old Lilibeth Gomez, a third-grader at Hoffman-Boston Elementary School, instantly. Harrison Orosco, 7, died Wednesday at a local hospital from a severe head injury. The drivers of the two vehicles survived but required surgery for wounds they suffered in the collision.

There aren’t great solutions but hopefully everyone will be kinder to each other than they are on here tomorrow as the kiss and rides will be HORRIBLE!

Really? An article from 2005 about a dead child. A new low.

History is a warning - always. Be a better person and show some compassion. This may have happened 20 years ago, but it is still heartbreaking.

I was not a parent in 2005. I was just thinking everyone who is pushing for school tomorrow may regret it if there is a tragic accident tomorrow.

It won’t be my kid as I will drive my kids to and from school. How about that kid whose parents have to go to work and leave the kid to walk to the bus stop or school alone? I’m sure there will be many.

You do know that, even including dramatic stories like the above, driving is statistically less safe than the school bus?