Snow Day for JCPS!!!!!

This just in,
High and middle schools will be dismissed at noon and elementary will be released at 1:25.
Snowmageddon is nigh.......

This just in,
High and middle schools will be dismissed at noon and elementary will be released at 1:25.
Snowmageddon is nigh.......

What a waste of learning time. The kids probably barely had time for recess and lunch. Unfortunately it counts as a full day and the students get short changed again. From an education standpoint I'd rather have them just cancel school when there is a good chance of snow (today?). But there are many thatare more concerned about the inconveniences associated with make-up days than classroom accomplishments. <sigh>.

Dan, Sorry to rant on your informational post, but I feel strongly about this waste of resources, especially when many schools in the area are not performing up to standards.

Bill

I wouldn't want to be the one in charge of such decision-making. Quite frankly, they're damned if they do and they're damned if they don't.

[Robin Garr]

I wouldn't want to be the one in charge of such decision-making. Quite frankly, they're damned if they do and they're damned if they don't.

Me either, Beth. I was just going to say. They're running a metro-wide district with a lot of kids on school buses. Close school, and they make fun of you. Lose one kid in a wreck on an icy road, and it pretty much messes up your reputation for life.

I wouldn't want to be the one in charge of such decision-making. Quite frankly, they're damned if they do and they're damned if they don't.

Me either, Beth. I was just going to say. They're running a metro-wide district with a lot of kids on school buses. Close school, and they make fun of you. Lose one kid in a wreck on an icy road, and it pretty much messes up your reputation for life.

Thanks for posting that. I'm sick to death of the beating public schools are taking lately. Really.

Thanks for posting that. I'm sick to death of the beating public schools are taking lately. Really.

Beating? In this thread, that is a bit of an over reaction. I'm of the opinion that the kids deserve a full day of school and school should be canceled if there is a significant chance of snow causing an earlier dismissal as would be a reasonable conclusion based upon all the weather reports I heard. Early dismissals create the illusion of significant learning taking place and now worst of all the little tykes will be on buses at what is projected to be the height of the storm.
If you accuse me of "beating" public schools you are definitely mistaken!

No, not on this thread in particular. Just everywhere. No accusations here. It's just en vogue right now to rip on public schools, and what they're NOT doing. Having worked in them, and with a husband who works his tail clean off in one of them, I'm sensitive to the constant barrage. No one is more aware of the performance levels of JCPS than JCPS employees themselves, so as annoying as it is - and no one gets more annoyed than my husband when they cancel school, because he despises losing instructional time - the district folks are looking out for safety. They don't take this lightly - Beth and Robin are completely right: damned if you do, damned if you don't. Just takes one bus accident to change everything. But anyway. This is in no way food-related, so I'll shut up. My intent was not to direct this at anyone here. Just sounding my barbaric YAWP.

[Robin Garr]

Just sounding my barbaric YAWP.

I'm sure Walt would have approved, and so do I, sayeth the English major.

Point of clarification....if schools are in session for a certain number of hours for the day, they can count it as an attended day, hence no make up for snow day. Just food for thought. (At least that's the way it was way back when when such things mattered to me)

Early dismissals create the illusion of significant learning taking place and now worst of all the little tykes will be on buses at what is projected to be the height of the storm.
If you accuse me of "beating" public schools you are definitely mistaken!

As the husband of an elementary teacher I must say that the idea of significant learning being done into the month of June is just as big an illusion. My wife was happy to get the half day knowing that she could accomplish some teaching and it still count, instead of being added on to the end of the year. If anyone thinks 6-8 year old kids are still learning into June, then I would invite you to go check out your local elementary school at the beginning of summer

Bah Hum Bug and Baloney. They should have these kids little bottoms warming those seats. Why I remember back when I was in school we...(fill in the blank as appropriate)________________...and we LIKED it dammit.

Oh yeah....and bring back paddling. You wear their little rear ends out with that paddle when they need it and those 4th graders will think TWICE before selling that weed in the rest room again. Why I remember back when I was....

Kris, you're right. Your quoting is off, though - you have my and Bill's name switched.

Antonia,
Sorry! I think I have edited it to show the right. My fault!
Kris

A few thoughts (and the acknowlegement that my wife is a JCPS elemntary school teacher at a high risk school):

1. By closing early, but not cancelling entirely, a makeup day is not necessary.

2. Many children is this city often see their only (of any substance, anyway) meal of the day at school. At least the less-fortunate children of the city will get a meal on this cold, snowy day.

3. Many will make the argument that our tax money is going to send this kids to school for a half day and feed them blah blah and that somehow that costs taxpayers more money. Incorrect. It's not costing any additional money. The kids go to school X number of days per year. By closing early, there will be no makeup day; if the money weren't spend on food/buses/etc. today, it would be spent on it in June. Closing early has no net financial result, nor does cancelling entirely.

A few thoughts (and the acknowlegement that my wife is a JCPS elemntary school teacher at a high risk school):

1. By closing early, but not cancelling entirely, a makeup day is not necessary.

2. Many children is this city often see their only (of any substance, anyway) meal of the day at school. At least the less-fortunate children of the city will get a meal on this cold, snowy day.

3. Many will make the argument that our tax money is going to send this kids to school for a half day and feed them blah blah and that somehow that costs taxpayers more money. Incorrect. It's not costing any additional money. The kids go to school X number of days per year. By closing early, there will be no makeup day; if the money weren't spend on food/buses/etc. today, it would be spent on it in June. Closing early has no net financial result, nor does cancelling entirely.

Brad,
Thanks for the response.
I had overlooked the lunch issue which is an important consideration in some districts.
I also don't believe anyone cited the financial impacts which as you mention net out to about zero if you look at it on a "day" basis vs. an "hour" basis.
Lest anyone thinks I'm some grumpy OF (which I am BTW) I do support public schools and education. I fact I support a longer school year and am willing to support that end through increased taxes to support the additional costs, including salaries for teachers and administrators.
Although I have no children, I do regularly attend local school board meetings and advocate for what I believe is in the best interests of the students.