Our Lady's Royton

[oafc0000]

Well there'll be fewer injuries and fewer crimes if everybody's safely indoors at home!

 

(Of course the injuries that occur during the migration from school to home could cause a short term peak in A&E attendance)

 

Hopefully not! All the nurses are on their way home as well

[MaskedOwl]

Haven't read all this thread as i have been working....in a school. We have just been sent home. It's the correct decision. I think some of you are just a wee bit jealous.

 

Conditions in and around the school grounds are very bad. Despite ground staff working hard its a thankless task. Its becoming dangerous walking in and around school. Another problem is getting the kids home at 3.30 as the snow continues to fall. This is why they have been allowed to leave early. Some of our kids travel long distances. Some buses have been stopped and routes closed. Then there is the issue of staffing with a lot of people having to travel even greater distances.

[jimsleftfoot]

School has just text me, the boy's finishing at noon today. But conditions have deteriorated this morning and I think the wife will be working from home this afternoon (she's a community nurse)

 

In all fairness though, it didn’t really snow much when I was at school anyway.

[beag_teeets]

I was sent home from Our Ladys a couple of times due to snow in the mid 80s so all this "didn't happen in my day" is bollocks.

[oafcprozac]

I was sent home from Our Ladys a couple of times due to snow in the mid 80s so all this "didn't happen in my day" is bollocks.

 

Once or twice I was sent home from St. Augustine's in the late '80s due to snow.

[futchers briefs]

Just been sent home an hour ago and after seeing and hearing the many tales from the drivers and escorts of the minibus' trying to get our kids into school, I can say it was a bit daft to open this morning, but do understand why. Having so many kids in wheelchairs/vulnerable, trying to get them into school and home again within the space of 4 hours must be a nightmare.

Safety first folks.

[Rocky_Latic]

Just been sent home an hour ago and after seeing and hearing the many tales from the drivers and escorts of the minibus' trying to get our kids into school, I can say it was a bit daft to open this morning, but do understand why. Having so many kids in wheelchairs/vulnerable, trying to get them into school and home again within the space of 4 hours must be a nightmare.

Safety first folks.

It's even worse for our lot given the amount of wheelchairs and vulnerable kids who rely on minibuses dropping them off at their doorsteps. Most cant get down the side streets. This will be just as difficult if not more so, when it turns to ice. Then there's the staff who are coming from miles away. Huddersfield, Rochdale, Bury. All things that have to be taken into consideration.

 

I went outside in the playground earlier to find two diggers moving snow (just as they had done yesterday). What an absolute waste of tax payers money from Oldham Council.

Edited December 1, 2010 by Rocky_Latic

[Lee Sinnott]

Haven't read all this thread as i have been working....in a school. We have just been sent home. It's the correct decision. I think some of you are just a wee bit jealous.

 

Conditions in and around the school grounds are very bad. Despite ground staff working hard its a thankless task. Its becoming dangerous walking in and around school. Another problem is getting the kids home at 3.30 as the snow continues to fall. This is why they have been allowed to leave early. Some of our kids travel long distances. Some buses have been stopped and routes closed. Then there is the issue of staffing with a lot of people having to travel even greater distances.

 

:censored: that, Pete. A bit of snow and the whole world falls apart. It's not as though we've been used to tropical climates is it?

 

Seems our school was one of the only ones to do a full day yesterday and today.

[Lee Sinnott]

Just been sent home an hour ago and after seeing and hearing the many tales from the drivers and escorts of the minibus' trying to get our kids into school, I can say it was a bit daft to open this morning, but do understand why. Having so many kids in wheelchairs/vulnerable, trying to get them into school and home again within the space of 4 hours must be a nightmare.

Safety first folks.

 

None of this "finishing early" :censored:e when you move to a primary mainstream school, Geoffrey.

[futchers briefs]

None of this "finishing early" :censored:e when you move to a primary mainstream school, Geoffrey.

That's why I'll stay where I am thank you

[futchers briefs]

No your spot on Mums been home ALL day... School Closed ;-) Just don't start.

Just for good measure as well Mr Sinnott, we'll have a full day off tomorrow as well - thank you

[Lee Sinnott]

Just for good measure as well Mr Sinnott, we'll have a full day off tomorrow as well - thank you

 

Good, well you can go and clear the snow off Tate Street then.

[Rocky_Latic]

That's why I'll stay where I am thank you

+1

 

Enjoy your day off tomorrow.

[futchers briefs]

Good, well you can go and clear the snow off Tate Street then.

No way Pedro, that would put a stop to the mid afternoon start to the christmas footings and besides I don't want to sweep the snow off, as i'll probably slip on the thick ice below!!

[24hoursfromtulsehill]

Gosh, that's rather brilliant. I will support it if you tie it up with my proposal for Hansard reporters to be seconded to East Anglian gangs of illegal Chinese farm labourers during the summer recess?

 

Your opinion has been noted and passed on to the relevant authorities.

[rudemedic]

lol Dad is maths.... of course doesn't need to spell!!! But his class got 21 A*s and 5 A's in June Exams. He also got 27 adults through to a C in 9 1/2 weeks.

 

As he typed that in the car on a phone its hardly going to be Shakespeare. Seeing as he has just won £2000 today in a national teaching award it will be just enough to wind up Rudemedic who appears to think everyone bar him is good at his job and in the know. My Uni shut yesterday and again today on safety grounds. Oh and he could win £50,000 in final ;-)

 

As for dads post he would of got expelled if he had said what he really thought of some of the rubbish on here. I know better than most he is often in school at 7.00am and home at 10pm just like normal people. He then usually does work to 1ish in morning.

 

As for youth of today....lol lol lol. Parents......

 

See if your we had more teachers like your Dad this country would be a lot better. There are some teachers who work hard and then there are some who don't, your Dad is obviously in the first lot.

 

Judging by the amount of people I've seen at uni today in one of the worst hit bits of the country, (I presume you go to Hallam, it says a lot about that uni that it has shut for safety reasons yet other unis in much worse hit areas have remained open), quite a few of them who earn far less than teachers then the excuse of the teachers not being able to get in wears very thin with me. If people in the NHS decided to shut the hospitals in weather like this there would be hell to pay, but its fine for the teachers to do it? I realise health and safety is a problem (its a problem in the hospitals too, which funnily enough are still open) but maybe something should be done about it. Schools shutting does often mean that one parent has to stay at home to look after the kids, which has negative effects on the whole community. Plus aside from those with mobility problems and various other reasons for not living that near to the school, (I'm often dubious about the religious schools excemption, although it is entirely understandable in a few cases) what is the point of having a catchment area, if it means schools shut because the kids can't walk home? Why not a free-for-all?

 

Essentially individuals decide where they live, it may be down to various reasons but obviously in some cases proximity to work is not that important in some professions (certain doctors are regulated so they have to live within a certain distance, in some cases its 10 minutes drive, which is nearly always walkable), I'm not saying everyone should live within that sort of distance but living miles away is not good. Perhaps those schools in Oldham have an excuse as the trains don't run but otherplaces with a train station- very little sympathy from me.

Edited December 1, 2010 by rudemedic

[leeslover]

Took me about 4 hours extra travel in total today - working from home to dodge the weather isn't seen as the best when the staple of your industry is having colleagues walking around the streets . Was especially impressed by the practical joke the rail network played of changing the destination of my morning train mid journey. Still, I enjoyed my 20 minute walk in the evening, horrifying passers by by supping from a cold can of lager as I went.

[Oafc88]

See if your we had more teachers like your Dad this country would be a lot better. There are some teachers who work hard and then there are some who don't, your Dad is obviously in the first lot.

 

Judging by the amount of people I've seen at uni today in one of the worst hit bits of the country, (I presume you go to Hallam, it says a lot about that uni that it has shut for safety reasons yet other unis in much worse hit areas have remained open), quite a few of them who earn far less than teachers then the excuse of the teachers not being able to get in wears very thin with me. If people in the NHS decided to shut the hospitals in weather like this there would be hell to pay, but its fine for the teachers to do it? I realise health and safety is a problem (its a problem in the hospitals too, which funnily enough are still open) but maybe something should be done about it. Schools shutting does often mean that one parent has to stay at home to look after the kids, which has negative effects on the whole community. Plus aside from those with mobility problems and various other reasons for not living that near to the school, (I'm often dubious about the religious schools excemption, although it is entirely understandable in a few cases) what is the point of having a catchment area, if it means schools shut because the kids can't walk home? Why not a free-for-all?

 

Essentially individuals decide where they live, it may be down to various reasons but obviously in some cases proximity to work is not that important in some professions (certain doctors are regulated so they have to live within a certain distance, in some cases its 10 minutes drive, which is nearly always walkable), I'm not saying everyone should live within that sort of distance but living miles away is not good. Perhaps those schools in Oldham have an excuse as the trains don't run but otherplaces with a train station- very little sympathy from me.

 

Just before i start, il state im not a teacher or anything to do with the school system. In fact im currently having to battle of over a foot of snow in Geneva for the 15 minute walk to get to the train station for work in the mornings, which i manage. But i can see where the schools are coming from when having to close down.

 

I just don't get the argument in comparing the NHS/Police/fire service to the education sector in terms of 'well they have to turn in so should they!'. For one the former are emergency services so for me its beyond doubt that those people should risk it and make that extra effort to go in and then stay till their shift is done as they provide arguably the most important services in the country. However as vital as our kids education is, its not worth it over a day or two, to risk however many thousands of kids and staff at each school affected (especially if the days could be made up near the end of term). Its not vitally important to have the kids in so why risk all sorts of legal issues plus serious injury for something that wouldn't exactly stop the nation from running.

[oafc0000]

Just before i start, il state im not a teacher or anything to do with the school system. In fact im currently having to battle of over a foot of snow in Geneva for the 15 minute walk to get to the train station for work in the mornings, which i manage. But i can see where the schools are coming from when having to close down.

 

I just don't get the argument in comparing the NHS/Police/fire service to the education sector in terms of 'well they have to turn in so should they!'. For one the former are emergency services so for me its beyond doubt that those people should risk it and make that extra effort to go in and then stay till their shift is done as they provide arguably the most important services in the country. However as vital as our kids education is, its not worth it over a day or two, to risk however many thousands of kids and staff at each school affected (especially if the days could be made up near the end of term). Its not vitally important to have the kids in so why risk all sorts of legal issues plus serious injury for something that wouldn't exactly stop the nation from running.

 

 

I could have a field day with this but I really am too busy

[rudemedic]

Just before i start, il state im not a teacher or anything to do with the school system. In fact im currently having to battle of over a foot of snow in Geneva for the 15 minute walk to get to the train station for work in the mornings, which i manage. But i can see where the schools are coming from when having to close down.

 

I just don't get the argument in comparing the NHS/Police/fire service to the education sector in terms of 'well they have to turn in so should they!'. For one the former are emergency services so for me its beyond doubt that those people should risk it and make that extra effort to go in and then stay till their shift is done as they provide arguably the most important services in the country. However as vital as our kids education is, its not worth it over a day or two, to risk however many thousands of kids and staff at each school affected (especially if the days could be made up near the end of term). Its not vitally important to have the kids in so why risk all sorts of legal issues plus serious injury for something that wouldn't exactly stop the nation from running.

 

I get your argument but as anyone who goes into to work during the school holidays can attest, having the school's open is important for the country as it means that thousands of people who work can go into work because they don't have to be home looking after the kids. Your right a day or two makes not a bit of difference for the kids but a day or two this week, a day or two in a couple of weeks time, a day or two in jan and a day or two in feb is quite a lot of days. Are they going to put back the exams? Are they working this weekend to make up the time? Are the teachers going to start their mega-holidays a week later?(Note I realise not every teacher has all that much time off but some do).

 

OK put this another way if you don't like the comparison to the emergency services. What if no one was to go into the supermarkets everytime the teachers were off (a shelf stacker/check-out operative gets paid a lot less than the teachers). Its a good job I've got food in my cupboard (and my fridge) as otherwise I would be going hungry and god help you if you want a fresh loaf of bread.

 

A week off over an academic year due to closures for weather means roughly 3% less work gets done, if I was an employer and someone I employed did 3% less work, the best they would get is a 3% pay-cut.

[rudemedic]

Thanks re remark about dad apologies for my sharpish remark. In fairness dad agrees 100% with what you say. Its the way teaching has changed. Teachers used to be locals who you could relate to easily and often lived in same areas as students. People knew them some examples Mrs Barrot at Crompton House, Urik Stondin at Breeze Hilll, Doomlord Rogers.... Well known. Apparently a trend developed when two candidates with similar skills applied usually it was the outsider that got the job. this was rife in 90s and created people travelling silly distances. Dad worked with a girl who travelled from Endmoor? near Kendal every day, another from Marianglass on Anglesey. He never understood WHY?

However dad has worked in 4 main schools in Oldham and Rochdale and never travelled more than 11 miles in his career. He also worked with someone from Marsden known as Snowflake as was off at the fall of 3 flakes. In general however he gets very defensive of people in teaching as he has seen some nice people fade despite 100% effort

 

Don't mention it I'm well aware of just how hard it is to get a national award if you don't work in London. If you are a GP working a big (in terms of area) rural community it can be hard not to live in the same community but doing so presents its own problems and tecahing will have some similar difficulties.

 

BTW, a lot of my family are teachers (well most of them have retired now but 1 or 2 still teach)

[MaskedOwl]

the school i work in is also closed tomorow.... ;)

[Oafc88]

 

I could have a field day with this but I really am too busy

 

Fire away when you do have time, i dont mind, thats what we are on here for after all!

[Oafc88]

I get your argument but as anyone who goes into to work during the school holidays can attest, having the school's open is important for the country as it means that thousands of people who work can go into work because they don't have to be home looking after the kids. Your right a day or two makes not a bit of difference for the kids but a day or two this week, a day or two in a couple of weeks time, a day or two in jan and a day or two in feb is quite a lot of days. Are they going to put back the exams? Are they working this weekend to make up the time? Are the teachers going to start their mega-holidays a week later?(Note I realise not every teacher has all that much time off but some do).

 

OK put this another way if you don't like the comparison to the emergency services. What if no one was to go into the supermarkets everytime the teachers were off (a shelf stacker/check-out operative gets paid a lot less than the teachers). Its a good job I've got food in my cupboard (and my fridge) as otherwise I would be going hungry and god help you if you want a fresh loaf of bread.

 

A week off over an academic year due to closures for weather means roughly 3% less work gets done, if I was an employer and someone I employed did 3% less work, the best they would get is a 3% pay-cut.

 

Aye i suppose it does cause a lot more bother than people might realise. I can see both sides of the argument too, though i think im still slightly with the schools in terms of when they shut. I just feel its different when it comes to a sector dealing with kids and one of its primary concerns is to ensure the saftey of kids at the school. If that saftey can't be enusred then i fully understand a school's decision to close, as much of a ball ache it might be to parents. Its a tough call and im glad i dont have to make it!

[outoftheblue]

lol Dad is maths.... of course doesn't need to spell!!! But his class got 21 A*s and 5 A's in June Exams. He also got 27 adults through to a C in 9 1/2 weeks.......

Thanks for taking the criticism in good spirit! After I posted, I thought 'That could cause World War 3!', but you can't really edit a post when you've just had a dig at literacy standards, can you?

 

They're impressive results that your Dad has obtained, and as Rudemedic says, it's nice to see a teacher with a good work ethos, and a positive attitude towards the welfare and education of the kids, rather than simply seeing them as an integral part of their career.

Unfortunately, my Facebook home page is littered with status updates from teacher friends who are delighted to be given 'Snow days' and are praying for the school to be closed further. That said, they are almost all young and newly qualified teachers and assistants, so it could well be that they are indicative of the younger society today.

No pride in themselves, their pupils, nor their own standards. I fear for our Country's future if the blind are being led by the blind.

 

As for the Emergency Services, there are shirkers in all walks of life, but in general the people who join those services genuinely enjoy helping people and make every effort to do so. They don't often last long in those kinds of jobs if they're not cut out for them, so you're more likely to see those workers putting in the extra effort to get to work.