Pittsburgh Schools Open Late Day After Super Bowl
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Children belong in school.
Pittsburgh Public Schools opened two hours late today. Why? Well, the Steelers were in the Super Bowl. Duh.
And now that the Steelers won (great game, for what it’s worth), the statement that school district spokesperson Ebony Pugh made on Friday seems prescient: “People will be staying up late; there will be some partying.”
I have no doubt that Pittsburgh partied like it was 2006, when Pittsburgh also won, and schools were similarly delayed. But the game ended at 10pm. While it’s very nice of the district to delay the start of school so that parents can have an extra hour or two to get over their hangovers (frankly, I could’ve used an extra couple of hours and I’m in New York), it seems like a ridiculous move. One parent, Latoya Taylor, is going to miss time at work because of the delay. Is Ben Roethlisberger going to reimburse her?
I hate to be a sourpuss. But I really think this is stupid. “The district hopes the delay will cut down on absenteeism.” How about expecting people to be responsible enough to get up and get their kids ready for school? Or not keeping them up so late that they’re overly tired in the morning? If a parent decides, as my mother did with opening day at Yankee Stadium, that a sporting event is worth missing school for, that’s one thing. But when the district makes that decision for everyone, I don’t like it.
Anyone from Pittsburgh want to weigh in? I mean, congrats on the win. Great game. But are you happy that schools were delayed two hours? Non-Pitt residents, how would you feel if this happened in your hometown?
Source: PittsburghLive
Image: pps.k12.pa.us
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yeah, it really is terrible to have fun,, for a city to be proud… Usually part of the city even closes for the super bowl parade which usually takes place very early. Safety would be an issue. Let it go Mr. Negative
Actually, I heard the real reason for the late start was for the kids safety. A lot of people out partying for the superbowl work for schools, including bus drivers. Late night, drinking and then driving a bus in the morning doesn’t really mix does it?
I’m in the camp that agrees delaying school because of a sports event is absurd, but honestly, it’s not going to make any difference in the children’s overall education. The problem is a bit deeper than that IMO.
I think it is disgusting that any city/county/state, whatever, would delay school because of a sports event!! This is just ONE of the issues this country has with our school system. At what point do we delay education and tell our children that sports are more important? I know that throughout history, sports players have always gotten away with things that the average student wouldn’t. I think that putting aside academic education for sports is disgusting, and shows our children that academics isn’t important. We in America wonder why teens (and now adults) working at oh let’s take McDonanlds, cannot give proper change? Why coins must be despensed so as to ensure proper change? Why pictures of bigmacs are on the buttons now, instead of words? Why students and young adults think there are 52 states in the United states? Why people don’t know who the presidential candidates were? Why people take less interest in education and world politics than a sports game?? We wonder why? THIS is the reason! Look at the example we are setting!
And I have heard everyone from Pitts, talking about the “fever” and that unless you are from that area you don’t understand. Don’t you think that EVERY sports team has that? Also, why would only one city delay school because of a big game the night before, when there are fans of both teams ALL over the United States? What about the other cities absenteeism? They apparently are dealing just fine with it! It is a parents call as to if their child will or won’t miss, or be late to school. If I lived in this city, I would be livid! How dare you tell my kid that sports is a reason to delay education??
Until things like this are fixed, our school systems and children’s education have no chance!
Amen to Brett’s bitchin’. =)
Considering it’s cold and snows in Pittsburgh, they are prone to the two-hour delays of the winter season. Is this really any worse than a two-hour delay called on a day when it ends up not snowing?
As long as they didn’t cancel school entirely…aww, let ‘em have their fun!
What, you didn’t believe me when I posted about it this weekend?
Since it seems to be a toss-up between a two-hour delay and rampant absenteeism, I go with the two-hour delay. Plus, Steelers are in the blood there… or so it seems.