Let's Bring Back the Good Ol' Days

Ah, the good ol' days . . . you remember, don't you?  The time of milk and honey—the days when kids and society weren't "soft"—the days when kids trudged to the bus stop or school through snow and ice and extreme cold.  Just because we did it, does that make it right?

 

This winter has really gotten under my skin.  Perhaps it's because I'm a more frequent visitor on social media sites and so I hear and see more of people complaining about days off school for kids.  Yesterday about half of the school districts in the area cancelled classes.  I can't answer to the exact reasons for all the districts, but I trust, since yesterday's cancellation became the first "make up" day for most districts, it was made in good conscious.  What bothers me are the people who are complaining about it.  And what really bothers me is that they are continually pushing back to the days when they were in school, as if nothing has changed in education or society since 1982.

 

When I was in school, we didn't have computers in every classroom.  I guess that means we shouldn't have them now.  When I was in school, teachers didn't have telephones in their classroom or voice mail.  Let's pull them out.  When I was in school, a typical lunch consisted of a slice of pizza, corn, apple sauce and milk.  Let's bring back that uber healthy fare.  When I was in school, I rode my bike there without a helmet.  Let's do ban bicycle helmets.  When I was in school, students with special needs were pulled out of the classroom and labeled and stigmatized and regarded as stupid.  Let's revive self-contained classrooms.  When I was in school the teachers still smoked in the teachers' lounge.  Let's fill our schools with smoke again. 

 

I'm not an automatic fan of the latest and greatest of everything.  If something isn't broke, I don't take the time to look for a solution.  I also don't make a habit of second guessing professionals in their business.  If my accountant tells me that a deduction isn't allowed on my taxes, I don't take it.  If a radiologist tells me my arm is broken, I trust that it is broken.  If my technician tells me my car needs a new battery, I replace the battery.  If your child's district cancels classes, trust that they believe it's the best decision for the kids.  And trust that if they err, it will be on the side of safety.  It won't be done because the superintendent wants to stay home.  Typically he or she travels to the office regardless.  I know it's frustrating to rearrange a schedule to accommodate a snow day, but it's also part of being a parent.