Save The Snow Day
School systems across the country are ending one of the most treasured traditions of growing up; The Snow Day.
Every one of us has, at some time or another, crossed our fingers, prayed to God, or did a snow dance in the anticipation of having the day off from school.
Now, a wicked combination of School Administrators and distance learning, are bringing snow days to a close in many jurisdictions.
Some of these concerns are practical; the students have the technology to learn from home, so why not just keep continuing their studies so as not to use any more snow days on the calendar.
Fortunately, some systems are saying now to this modernist philosophy.
I would argue that Snow Days are, in reality, good for students. Here are some of the many reasons:
Snow Days Promote Physical Activity: In our sedentary culture, many children don’t take enough opportunities to play outside or engage in physical activity. This has trend has accelerated since students have not had a legitimate physical education class since March. But how many kids do you know would pass up an opportunity to play in the snow, build a snow fort, or go sledding? None. Snow days get kids off the couch and get them moving.
Snow Days Promot Entrepreneurship: How many kids do you know offer to shovel snow for their neighbors. For a reasonable rate, of course. Maybe not as many do it now than in the past, but students have the opportunity to make some money on a snow day. This helps them understand the worth of work, being a self-starter, and setting reasonable economic goals. Lessons that are not learned in front of a laptop.
Snow Days Provide a Mental Break: A lot is asked of our children in good years. Between classwork, extracurricular activities, and just being a kid, children do have a lot of mental strain. That mental strain only becomes exacerbated in a global pandemic when they are stuck in front of a screen all day and, in many cases, have not seen their friends in month. There is a greater societal benefit for kids to get a mental break than there is to keep them in class on a snow day just for the sake of keeping up with the calendar.
Snow days are not just vestiges of our past, but provide clear and reasonable benefits to the present and to the development of future leaders, workers, and business owners. I urge you; contact your Superintendent, your School Board, and your local election officials and help preserve the School Day for generations to come!