You can’t have it both ways. Didn’t everyone throw a huge fit when some schoold a couple weeks ago were not cancelled and then cancelled a few hours after all the kids got there?? Well if schools had not closed last night, that same thing would be happening today.

So you can’t complain when they have school and then you have to come pick up your kid AND complain that they closed school early to avoid the mess and confusion but it doesn’t snow. Better to err on the side of caution.

I do think they should call school off. I remember in the 80’s when I was in elementary school and they often seemed to take their time closing schools. We would stand at bus stops in the freezing cold waiting for buses that never came or we’d go to school just to be sent home in the middle of a snowstorm. I would much rather take the “safe than sorry” approach. It’s no fun being on the road slipping and sliding, going 30 mph, taking an hour longer to get home than normal because of accidents. As far as the school year being extended, when I was in school and they used all of the snow days and more, they were smart enough to just extend the school day by 10-15 minutes and change our last two half days of the school year into full days. It was not that noticeable.

I muse when I read comments from “out of towners” who live or lived in areas where snow storms are more frequent and severe. They usually comment that St louisans over-react to forecasts of heavy snow, that we typically do not know how to drive in it, etc.

Maybe what these people are saying is true. Maybe we aren’t as experienced in the snow as someone from Wisconsin, or North Dakota, or Alaska, or Canada. So what?

Lisa, please don’t be too annoyed! Isn’t there something more important that annoys you?

If St. Louis were located in Alaska, today’s school call would probably be a joke. But we’re not…….and so it wasn’t!

So, we make our snow decisions based on who we are, where we are, and what we’re comfortable with. That’s all we can do!

Personally I don’t want to take the chance sending my children out there if the weather could be bad. I don’t want them on the buses, nor do I want to pick them up. I’m certainly not worried about my driving, but those who are in a hurry and upset about being “put out” picking up their children. They aren’t going to learn anything that is worth putting them in danger, as parents it’s our jobs to teach them also. Take the time with your kids and make it special. Gotta go, time for art class, they can be very creative if you take the time.

Yep - good call. Just look outside, would you want your kids traveling in that?

It’s always a gamble when you call off school, but I don’t think the decision is ever taken lightly. The administrators made the right call.

To all you angry, aggravated, complaining parents with young children at home today:
Would you rather your child be out there in snowy conditions - either standing on a bus corner or IN a “no-seatbelts” bus on the road - with hundreds of unexperienced teen drivers spinning around out there? There are many more serious issues in today’s world to “complain” about. Better yet, put a smile on your face & grow up, spend some quality time with your kids, teach them right from wrong, and set a good example for our future generation….your child may be the leader of our country one day!

It was definitely a good idea to close schools. It minimalizes the amount of traffic on the roads and gives them a chance to get the streets cleaned and maybe kids can have school tomorrow. In addition, STL does not really shut down when it snows or ices a I lived in a Southern State that where malls, grocery stores and companies would close. Here it is most just the schools and who would not want to protect our most precious cargo when possible. In addition I would venture to say that the resources to deal with snow and ice here are not as extensive as those in S. Dakota, Minnesota or Wisconsin.

Now, two hours after I wrote the TOTD topic, the decision is starting to look a bit better, eh? I drove downtown on I-44 and took. my. time. about. it. A car in front of me spun out — seemingly for no reason at all.

I love the discussion here, however. Please continue!

Lisa, I am not sure it is long time STLians who have issues with snow. Many came from the country and know how to deal with it. They are the ones you see pulling folks out of ditches. The new folks who came here from god knows where, or just never learned how to drive and bought big SUVs as the “drive for nothing down” car lots expanded cause problems for everybody. Truckers don’t drive as well as they used to either. Trucking companies put drivers on the roads they never would have years ago. They are saying in the press they will hire illegals because americans won’t take the jobs. (which I feel is bull)
If you are sane, you avoid paying deductables and risking injury by staying away from the roads on days like today and just sit home if you can and grumble about the “other guy’s driving”. The TV media seems to be stirring up the story and that’s who you hear the loudest. They have reporters driving around all day when they should not be adding another car to the roads to make way for the plows. Us STL citizens don’t trumpet this as being armageddon like the TV media does. It’s a story. They would be reporting on Bush admin follies if it wasn’t largely forbidden. What’s left? SNOW AND ICE!
Back on subject…it’s money that drives school closings now. Didn’t used to be. And we didn’t need parents to drive us to school back in the day. We put on boots and slogged through it. And the teachers didn’t pamper us. You knew where your wet boots and coats went and you put them there. Them you studied all day and walked home. Busses came when it was time for those who lived farther away and you were welcome to hitch a ride if you didn’t feel like walking back home. Now it’s money and insurance and parents ready to sue that make the whole scene so ridiculous. Can’t lose that state money! Be careful folks. I’m still getting sleet and no snow and I think I’ll be up on this hill until April.

I wonder when the doctor offices will start calling patients to reschedule their appointments? I have an appointment this afternoon. I made it to work before the snowstorm and I really would just like to stay in the office until I can venture home tonite. But all this extra driving today to and from work will be a royal pain. Let’s see …. should I go get my old bones checked for density or should I just stay at the office to lower the risk of one of those old bones from breaking?

How I wish I was a kid again bored but happy at home watching the snow come down.