Should schools be closed today for Eunice.

joe40

I don't want to derail any of the weather discussion on the current storm, but I would be interested in people's views on what I see as the hasty decisions to close schools.

I agree with closures during red alerts but where I am in the northwest there is a bit of slushy snow on the ground and all the schools are closed. Surely this is an over reaction.

If individuals can't make it in that is understandable but is it really necessary to have blanket closures.

EmmetSpiceland

I wouldn’t like to be in a room where I couldn’t close the windows during weather like this.

joe40

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118652074#Comment_118652074

That excuse doesn't cut it for me. There have been colder days and schools were open. We're closed for snow, and it is unnecessary.

It doesn't affect me personally but must be a real pain for working parents of primary school kids.

pjdarcy

It's just a political decision. Imagine the outrage at the minister for education if she kept the schools open and a tree fell on a kid on their way to school

EmmetSpiceland

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118652158#Comment_118652158

I’m a parent of a primary school kids. I’d much rather them at home than freezing in a cold room with open windows during high winds.

Weather was fine when mine went in but made sure they had body warmers, gloves, hats and scarves in their bags. Not an ideal way for kids to be in class but since they didn’t close the schools it was the only option.

Allinall

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118652213#Comment_118652213

Surely that would be a health and safety decision, rather than a political one?

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118652074#Comment_118652074

In fiarness Emmet, I wouldn't want to spend any part of my eucation where I couldn't close the windows during winter (or early Spring)!!

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058233623/should-schools-be-closed-today-for-eunice

Well, if the individuals who can't make it in are the teachers, then it's going to cause a problems (and you just KNOW who'll get the blame!)

pjdarcy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118652545#Comment_118652545

I mean that it's a politician making a decision in order to cover their own arse. The health and safety of the citizens is a fortuitous by-product

Allinall

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118652574#Comment_118652574

That doesn't make any sense.

What does "cover their own arse" mean?

Would you prefer they didn't make the decision and possibly put children at risk?

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118652574#Comment_118652574

I find a lot of people tend to go far in the other direction and base health and safety evaluations on the potential inconvenience.

is_that_so

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118652213#Comment_118652213

If a school is in a predicted red zone it probably should be available to them as an option. The UK has advised a lot of people to stay home and I've just been looking at flights trying to land in Heathrow. Hairy stuff and Eunice is all a bit wild in some places.

Fandymo

More nanny-statery. My boxers have been windier after an Indian ffs.

joe40

My kids are 16 and 18 but when they were in primary school (not that long ago) a day like this would be decided on a case by case basis.

(Snow fall in this case)

Not all schools would have to close. We now seem to have a precedent where orange warning for a region will trigger school closures. That is too blunt a tool.

Should the last couple of days even have been named storms?..

Tbh it seems like there's a push to sensationalise the weather to make it seem more extreme than it actually is..

It's just February in Ireland..

pjdarcy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118652603#Comment_118652603

It means that they're not basing their decision on the facts but rather how the decision could affect their political career. It's pretty common in politics in fairness. I think it was Pat Rabitte who used to say, a politicians primary goal is reelection, everything else comes a distant second.