Duck and Cover
One snowy morning when I was in sixth grade, I came downstairs and told my mother I had just heard on the radio that school had been cancelled because of the weather. She believed me, so instead of going to school with the other students (I had lied; there was no cancellation), my younger brother and I enjoyed a little unearned time off. Of course, I didn't really "enjoy" it. I felt guilty all day, knowing my little scam would soon be revealed - as it was, to my great displeasure - and that I had taken my innocent brother down with me.
So it is that I hope the school administrators and teachers in Shelton and Trumbull feel just a little guilty today as they depart early through low clouds and occasional drizzle for their Labor Day weekends. They have the extra time off because they absurdly called for the early dismissal of classes today in light of Hurricane Earl, a storm that at no point posed a realistic threat of any kind to southwestern Connecticut.
In recent years, there has been a much noted tendency toward wimpiness on the part of school officials everywhere in making these decisions, and there are certainly times when I'd hate to make the call on whether or not to cancel classes. Indeed, a number of towns in the eastern part of the state and along the shore announced early dismissals today - understandable and forgivable if, as it turned out, unnecessary. But Shelton and Trumbull? No way. All the parents whose work schedules were upset have every right to wonder about those making the call - just as my brother had every right to wonder about me.
Now let's sit back and wait for that first snowfall.
Email
Print
Feed
