A typhoon closing in on Taiwan’s east coast has brought the typical wind, rain, and rough seas that typhoons always bring along. But it’s also bringing stormy reactions from some local parents over the issue of school closings.
Typhoon Mitag is kicking up violent gusts and high waves along Taiwan’s Pacific coast. Fishermen, shopkeepers, and construction workers are playing it safe, securing whatever large objects they can. With dangerous conditions expected through Monday, it’s probably not surprising that schools are being careful too.
But the issue of school closings has unleashed a different kind of storm- this one of the public relations variety. In three areas of Taitung County, Monday looked at first like a normal school day. But at 10:00am, officials announced that schools would be closing.
Many parents were at work, and some were not immediately reachable, leaving teachers to chauffeur their students home one by one. Fortunately, one teacher says, everyone in their area lives in the same village, so it wasn’t too much trouble.
Those parents who did come to pick up their children were far from impressed by the decision to cancel classes part way through the day. They say with the typhoon nearby, schools shouldn’t have opened at all.
But Taitung County officials say there’s not much they could have done differently- their decisions have to follow regulations issued by the central government.