School closings also give the students, whatever few there are that are interested, the opportunity to view the eclipse through the appropriate eye protection. There’s also the little trick with a pinhole projector that allows them to see it without actually looking up at it.
Of course, during that short period of totality, you actually can look up at it. That’s a 2-4 minute period depending on where you are. Knowledgable adult supervision recommended.
The last eclipse no one closed schools that I recall. In fact schools all over the country had glasses for the kids. Being AT school would provide the appropriate adult supervision.