Kids need one parent who stays home. A stay at home parent helps children learn life skills, as well as maintains a tranquil, well-organized home life. Kids need to be able to arrive home from school with one parent present; a parent who has dedicated his/her life to caring for the children, preparing nutritious meals, keep a clean home, have clean clothing ready, supervise homework, have the kids' friends over, etc. They need and deserve a parent who is not stressed out from their jobs. Don't tell me that most families need both parents to work for the income; families used to do just fine on one income. Then they decided they needed all the extras (vacations, nice cars, boats, clothes, etc.). The kids have suffered big time. Look at the statistics that inform us on what is going on with our kids; drug addiction, teen pregnancy, not graduating high school, teen suicide, incarceration, etc. We created an economy that makes it difficult to survive on one paycheck when women got jobs to obtain all the extras. There are still some families in which one parent stays at home, even though it is tough financially; they do make it, though, and their children benefit.

It is quite an interesting thing how the news, both CNN and BBC, seem to ignore the fact that it is high school students in Hong Kong who are coming down with the H1N1 flu and yet the High Schools remain open. Five High Schools in Hong Kong have themselves decided to close, after the Government made the decision to close all primary and kindergarten schools. Meanwhile the number of students with H1N1 continues to grow in the High Schools of Hong Kong.

Could it be, the all important concept of year end testing of High Scool students is too important to parents and Government officials to stop, in spite of the fact the WHO's world pandemic alert is in force.

And also the speculation is rampant that once the testing period is over then the Government will close the High School for two weeks.

So much for the safety of students when it comes to year end testing in Hong Kong.

I have been seeing little kids with their grandparent chasing after them all throughout Hong Kong. I did not realize how many children there were in the city until I they had a all the schools and nurseries closed.

I do not think it is necessary for one parent to stay at home all the time. Perhaps 20 or 30 years ago, a single household income would suffice, but today it is necessary to have two parents working to support the kids (even with no frills).

John Johnson, it's not that testing is too important to parents (although it is). It's more along the lines of childrne being much more vulnerable to the H1N1 virus than high school students. The first yr hs students may be pretty young, but they're all at least a teenager (unless they're geniuses) and the H1N1 virus is not as dangerous to the adults/young adults than children.

And who cares if the government closes the schools down once testing ends? after exams, it's vacation time anyway.

And Jay, REALLY? I have no idea how old you are...but look around you, things have CHANGED since you were a little kid and your mom stayed at home. I'm barely 20, but things have changed a LOT since I was little and my mom stayed at home.
The cost of living has gone up so much recently that a lot of the households need both parents to just support themselves and not go into debt.

Anyone who has a clue about Hong Kong will know that kids are looked after by foreign maids–jjust go to any kindergarden in Tin Hau.Moms and dads usually work and kids are left to servants. Parents don't spend quality time with kids–get real. If you are still guessing –go to Mong Kok and you will not find too many kids tagging on to parents apron strings. Closing schools are a chore for parents since they will have to free up maids to look after the kids instead of doing housework or market. Hong Kong is a melting pot of parents working 24/7 and kids are raised by foreign maids.