Thread: Friends, lend me your eyes

...And give me your critiques of the op ed I wish to submit to my local paper. It concerns the school system in my area that closes at the drop of a hat.

I have never written or submitted anything before and would be most appreciative of your thoughts and more importantly, grammar corrections



Winter is here and (name withheld) county schools are gripped by the fear of precipitation in the month of January.
While the temperature hovers dangerously close to 40 degrees, the school system has decided that it could freeze the roads and cause an alarming amount of ice to form on those roads.
The roads that are maintained and plowed clear at all hours of the night by the (state withheld) Department of Motor Vehicles (who do a great job, IMO.)
For those of us who spend most of our time working one, two and sometimes three jobs in order to feed and clothe our children, we must within ten to twelve hours, reschedule that work or the work of others in order to provide supervision for those children who cannot make it to school due to these inclement weather conditions.
It has been pointed out to me by family, friends and colleagues that some people live far out in the rural areas where the roads are considered to be more treacherous. I do not mean to be rude or unsympathetic, but…..You do pay a price and/or prices for living outside the radius of civilization. Lack of internet connectivity, lack of town/city water supplies, lack of cell phone reception, lack of town/city sewage, lack of prompt emergency response, lack of garbage removal, lack of access to food and even sometimes, if you choose, lack of electricity.
We, as a society, do the best we can to assist with these issues, but this is a choice that is made by living a distance outside the sphere of organized society. This is why most of the population of this and most other countries’ citizens live within that sphere of society.
Make no mistake; this was not an issue of a week-long blizzard. This was a rain forecast in above freezing temperatures.
I do not write to simply complain about me and my families concerns, but to possibly offer a solution.
I think perhaps we should consider altering the summer vacation schedule, to instead have the majority of that vacation time situated in the winter months that so that none of us would be hampered by this incessant fear of cold weather.
In addition to there already being good reason to take vacation in winter (Christmas and New Year’s break and celebrations) it would also offer a nice change of pace to a summer vacation with 90 or 100 plus degree weather and the already crowded venues of popular vacation destinations. Were you aware that not only are there fewer crowds in the winter months, but also, these destinations have lower prices during these “off” months. I am not aware of any summer weather concerns that would cause distress to those living in outlying communities and necessitate the closure of one of our most important and vital public services, so perhaps this is something worth considering.

Thank you in advance for any improvements you could provide or criticisms of points not lucid. Personally, I think it sounds bitter and sarcastic and while I cannot avoid being at least a bit sarcastic (personal flaw, I'm sure) I do not want it to sound bitter or angry. Thanks again

You guys closed the school for rain in above freezing temperatures? That's pretty lame. In many places, the winter temperatures are always below freezing and there is snow or sleet every day but the schools remain open.

I do like the letter though. It's snarky while making its point very well.

Gesendet von meinem Galaxy S3 mit Tapatalk.

as i've sat here freezing my ass off all winter yeah rain at above freezing temps GTFO with that

also spend all summer in school thats just crazy in the winter people cant get outside and do stuff in the summer they can whod want to spend nice sunny days in a classroom

As another suggestion that schools in the northeast utilize is to have days planned into the yearly schedule at the end of the year (before summer break) that are 'makeup' days in case of inclement weather earlier in the year. But it seems that is not the problem you are facing.

I do know that the principal/district heads drive the worst of the bus routes early early morning to make the call if closure of the schools is an issue. There is almost always a progression though, a one or two hour delay issued the night before with a final call of closure for the day known before 6am.

Calling off on the account of rain has only happened to me personally once and it was in el nino in california about fifteen years ago where the school was flooded....

Yeah, it's probably not calibrated to my locale at all, lol.
Comments about living out of town, civilization and organized society would probably be enough to shutter many, if not most ears. (Even those ears that live within the city limits) Something I would do well to consider if I want my little opinion to be heard.
I've spent a lot of years being a sarcastic ass, and I'm attempting to be less so in general. Sounds like I have much more work to do in that regard.
Well, it is good practice if nothing else.
I appreciate the feedback, thank you.

I expect them back in the same condition.

Who's watching the kids during the summer with this uber long break?

To be 100% honest, I hope your just writing this for personal feel good reasons. Not that anything you are saying is out there, but people always seem to get in a big up roar about changes like this. I know my old middle school thought about shifting the start time from 7 to 6 am to get middle school kids on the bus as high school started at 6. Half the town was ready to burn this town to the ground as they feared middle schools released an hour early would be an extra hour for hoodlums to be up to no good in the neighberhood. *Cough like the JC Ninjas that went around at night doing Kong fu moves to the air.....no lie.

Or like the tiny town of Storrs for my old college, UConn. Individuals wanted to put in a side walk from the edge of campus to Carriage (Off campus apartments) to create a safer environment and reduce the number of college kids run over while walking to the off campus drinking site. There was an up roar, mostly the seniors, at the idea of approving of underage drinking and the belief that putting in the side walk would be an express lane to underage drinking and the town would be approving of underage drinking. It had nothing to do with lowering the number of kids run over.

Why'd you have kids in the first place?

Where did I state I had children?
You would be well served not to read into, assume or guess the thoughts, motivations or intentions of others.
Just a friendly piece of advise. Take it as you will.