No school in Chicago because.......it's cold? (Oak Park, Hoffman Estates: home, school district)

[lycos679]

Originally Posted by The Northerner

McHenry (where we live) has closed tomorrow as well, and you can probably throw in Friday, too, because it won't be much above zero then, either. So basically, my kids are getting a 3 week Christmas break because it's really cold in Chicagoland in January.

Sorry, don't mean to be such a cynic, but we were all out & about today both up here and in Chicago, and it really wasn't that bad. Now if you're walking around with no gloves or head protection in temps like these......well, obviously there's going to be at least a few of those whose parents will be quick to blame the schools rather than their numbskull (pun intended) kids, so I suppose that's who they're worried about.

Maybe the gov't needs to provide winter clothing now too. Lol.

[rzzzz]

It's interesting they closed schools again. I didn't think it was that bad, and chalked the closure up to playing it too safe. I guess it is supposed to snow tomorrow, though.

[nana053]

Top 20 Weather Events of the Century for Chicago and northeast Illinois 1900-1999

Note that schools were closed for several of these events. More for snow than for simple cold, but still.

A Look Back At 3 Of Chicago’s Worst Blizzards « CBS Chicago

In January 1999, when 22 inches of snow was dumped onto the city over three days, schools were closed. In Feb 2011, schools were closed on Feb 2 and Feb 3. Buses were suspended on Feb 4.

You may not have been in school for the extreme events cited, but schools did close.

[Tyryztoll]

A tweak in the forecast: Arctic blast 'didn't get as cold as we thought' - Chicago Tribune

Ha ha ha....

And of course the media would NEVER sensationalize something like this.

[Tyryztoll]

Originally Posted by nana053

Top 20 Weather Events of the Century for Chicago and northeast Illinois 1900-1999

Note that schools were closed for several of these events. More for snow than for simple cold, but still.

A Look Back At 3 Of Chicago’s Worst Blizzards « CBS Chicago

In January 1999, when 22 inches of snow was dumped onto the city over three days, schools were closed. In Feb 2011, schools were closed on Feb 2 and Feb 3. Buses were suspended on Feb 4.

You may not have been in school for the extreme events cited, but schools did close.

2 feet of snow I can understand (happened to us every so often in northern Michigan), but just for cold? C'mon man, this is the heart of the Midwest!

[rzzzz]

Extreme cold causes issues with transportation, though. Train switches don't operate properly and diesel buses have many issues with fuel gelling, transmissions freezing, electrical not working, etc.

[reneeh63]

Originally Posted by Bellamouse

But I agree - if you can't go out to go to school, how can you go down to the museums? Makes NO sense.

It doesn't have to make sense...it's good PR for the museum to have a free day and if nobody comes, so what? A free day and calling off school are totally unrelated....

[Nodpete]

I grew up in the UP of Michigan and we went to school even when it was -50 degrees. We kept our coats and gloves on but still had to go to school. Of course this was in the 40's, 50's so things were different. But that brings me to a news story that was on the Chicago TV yesterday. A mother was complaining that her kids school was quite cool so her son left his jacket on. The teacher made him take it off because, are you ready for this, IT DIDN'T MEET THE DRESS CODE ! Only in today's schools !

[oddstray]

I grew up in Chicago in the 50's - 80's. Schools were closed when was predicted -5 degrees for the day's high temp. This was for the kids who had to walk or bus to school, because it wouldn't be safe for them.

It didn't happen very often. Maybe five days during the 30 years I lived there the schools were closed due to cold.

In addition, the schools were closed when we had that ridiculous 2' - 3' snowstorm, just because it took a couple of weeks before anyone could move around. The kids in our neighborhood created a sled patrol to go shopping for the neighbors who couldn't get out.

[rzzzz]

I left Chicago for a few years and attended high school in Minnesota in the 1920s. Not only was school never cancelled for any reason ever, when it was -60F our physical education class would do the "polar plunge" in Lake Minnetonka to keep our constitutions vigorous. While doing so, even the men wore old timey Taylor Swift bathing suits, and never once complained about shrinkage. I have to say I am aghast at our current generation of weaklings, with their game boys, texting, and multiple snow days.