Should children’s safety be second to a longer school year? Quantity versus Quality rarely works…
There were times when the five days granted by Ohio law for calamity days were not enough and some schools have been forced to extend their school year when that has happened. Now the number of days has been dropped to three, and in some areas, such as pointed out by this WTOL story, snow days are being eliminated completely.
Typically when someone is hurt or injured then action is taken. The recent death of one student and the severe injury of another in Springfield by a train, is a perfect example of the “accident waiting to happen” theory, though not related to weather. Students have illegally crossed and walked down those railroad tracks for years, nothing has ever been done. The simple solution of having a crossing guard at the train tracks to ensure there was no one tempted to cross with the number of trains that go down that track before and after school each day was never done. Now action will be taken and the discussion to create the underpass has ramped up, when there was and still is a cheaper solution that could be immediately taken.
Last year there were several days where it was not safe for those who walk or ride public transportation to school to get to school, in part because the law is not enforced when it comes to the condition of sidewalks and local school officials ordered schools open anyway. It is an accident waiting to happen where a child will slip and fall into on coming traffic. It is not a matter of if, it is a matter of when, and with the reduction to three calamity days, districts will succumb to the pressure of keeping school open when they should not, so that they do not have to extend the school year.
Considering the number of hours children in our public school system lose to movie watching and other non-educational purposes, this focus on extending the number of days in the school year is nothing but putting a bow on an empty box. Rather than focus on increasing the actual educational experiences, Ohio is trying to make up in quantity what it lacks in quality…
Maybe I am older than most people who
December 26th, 2009 at 12:54 pmcomment on this BLOG and others, but I grew up in a rural area and shcool district and it is even more dangerous
and driving in the rural areas for school buses and others to drive and to pick up the students and then back home and probably need even more days because of winter conditions than those at any Ohio City School!
I agree with DD BOOTS. I also grew up out in the country. The roads were narrow and there was 12 foot deep ditches next to the road.
December 27th, 2009 at 2:14 pmStudents have illegally crossed and walked down those railroad tracks for years, nothing has ever been done.
Mainly because there were never any accidents. Now that there has been one single accident, everyone must go ballistic. School officials must create new and more effective rules. The railroad must post new and more visible No Trespassing signs, and such signage must comply with the new Lucas County regulations. Cities should quickly follow along with brand new, safer and more effective laws about child safety and trains.
Here’s a thought. Devote a little time to teaching the children not to screw around with trains. Offer consolation to the family of the child killed. Move on, and keep moving.
December 27th, 2009 at 10:42 pmThe elementary school that I went to wasn’t anywhere near railroad tracks, but it has stuck with me from kindergarten that you do not play on railroad tracks and you do not cross the tracks when you see a train coming.
As for the elimination of snow days, I think that is stupid. There are days where it is not safe to be on the road. There are also days where it is just too cold (with the wind chill) to be standing outside waiting for the bus.
December 28th, 2009 at 12:25 pmI agree with all said…when it is not safe- children should stay home. However, this issue now turns into a financial situation, when days are needed to be made up by districts. The State has put too much pressure on districts for “climate” days and making them up. We should all write letters to ODE for change!
December 29th, 2009 at 5:27 pm