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amphetaminesfailure t1_jbv4fup wrote

Reply to comment by [deleted] in Blizzard likely to hit west of I-495 throughout Tuesday 3/14/23 by aHurricaneGod

I think it was last year or the year before, my city closed the schools when the temperature was predicted to be like 5 degree with a -20 wind chill.

People were up in arms with things like, "It's winter, that's too be expected! Wear a coat!"

I commented that those temperatures are absolutely not normal for southcoast Mass, they were FAR below normal. Not every kid has a proper winter coat for those temps, let alone proper gloves, hat, thermal underwear, wool socks, etc. And considering not every parent can drive their kid to school, it would be way too dangerous in those temps for kids to be walking or waiting 30 minutes for the bus.

I just got told off and had people say other parts of the country have winter temps like that every day......

Yeah, and those kids are fucking prepared for it, unlike kids in fucking New Bedford.

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[deleted] t1_jbv6tr8 wrote

I know. And it's really about protecting the most vulnerable, too.

We live in a kind rich town. Rich folks are driving their kids to school.

But Worcester? You have vulnerable families and new immigrants and poor and struggling families. Kids with addicts for parents.

Yeah, we know they dont care about people that fucked up -- but maybe they should care about the kids.

I taught school in Fitchburg. Parents would call once they came to or sobered up and ask if their kids went to school. We just have to do right by those kids.

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amphetaminesfailure t1_jbv8axc wrote

> And it's really about protecting the most vulnerable, too.

Absolutely.

What gets me the most in my city's FB page, is I'll look at these parents complaining about kids being soft these days, and 99% of the time they look like they're a poor/working class person (not to be too judgemental).

I mean I'm blue collar myself, but also college educated, and making a very good income for my area.

Too many of the least well off people support views that are the antithesis to their well-being.

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ZaphodG t1_jbwrsom wrote

A couple of points:

Those working class parents rely on the schools as daycare. It’s not like they can telecommute.

The schools are heated and I believe every student in New Bedford gets a free lunch. An awful lot of the working poor in triple decker tenement buildings aren’t running their heat and their kitchens aren’t stocked with food for their kids.

The schools need to be open whenever possible even if attendance is optional.

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