To The Editor:
As I drank my coffee this morning, watching the news it became obvious that basically every school system affected by the February 1, 2011 snow storm—I believe it’s being referred to as a blizzard—remains closed or continues to at least adjust start times, bus availability, and extracurricular activities. That is, except for ours. Smaller schools around the area remain closed not because they are not focused on academic progress or test scores or empowering children to be great leaders but because they realize risking the well-being of those children is not worth school being back in session. Without a doubt being out of class will leave them restless when they return, and will try the patience of the teachers who are forced to alter their lesson plans and schedules to accommodate the snow days. One might wonder if that would provide an opportunity to teach the children of this school system to deal with life as it comes, realizing not everything can be controlled or scheduled. It could allow them the chance to learn to be creative in the classroom. Maybe it would help them realize that sometimes when life throws us snowballs we have to play less to catch up on things the weather kept us from doing.
As I drove my kids to school, cautious of the roads that continue to be at least sporadically covered with ice and snow and very aware of the drivers around me I wondered what roads were observed as being clear enough to run buses. I looked up how much a bus weighs; without passengers buses typically weigh eleven to fourteen tons. That is before the children of Cushing are loaded. I also wondered, as I passed three cars in ditches because of the ice and snow on the way to one of the schools, how much hands-on training our bus drivers actually have driving on ice and snow. That led me to hope they are not gaining much-needed experience today, with kids in tow. I guess my anger reached a new level as I watched an empty school bus slide to a stop at an intersection on Main Street, the clearest road of them all. And as I walked into work today and encountered parents from other school systems who were mocking this school for putting the kids at risk, I was even prouder to acknowledge that last I checked our school system does not build in snow days to avoid concerns over the number of hours children are in school each year.
I realize I am a little older and have been out of school for more years than I care to acknowledge in writing. What I remember, through a young person’s eyes, is a school that was focused on helping me be better and learn as much as I could in a place where I felt safe and supported. In fact, the protocol when it snowed when I was a kid included the high school principal and the superintendent driving the roads in a sedan that belonged to the school. They would put themselves at risk to make sure we were not in danger; I am very curious as to what roads were assessed before this decision was made and who drove those roads. Things have changed dramatically. Much of this can surely be attributed to stricter sanctions, limited budgets, greater focus on safety, and increased liability that has evolved in the age of lawsuits for everything. So ironically, things likely meant to safeguard children and those educators who I choose to believe were at one time passionate about their work and their students are probably at least partially to blame for the changes in how kids are approached and accommodated. Still one has to question the wisdom in the decision made today, during a State of Emergency for Oklahoma that has warranted federal aid and left many unable to do what they had planned at work, home, and school.
As I have typed this, I have watched beautiful new snow fall, blanketing the long driveway that was clear when I got to work a few hours ago. I sincerely hope all is well at the end of this school day. I also hope the feedback—the grumbling and disbelief I have encountered all morning long as we the snow has fallen and the roads have grown more dangerous than they were this morning—is reaching our superintendent and school board members who could implement change. I have been afraid previously to share my thoughts on how things are handled here; I have feared my children would pay the price if I said too much. What I have come to realize is that they have been paying the price for my silence. Decisions like today make me consider sending them to school elsewhere. Once again as I look at the big picture, I am left feeling as though they are not the focus or priority of this school system.
For the record, I will request that my name not be included with this letter, not because I am ashamed of its content or sentiment. Rather, I never want my children to pay for my decision to share my opinion.
Sincerely,
Concerned Cushing Parent
Editors Note: The Cushing Board of Education and the school administration do build “bad weather’ days into the school calendar. It varies from year to year depending on how the school year runs. Some years have more “snow days” built in the other years as a result.
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