A Fine Point

Authors

The editors who craft the Post-Gazette’s daily stands on the issues affecting the region, the state and the nation hold an on-line conversation with readers about key topics in the news. The PG editorial writers are: Tom Waseleski, Reg Henry, Susan Mannella, Tony Norman and Dan Simpson.  

 Register to comment
Guide to commenting

Syndication

Delay of game

Tom Waseleski

At the risk of being the skunk at the Steeler party ... were all of today's school delays really necessary? Late last week the Pittsburgh Public Schools announced a two-hour delay for this morning because of anticipated absences due to the Super Bowl. Then Penn Hills piled on with a similar decision.

Last night, TV news coverage of the Steelers' win was compelling for two reasons: the replays of some astounding feats on the field and the news crawlers at the bottom of the screen listing an incredible number of schools, both public and private, that had decided to start classes late today. Was that monster blizzard materializing after all? Was another bout of wintry mix headed our way? Not really.

The only slippery slope was the one put out there by school officials who lowered the expectations for students and employees to report to  school on time. After a game, no less, that ended at around 10:30. In Pittsburgh, which prides itself on a strong work ethic and lauded institutions of learning, we start school on time except when roads are hazardous, temperatures hover near zero and, uh, the Steelers are in the Super Bowl.

So much for teaching kids about work readiness and personal priorities. Throw a flag on that one -- call it personal foul.


Posted Feb 02 2009, 11:33 AM by Tom Waseleski

Comments

kevin morris wrote re: Delay of game
on Tue, Feb 3 2009 11:04 AM

There aren't enough qualifed substitute teachers to fill the gaps they would have had without this delay. You can lament the truth of this and what it says about our teachers, but they do get to take days off, and too many would have done so on Monday for the system to work. Under the circumstances it was the best bad choice.