Republican Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin is not happy with schools closing only for cold weather.
Bevin told 840 WHAS Radio’s Terry Meiners on Tuesday that such school closings mean America is “getting soft.”
“I mean, what [happened] to America? We’re getting soft, Terry. We’re getting soft,” Bevin said of districts across his state closing due to freezing temperatures. “There’s no ice going with it, or any snow.”
While the Kentucky governor did say that “it’s better to err on the side of being safe,” he admitted he was worried about the example quick school closings are setting for young people in America. (RELATED: Kentucky Governor: Rand Paul Had ‘Significant Traumatic Experience’ In Lawn Attack)
“I mean, what (happened) to America? We’re getting soft, Terry. We’re getting soft.”
Gov. Matt Bevin expressed criticism after dozens of school districts canceled classes Wednesday due to dangerously cold temperatures throughout Kentucky.
STORY: https://t.co/pgq5vffHt7 pic.twitter.com/MlNpbCQmBI
— WLKY (@WLKY) January 30, 2019
“It does concern me a little bit that, in America, on this and many other fronts, we’re sending messages to our young people that if life is hard, you can curl up in the fetal position somewhere in a warm place and just wait until it stops being hard,” Bevin said.
Bevin faced criticism in the state for his comments:
Matt Bevin says Kentuckians are soft because schools are being cancelled for record colds tomorrow morning
I will guess it will not be his children that would have had to stand outside and wait for a school bus in the weather https://t.co/dJbqHjvQ4g
— Matt Jones (@MattJonesRadio) January 29, 2019
“Matt Bevin says Kentuckians are soft because schools are being cancelled for record colds tomorrow morning,” Kentucky Sports Radio Host Matt Jones said. “I will guess it will not be his children that would have had to stand outside and wait for a school bus in the weather.”
The Kentucky Education Association also chimed in with criticism of Bevin’s remarks: “We will always support decisions made for the health & safety of Kentucky’s children. Always.”