The COVID-19 pandemic has taken away many simple joys from our community. One of the most inexplicable? The snow day. Earlier this fall, the vaccine timeline seemed very uncertain and the decision was made to convert any possible snow days to remote days for our schoolchildren.
Usually, snow days taken in winter add extra in-person days in June. With vaccines currently being distributed to medical workers, and teachers soon to follow, there is a renewed hope that June schooling might be fully in-person. As a result of the new snow day policy, we’re trading these precious possible in-person June days for more remote learning now, and forgoing the joy of snow days at the same time.
These days could be spent savoring nature, and provide the benefit of sorely-needed screen-free days for students and staff. Now we have just another Zoom day, with the added stress of less reliable internet. Let’s bring snow days back. It’s better for the mental health of our school community now, and it will hopefully mean more in-person education for the school year overall.
Patrick Boughan
Florence