Here our teachers take there classes out to recess so they decide when they feel it is to cold or hot or whatever. The kids all go out no matter what they are wearing but we have a placktop playground that gets plowed and kids without snow gear must stay there kids with gear can go for it! I have no complants I think the teachers decide for the best because they have to be out there too!
Here in central IL, we have the children play outside unless the temp or wind chill factor is 32 or below. In the beginnning of school if the air temp reaches 90 or the heat index reaches 100 or above school is dismissed (no airconditioning unless in the principals office)
outside playtime is restricted on high heat/heat index days and they go to the cafeteria for water and rest (heat drains them)
Here there are no sandals allowed (just had to get a note for one son because of surgery on one foot) and no tank tops either. Shorts are allowed until the 3rd week in Sept and then it is pants and it is still hot.
We are in KY and it gets cold. If there is snow on the ground we are at home, the busses can't travel on our rural roads if there is anything on them. When I first learned of the 32* rule I was not happy. Our kids stay sick all winter any more. We are supposed to be getting new heat/air units. If a child does not have the proper attire than they are not allowed to go outside. The teacher usually sends them to the clothes closet to see if there are any coats but our FRC doesn't have mittens or scarves for the kids. If my kids are on the sickish side I will send a note and they don't have to go out. We have "hall recess" otherwise. It is not as fun for the kids, but they can go in the hall and eat snacks and talk and most of the teachers let them play in centers. When I was a kid we went to the "all purpose room" which was our cafeteria and gym and whatever else we needed it for, ha ha. Our school was very small.
At recess time if the child has bought in snow pants and boots, the lunch aides will let them play in the snow. The children without snowpants, play in the front drive(half moon driveway in front of the school, grass between them and the road). They will bring out outdoor toys for them. The students are not allowed on any playgrounds during the winter.
My question is, How do they expext the parents to dress them warmer when they are in school? When my children are home, I put long johns, couple pairs of socks, etc. when they go out. You can't send kids to school with all of that. They would sweat to death and there is not time for them to get dress in all of that.
I feel sorry for your children. Keep fighting for this change. It is worth it!
Not much to add, but our BOE doesn't have anything in writing. Unwritten policy errs on the side of caution, but rule of thumb is if it's too cold they stay in, if it's very hot they still go out since it's cooler outside in the shade than in the building (but generally that's not an issue here). When I asked what "too cold" was, I was told in a condenscending tone, "Well, it's common sense dear. If the lunch aides agree it's too cold, then it's too cold." When I pressed, they said 20-25 degrees depending on how windy it was.
Our kids also don't go out if it's very muddy! There's no playground equipment for the kids K-3, so they play on the lawn in front of the school. Since it really chews the lawn up when it's very wet, they don't like the kids out there then (plus our janitors appreciate it too)!
My mother-in-law always used to say, "Well, we did it and I survived" until I replied, "Well anyone who didn't survive wouldn't be here to complain about it, would they?"
I went to a school district that had spent all it's money one year and to have another snow day that year meant finding a way to give some money back. (I was a student, I don't know the details.) There were drifts of snow but the buses could get through. Only thing was - power had gone out in all the school buildings K-12. It took the bus drivers talking to every single parent they could and getting them to call the BOE (at 7am)to complain. We were 3 minutes from the school before school was finally cancelled and they turned the buses around. Some people just don't think. We even had some classrooms without windows.
Here in Colorado, our school makes kids wait outside by the classroom doors for the teachers to let them in. They can have an "inside day" when it's 18 degrees or less or if wind chill is high. If they have an inside day, then recesses are in class or the gym. I don't know that that's much better than your school. But if a child says he doesn't want to go to recess, they let him stay in. We also have a problem with kids coming to school when it's snowing and not wearing a coat or boots. It's insane.
