Opinion | Recent weather cancellations by Fairfax schools are concerning

Recent weather cancellations by the Fairfax County Public Schools administration have concerned me, especially in light of the growing number of teens struggling with anxiety and other mental health issues.

On a weekend last month, all Saturday activities, including those indoors, were canceled by the school district because of the forecast for a tropical storm. These canceled events included homecoming dances at a few schools. This caused more unnecessary disappointment for students who struggled with finding normalcy during the pandemic. That same night, the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts held its annual gala. It didn’t feel the need to cancel.

Last weekend, FCPS announced that the newly established middle school cross-country programs’ Saturday meets would be canceled because of a forecast for “inclement weather” and the “safety concerns for our new runners.” Meanwhile, high school cross-country meets were still taking place.

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One of our daughters ran in a community cross-country program, and one of her best runs was at a Junior Olympic Games qualifying race in rural Maryland on a frigid, rainy November day. The grit and determination she found in herself that day helped prepare her for later challenges in life.

Today’s students are facing a future in a very challenging world. They need the adults not to hover over and protect them from any possible hazard but to enable them to find in themselves confidence, resourcefulness and determination.

I encourage FCPS to find ways to bolster the self-reliance in our students and not shield them from challenges. Their future happiness and success depend on it.

Deborah Bissen, Annandale

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