There’s a certain irony in the fact that some of the children who lost a day’s schooling because of the alleged danger of getting there travelled the equivalent distance – or more – so they could go and play in the snow.

For the majority of islanders, there is little doubt that the authorities got it wrong yesterday in preventing pupils from turning up and there is considerable anger that the airport struggled for a large part of the morning to get the runway open.

While officials might take the view that people have unreasonable expectations, it is clear that Guernsey does not cope well when there is a degree of snow and ice – and the question is why?

The answer, in part, is down to attitudes. That has been demonstrated by the more proactive approach taken by States Works, Guernsey Water and Public Services in finding alternatives to salt for road and runway use and telling islanders that they were working towards dealing better with cold weather.

That, however, was in response to intense criticism of what happened last time there was some snowfall and – to be blunt – island incredulity that no one had bothered to research the freely available salt-free anti-ice products.

So the response this winter has been better, but still not what islanders think is appropriate, frequently from their own experiences elsewhere or from what they see in the media.

There is a balance to be struck. Gearing up for snow and ice is expensive if those conditions are infrequent, although there does seem to be a shift in the weather we now receive.

For many, however, yesterday’s disruption to life and business is simply unacceptable.

The cost of living here dictates that many families have two working parents and busy routines are geared around children being at school in term-time.

When that doesn’t happen, it means taking time off work and losing money or holiday.

Yet those taking the decision to close schools do so free from any penalty – and parents believe that clouds their judgement.