Anonymous wrote:It is obvious at this point for those people who don’t want schools to open today, they won’t want schools to open tomorrow either, or Friday, or next Monday. The small minority of people still “stuck” should just be given excused absences and let everyone else go back to learning normally.

NP and a parent of a tween at a small school. If my kid's teachers are not in, it's not "learning normally." It's babysitting by whatever coaches or administrators did make it in. Meh at best.

Unpopular take but this situation is exactly what online school is for.

Anonymous wrote:It is obvious at this point for those people who don’t want schools to open today, they won’t want schools to open tomorrow either, or Friday, or next Monday. The small minority of people still “stuck” should just be given excused absences and let everyone else go back to learning normally.

The problem is these schools make teachers use their leave and then beg their colleagues for coverage. And for a lot of schools they are starting the new semesters so some teachers would have to write sub plans for kids who are brand new to their course.

Anonymous wrote:Why are teachers unable to come in, while local businesses—like 7-Eleven, gas stations, supermarkets, dry cleaners, and doctors’ offices—are still open and operating?

You have got to be kidding.

How dumb are you?

Anonymous wrote:I would imagine a critical mass of students and teachers can make it to school today. It cannot be the policy that we wait for every last person to be able to make it or we are going to be waiting until the middle of next week.

To be the people that say their car is still “snowed in”, take some personal responsibility and shovel it out like the rest of us do.

What planet does your brain live on?

This was a novel storm fool. Ice is different than fluffy snow. I know these concepts are hard for your pea sized brain cells.

Today is not safe for teachers or kids to get to school.

FOCUS

Anonymous wrote:I think we should be more upset about the lack of services with plows/salt than teachers. I am a teacher and I want to be back in school. It took me 4 hours to dig my car out of the ice yesterday. I drove it around the neighborhood (I have 4WD) and it was a mess--I had to push someone out of a spot they were stuck on.

I'm a little frustrated that the schools are still closed, but it took me 2 hours to drive to work today (based on the time I started it would usually be 30 minutes), and 6 hours over the past two days to dig out of my driveway and enough into the street that my wheels could get traction. They never plowed our street, and I'm relying on the ruts in the snow from my neighbors at the end of our cul de sac having driven on it two days ago. Had they not made that drive it would still be impossible to get to the main road. If our school has a delayed opening tomorrow, we're likely to keep our daughter home since I've got immovable work obligations around 9 am and I can't accommodate a late drop-off.

Why are teachers unable to come in, while local businesses—like 7-Eleven, gas stations, supermarkets, dry cleaners, and doctors’ offices—are still open and operating?

Anonymous wrote:I would imagine a critical mass of students and teachers can make it to school today. It cannot be the policy that we wait for every last person to be able to make it or we are going to be waiting until the middle of next week.

To be the people that say their car is still “snowed in”, take some personal responsibility and shovel it out like the rest of us do.

I don’t disagree with your view of critical mass, and doing what’s best for the majority, but I think the location of your home and the location of your school are all factors in this conversation also. As much as families want to get back to normal, so do the teachers and faculty. But not all the teachers and faculty live in walking distance to your campus.

I think we should be more upset about the lack of services with plows/salt than teachers. I am a teacher and I want to be back in school. It took me 4 hours to dig my car out of the ice yesterday. I drove it around the neighborhood (I have 4WD) and it was a mess--I had to push someone out of a spot they were stuck on.

It is obvious at this point for those people who don’t want schools to open today, they won’t want schools to open tomorrow either, or Friday, or next Monday. The small minority of people still “stuck” should just be given excused absences and let everyone else go back to learning normally.

Shoveling it out - of course we shoveled our car out. However, my street still hasn't been plowed. So you too assume everyone has an SUV. Regardless of what the carpool looks like, not everyone has an SUV. Driving on unplowed roads is not safe for anyone. Ignorant to think people can make it in. Go walk around and see. Not everyone has a heated driveway.

I would imagine a critical mass of students and teachers can make it to school today. It cannot be the policy that we wait for every last person to be able to make it or we are going to be waiting until the middle of next week.

To be the people that say their car is still “snowed in”, take some personal responsibility and shovel it out like the rest of us do.

*MoCo

Only half the residential roads in MoVo have been cleared, per Bethesda Magazine, and I suspect DC is even worse

The situation is hard for working parents but equally as difficult for teachers.

Arguing about it online isn’t going to solve things

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to a local bar this evening and it was packed. People that actually want to leave the house can do so no problem. The issue is that teachers (and admin) do not want to go to work.

Private school teacher here.

Unfortunately, my street hasn’t been plowed yet. My driveway is nice and clear… but it takes me to an unpaved stretch of 300 feet. I don’t think my car can handle that, do you?

So I’m not at the bar or the gym. It’s nice that you’re able to get out, but you’re not the only person in this world.

So, like a lazy teacher, I’ve been grading papers at home. I’ve been conferencing with students about recent essays. I’ve been updating curricula. You know… like lazy teachers do when they are unpaid and working from home.

So the entire school community has to come to halt because you live on an unpaved road?

You responded to me.

Of course not. But I also don’t expect the entire school community to immediately snap to it because a couple people made it to a bar.

Many of my coworkers are still iced in. Since schools need teachers, our school is going to have a tough time opening.

Sometimes life isn’t about you. Sometimes what the community needs is more important.

I'm a teacher. My NW DC street hasn't been touched. Not all of us have a fleet of SUVs to get around in bad weather. Not all of us live on a metro line. Buses running on an abbreviated schedule. It would be near impossible to get to work on time by bus with the current snow schedule. Think about the grandparents walking their grandkids to school? It's slippery out there! I am glad we are not open tomorrow. Gives the city a chance to clear more roads so all of us, teachers, students and staff can safely drive to school.