LFHS is always preaching the safety of their students, and generally strives to keep their kids safe and out of danger. This past Tuesday, on Jan. 21, there was an alert for hazardous weather. The temperature dropped to negative 8 with wind chills of negative 30. Schools around the nation canceled classes, and news reporters told all people in the Illinois area to stay inside. However, LFHS made the decision to still have school.
“My car was not starting this morning which made it difficult to get to school,” junior Mike Hollingsworth said. “Also, I took my hands out of my pocket for two seconds and they were immediately cold.”
The day before, LFHS had posted an Instagram post informing students that there would be school the next day. This angered many parents and students alike. The post received backlash with many angry comments surfacing from accounts that were believed to be fake.
One comment left by rodney_buisness_ventures1996 said: “I need to know who’s in charge immediately! This is a disgrace to the first day of Trump’s presidency. My child will not be attending tomorrow.”
Another, left by muhammedbasketball124, said: “Dear Member of the School Board, I am writing to express my deep concern for my daughter’s walk to school.”
Although some or most of these comments came from fake accounts, their opinions were all real and valid. Some kids have a longer walk than others and the weather can be unbearable, especially if they don’t have the right amount of layers. Following the surge of comments, the school Instagram restricted any more and instead posted a new image, reading: “While we understand that some students are disappointed with the decision, we want to remind everyone that our social media platforms are a space for respectful and productive engagement.”
LFHS then attached a link where students could talk directly to someone about any problems they are having concerning the decision.
I think it was good for students to stand up for what they believe in, but it definitely could have been done in a more respectful manner. Hopefully, in the future, the school will take students’ opinions into consideration the next time the weather is dangerously cold.
