When you grew up, wasn't it much more rare for your school to close down? Does it seem that today the mention of the "s" word has the bottom of the screen crawl loaded up with delays and closings? Don't you guys remember playing in the snow at recess? As much as we try to shelter and protect our kids, isn't it a good idea for them to learn that life can be difficult at times? You don't always get what you want. Sometimes doing the difficult thing is the challenge you are the most proud of.
We have become a litigious society. Just one lawsuit could cost a financially strapped school district millions. Business and public operations must make decisions on what lowers your liability and reduces your financial risk. Superintendents now err on the side of caution and close school much more often than they did in years' past.
So I know why they cancel class at the first sign of a snowflake, but wonder if kids would be better off if they had to tough it out. Would school kids benefit from a walk in the snow? Would it make them heartier?
Certainly we all are to take caution, dress warmly and drive slowly. To pull out the statement that those who believe we are weakening our kids are somehow callous about public safety, defines you as part of the problem! Icy, undriveable roads? Close schools. Cold but dry roads? Teach and grow stronger backbones!
