Boston cancels school on Friday

By adamg - 12/18/08 - 5:32 pm

Carol Johnson just robo-called us.

Kidlet is very upset because her class was supposed to have its Christmas party.

Comments

Somerville cancels school tomorrow, too

By Ron Newman - 12/18/08 - 5:54 pm

Official Somerville snow emergency notice

the right time

By Anonymous - 12/18/08 - 7:59 pm

Kidlet is very upset because her class was supposed to have its Christmas party.

You'll have to pick just the right time to tell kidlet, life sucks, then you die. Just kidding. She sounds like a real sweet kid.

at the check-out line, after doing some grocery-shopping, I met and talked briefly with a youngish woman who was having a Christmas party for her and her co-workers at her house, so she'd stocked up with party foods. It sounds like a neat idea...a Christmas party
(or any party) at home.

Im sure its a "holiday

By ShadyMilkMan - 12/19/08 - 8:35 am

Im sure its a "holiday festival" or something. I remember in 6th grade the public school teachers , for some reason that year more then most, were frazzled over how to decorate for the holidays. I think some rule had just come down from up above so they were all trying to figure it out. My teacher decided that based off of what she had to work with paperwork wise she could put up a christmas tree and put garland on it, but the inclusion of lights and ornaments would make it forbidden. Lights were ok if they were not on the tree. Ornaments could work if not on the tree. The place looked a little crazy that year. Im not sure if those were the real "rules" but thats what she thought they were so she was doing her damnedest to fit into the guidelines while still giving us something fun to look at. Yeah so Winter Festival seems to be popular now...

Boston Public Schools

By JimboJones - 12/19/08 - 1:30 pm

Based on the large number of teen-aged children in Copley Square each afternoon, I was under the impression that most if not all Boston public schools get out as early as 1:30 PM. True?

If so, and if the weather reports all stated that the storm wouldn't begin until mid-afternoon, then why did our Mayor (and/or Superintendent of Schools) make this, as of now, ill-advised decision?

nope

By KellyJMF - 12/19/08 - 1:59 pm

Some high schools get out as early as 1:30 but the elementary schools release between 2:30 and 3:30. The start/end times are staggered to use the same buses for multiple trips. Also, keep in mind that on a normal day, a lot of the younger kids are in after-school while their parents work. Holding school today would have meant canceling after-school. Parents would all be leaving work at the same time, increasing the bus and car traffic just as the storm is really ramping up. Plus business let their staff go early, again right at about that same time.

It's not ill-advised, it's spot on.

Sorry

By JimboJones - 12/19/08 - 2:48 pm

I disagree. It has snowed in the city, year after year. Somehow, in the past, we got by without a complete break down of society.

Don't even mention businesses letting their people out. They buy into the hysteria, too. Absolutely ridiculous.

Plus, how many of you have been the one who, "Why don't you stay, you live nearby and walk to work?"

Like that's totally fair?

We live in a much busier,

By ShadyMilkMan - 12/19/08 - 3:22 pm

We live in a much busier, 24/7 society then even 10 years ago. Streets are more clogged, and there are more people out and about. Theres also more people working. People travel more and more to get to work, and there are more cars that need to get parked. Like it or not its not the same world it was years ago. I spent 7 hours in traffic last year in the same situation because everyone was trying to be a hero, and things fell apart. This year I had to be at work, so Im staying late instead of leaving early. If I could have gotten away with it I would have just called in today. My plan is to leave the streets open during the worst part of the storm so the plows can do their work...

Well if you live close to work and walk home kudos to you, Im looking for the same situation. I understand that you dont think its "fair" that people say that to you, but honestly its true. Walking a half mile in the snow is nothing compared to driving 8 miles through traffic, Id take the walk anyday, and if I lived in a place where it snowed like this every week I would probaly drop the extra few hundred dollars on an apartment closer to where I worked.

Ditto, sort-of

By Michael Pahre - 12/19/08 - 2:27 pm

Ditto for my daughter's school, although I believe they call it a Holiday Party. And Santa was scheduled to come to school. Daughter thought that Rudolf would have to make an appearance in the Iditarod Team to help Santa find the school in the snowstorm.

Snow will also screw up those from the Balkans (and maybe other eastern orthodox immigrant communities?) who celebrate Saint Nikola's Day on the 19th. Or they'll just sing "I'm dreaming of a White St. Nikola's Day"...