Reply to Did your FCPS ES have outdoor recess today?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]No but our admin had the blacktop plowed. Hopefully for tomorrow or Thursday.

We can’t keep these kids in for 2 weeks because of the playground.

Just another aspect of this we can’t handle because I’m sure kids used to snow play outside at school. [/quote]

I taught first grade.   Have you any idea how much time it takes to take a first grade class outside in the snow?  And, how to take care of issues when you come back inside?  Wet gloves, wet boots, etc.  
I taught in a snowy climate for a year.  It is a mess.  Sure, we made the effort, but not daily.  It eats into the instruction time.  And, the kids I taught all had the appropriate clothing because it was necessary.  Not all FCPS kids have the right clothing.[/quote]

I'm an FCPS teacher and I get the time pressure we are all under.  But we are talking about 15 minute recess.  Not on wind chill advisory days, just after a snow.  Kids can handle being cold.  They can handle being a little wet.  They can learn to wear gloves and hats, and we can help families who don't have them.  This is BASIC functioning in a four season climate.  BASIC functioning.  We can do this.[/quote]

Yes, so much. It’s ridiculous.its not dangerous for them to go outside and play in cold weather for 15 minutes. On these days when it’s going to be in the teens, sure, keep them in, but most winter days are FINE for outdoor recess. We have lots of local organizations that help us get winter weather gear for kids who need it.

My school had kids inside all last week, and it was clear they weren’t playing outside after school, and they were nuts. Kids need to run around, yell, and just play outdoors.[/quote]

Most teachers I know are not afraid of parents but they are tired of having to parent. Why is everything on the school. Dress your kids warmly is a parents job. Not the schools. And I know there are title 1 issues I'm talking about the majority of schools that are not title 1[/quote]

I'm a teacher and I agree that it *shouldn't* all be on the schools...but if not us, then who?   Teachers have information that can be helpful to me in raising my son, and I appreciate when they share what they know.  If I am not dressing him warmly enough for when he is in their care, I want to know.  I want their knowledge, wisdom, and expertise.  I can't just do it all alone and I don't know it all.

But my principal makes it clear to us, over and over, that we are never to "overstep", never to make suggestions, and God forbid, never to risk "asking too much" of parents.  And that more often than not means not being honest with them about how much their kids need discipline, need to be read to, need more sleep, need more exercise, or need warmer clothing.

As defensive and entitled as I often find FCPS parents, I do give them the benefit of the doubt and genuinely believe that most don't want to raise jerks and incapable people.  More information usually helps.  And I think it's not too much to ask school aged children to manage dressing for winter, walking in snow, and playing outside in the rain.  When we know a child lacks rain gear or snow gear, we can put our vast resources to work to help obtain needed items for families.  But if kids are always sheltered from minor discomforts and never get to play in rain or snow (for example), we can't help them become people who can function in rain and snow.  I feel similarly about deadlines and minor bad grades.  Let them fail now, let them face challenges now, so they will grow the capacity to deal with setbacks when older.

But just a mean old Gen Xer who thinks kids are far more capable than we give them credit for, as a system.[/quote]

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