I am writing in response to R McGrath’s comments regarding the closures of schools’ which appeared in the December 22, 2017 edition of your paper.

Having lived through more than 37 winters in northern Minnesota, USA, with its average winter snow fall of 45.3 inches (115.1cm), and temperatures of −60 °F (−51 °C) I am quite familiar with snow days and have on more than one occasion chuckled at the speed and ease at which schools shut down when a level of snow, which wouldn’t warrant a true Minnesotan to break out a shovel, falls on this country and brings it to a standstill.

However, blaming it all on health and safety (a common practice in this country) is a cop out and a falsehood. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) through such laws as the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the Managing Health and Safety at work Regulations of 1999, as well as a dozen other such laws and regulations, have no legal application or bearing on whether or not a school decides to close due to what they believe are localised, unsafe conditions for their staff and students. So, stop blaming H&S for everything!

The last paragraph of Mr McGrath’s letter contains his most ill-informed comments when he suggests that parents should receive compensation (from wages not paid to teachers of all things) for the “total inconvenience” that parents would have been put through in having to stay home with their children due to a school closures.

Since when is the opportunity for parents to spend quality, bonding time with their children while participating in some healthy, supervised outdoor activities a damn “inconvenience”, total or otherwise?

M Thomas Brooks

Ovaltine Court, Kings Langley