Thanks, neighbors
@GardenGerty (157555)
United States
January 16, 2018 7:15am CST
Our neighbors to the north in Canada have shared their horrible cold temperatures with most of the center of the United States. I know, they are suffering too.
Today many schools in Kansas are closed due to the wind chill factors. The actual temperatures are below zero, and wind chills are in the teens and twenties BELOW zero F. Tomorrow we will resume school at ten in the morning.
Of course, that is still better than in Oklahoma. In Oklahoma there are schools closed due to the flu. I do not think we got it from Canada. They have their own ailments, I am sure.
I still think we should close the schools completely in the winter and have school through the summer. We would not have so many sick kids and staff.
Be warm my friends and neighbors.
13 people like this
15 responses
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
16 Jan 18
Why do Americans always blame the cold air mass on Canada. 
. We in Canada watch the winter weather approach from Colorado.....or up the east coast.....now how can we be blamed for that?
. We in Canada watch the winter weather approach from Colorado.....or up the east coast.....now how can we be blamed for that?2 people like this
@GardenGerty (157555)
• United States
17 Jan 18
I am just repeating what the weather people are saying about this particular system. I watch it some years come up from Texas.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
18 Jan 18
@GardenGerty I was trying to be at least a little bit funny. If the storm starts in Alaska, passes though Canada...somehow we are still responsible,
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157555)
• United States
18 Jan 18
On the news they said that at one particular school over 20% of the teaching staff was out, either ill or with ill children and dependents. No way can you get enough substitutes.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (71666)
• United States
18 Jan 18
@GardenGerty ahh true makes sense why they had to close!
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157555)
• United States
17 Jan 18
Staying home is quite fun, going to work is not. I would love to just cuddle under covers for some more hours.
@GardenGerty (157555)
• United States
18 Jan 18
Yes, it was not a particularly effective vaccine this time.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (458233)
• Switzerland
18 Jan 18
@GardenGerty I have read it is not effective, the scientists this year guessed wrong would the main cause would have been.
@GardenGerty (157555)
• United States
18 Jan 18
In Southern California I saw a district where year round school worked. The advantages were that there was less vandalism, because the schools were never vacant, and the way it worked only 3/4 of the students were at school at one time so they did not have to build more schools or add on. They ran four tracks of students. Each track attended six weeks, was off two. All students in any one family were in the same track, so they still could get in two week vacations. It seemed a well run program. They had to deal with air conditioning all the time just about.
1 person likes this
@just4him (306269)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
19 Jan 18
@GardenGerty I've heard about that program, and how well it's working.
@GardenGerty (157555)
• United States
18 Jan 18
Thanks for your well wishes. There are many viruses besides the flu that seem to get worse in the winter.
1 person likes this
@aureliah (24319)
• Kenya
22 Jan 18
@GardenGerty then this means that everyone should be extra careful
@BarBaraPrz (45498)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
16 Jan 18
It's a lovely minus 3°C here in St Catharines. The sun was even out for a few hours.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (157555)
• United States
18 Jan 18
This time of year the sun does not seem to guarantee warmth. It seems to have the same effect that salt has on the ice cream freezer.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159058)
• Boise, Idaho
17 Jan 18
The flu seems to be worse than usual this year. Summer is the time when families usually vacation though. I think it would be hard for kids to go to school in the summer when they are used to having it off.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157555)
• United States
17 Jan 18
I was near one district in California that had year round school with two weeks off every six weeks. I thought it was well thought out. Kids, some of them, just are horribly bored in the summer. It would take a while but they would get used to it.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159058)
• Boise, Idaho
18 Jan 18
@GardenGerty .....Yes, they would. Kids are resilient any way.
@GardenGerty (157555)
• United States
18 Jan 18
That is true human nature, we always complain. The thing is, in warmer weather at least there are not so many colds or so much flu.
@Marilynda1225 (79766)
• United States
16 Jan 18
Our schools closed early because of the expected snowstorm later today. This winter is already too long and too cold!
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157555)
• United States
17 Jan 18
The cold really makes it seem longer. When I drove bus the slushy month of February seemed the longest.
@GardenGerty (157555)
• United States
18 Jan 18
They do. Even though our custodians sanitize the furniture and door knobs, etc. daily and we try to all wash our hands, when we cannot air out the building and any one gets sick we all are exposed.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
16 Jan 18
After such a cold winter, just think how glorious spring and summer will be.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (157555)
• United States
17 Jan 18
We had nice weather right up until Christmas. I think we all just gripe a lot and we all know misery loves company. I will really enjoy spring for sure.
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14741)
• San Jose, California
16 Jan 18
I think closing in the winter would definitely solve some problems, but it would compound problems for the parents who have to work. Still, there needs to be a better solution. Going to school when it's that cold is hard on both students and faculty/staff.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157555)
• United States
18 Jan 18
As many have pointed out, there would be problems no matter what. Parents who have to work still have to have sitters when school is out in the summer.
@GardenGerty (157555)
• United States
18 Jan 18
I could appreciate a little tropical weather right now. I do like the different seasons really.
1 person likes this
