Hannah Bias with son Mason, 2.

Poll: Should schools open in adverse weather conditions?

Tuesday, January 22, 2013
10:22 AM

AS more than 200 schools across the county closed due to heavy snowfall yesterday, we asked members of the public in Ipswich whether they thought it was right for schools to close because of the bad weather.

Name: Hannah Bias, 30

From: Ipswich

Comment: “It depends, I don’t think it’s excessive snow. I understand them closing early, but it’s a bit dramatic. People like to overuse the word treacherous when there’s a centimetre of snow.”

Name: Alex Chilcott, 30

From: Ipswich

Comment: “My general opinion is, if people’s safety is put at risk, it’s not worth it.

“It’s about the teachers’ safety and the children’s.

“It’s not worth putting people at risk. It isn’t worth anyone’s life.”

Name: Eleanor Byng, 33

From: Ipswich

Comment: “It depends how bad the snow is. For extreme places yes, for other places where it’s not so bad, no.

“The school down our road – the street is covered in snow but the kids can still get there.”

Name: Jess Gissling, 21

From: Ipswich

Comment: “It’s an overreaction. In most other professions, people still have to go to work.

“The shops are all open in town.

“Unless you’re out in the country, then it’s more understandable.”

Name: Michelle Burke, 23

From: Gainsborough, Lincolnshire

Comment: “I think it’s an overreaction.

“I think if the kids can’t make it to the school they shouldn’t go, but I think everyone panics at a drop of snow and it’s not that bad.”

Name: Aaron Tripp, 25

From: Ipswich

Comment: “I think for those ones further out, they’re probably snowed under, but the urban ones are fine. I was speaking to a friend who’s working and now they’ve got no childcare, but they still have to work.”

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5 comments

Of course schools should open. Teachers can get into work just like their next door neighbours in other jobs have to. As for the kids, surely it wouldn't hurt them to walk to school, if their mum's aren't capable of driving the 4x4 on the school run, ironically in just the type of weather where they are of much benefit. What is happening in this country, I'm sure schools in Austria, Switzerland etc don't have these nonsensical issues.

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england1770

Tuesday, January 22, 2013
A few centimetres of snow. Hardly exactly harsh conditions. Before Global Warming kicked in, weather like this would have been considered mild for the time of year. But the funny thing is, when I was a kid in the 60s and 70s, when winter weather was routinely FAR more severe, I can't remember a single occasion when my school closed. Though it's not just the schools. Within minutes of the first sign of snow last week, Radio Suffolk was getting dozens of 'phone calls about things being called off - some of them days in advance. For a nation that forever congratulates itself on showing "the spirit of the Blitz", the amount of defeatism in the face of a little bit of snow is pathetic.

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beerlover

Tuesday, January 22, 2013
if this country get much softer we will run out of cotton wool to wrap the kids in .

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gilson

Tuesday, January 22, 2013
We don't get that much snow in this country so why not let the kids have a day or 2 off to play in the snow. I used to love it when I was young.

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RC

Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Adverse weather conditions. My foot. Felixstowe schools opened. Children had great fun going to Fairfield and Colneis on sledges. Well done to the head and teachers for keeping them open. We are a NANNY STATE now. Pathetic.

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biggles the pilot

Tuesday, January 22, 2013