Our Voice: Too quick to criticize school closing decisions

Unfortunately, we live in a day and age where people are quick to jump down the throat of other people who they think made a mistake.

Many were quick to criticize the lateness of the decision to call off school by the Aberdeen public school district. Assistant superintendent Becky Guffin made that decision at 7 a.m. Monday after school bus drivers determined they could not make their rounds.

“I just would sincerely apologize for the inconvenience that I caused,” Guffin said in Tuesday’s paper. “I know it was late. Like I said, we use the best information that we have available at the time to try to make a decision. . . . I just wish we would have decided sooner.”

Making decisions — whoever makes them — about whether to call off school or send our children on the road to extracurricular activities are tough ones. Especially in a region where the weather can change drastically from hour to hour.

If you are one of those who are quick to criticize such decisions, remember that a lot of factors go into those making them. Decisions about the safety of a busload of children are not made lightly.

They are the experts, not you or us. We miss the days when parents first supported school officials until they had proof otherwise. We also appreciate those who make tough public decisions, and then take responsibility for those decisions. Especially those who realize they are not always perfect.

Those are the kind of leaders who deserve our support, in the bad as well as the good times.