Anonymous wrote:How can the frequent school closings due to the threat of snow, a quarter of an inch of snow or temperatures above 0 but below 30 degrees not reflect on the quality of education our children are receiving in this area? Teaching our children a work ethic should not include the excuse not to work when the temperature is not perfectly climate.
Yes, there are "what if's" put out there such as what if a bus breaks down, what if there is an accident on the way to school and so on. Those risks are present everyday everywhere. They are not exclusive to the DC area. And, more often than not, they are not rationale fears. This obviously does not apply in truly inclement weather.
Whethere there is a correlation, I do not know, but it seems that the school system reflects this country's attitude towards women's careers in general. They are not as important as men's careers and a "good mother" doesn't use school as, "babysitting". The truth is when school is delayed and closed; more often than not it is the mother who stays home. Thus keeping mothers at home with their children and not in the workforce as, unfortunately, many people in this world think they should be.
Maybe the issue is the division of labor in your family. If both spouses work, there is no reason why it should always be the mom. Also, your child's work ethic shouldn't be impacted by snow days. I remember that one of the fun parts of being a kid was hoping for weather closings and my work ethic is fine. I make sure that I encourage good work ethic in my kids by giving some "school work" for part of the day off and then free time with friends for the other part. I explain that it was supposed to be a school day so they need to do something academic to compensate for the fact that they are missing school. They get the academic stuff done and then they create their own memories of how fun weather days off in childhood can be.