It seems to be a passing thought for many. Why wouldn’t we do remote learning in lieu of a school cancellation now that we have a virtual infrastructure in place?

The two cancellations last week were a case in point.  Classes could have been held virtually, but there was no doubt that students rejoiced to learn that there would be no school last Thursday and Friday.

The district’s decision for this school year states, “In the event of a snow day, the first two days will be full snow days utilizing the two snow days built into the school calendar. All subsequent snow days will be asynchronous Flexible Instruction Days. On these days students will complete learning activities and assignments provided by their teachers at home on a day that otherwise would have been canceled.”

Before really thinking about it, I viewed the COVID-19 crisis as an event that forced the school to build up a system of going virtual. Naturally, I assumed this infrastructure would ensure there is no need to have school cancellations. I told myself that missing a day of education can be circumvented. We were supposed to go to school anyways, so why not do it virtually? Do I like snow days? Sure, but my personal feeling towards them shouldn’t impact the practicality of it.

However, my opinion has since changed. 

Too many snow days can push back the start of summer break.  However, there is no denying the joy of a snow day–the first being the thrill of such a rare occurrence. How happy we all feel to wake up on a school day when we are informed that it is in fact not a school day because of the winter weather. For many people, small surprises are one of the great things in life.

These memories and feelings are not just variable phenomena but rather something that is almost universal in character. Everyone I asked noted how much they love the thrill of waking up on a snow day. 

“Snow days are honestly the best thing to ever exist. I remember when I was in elementary school and we would sit by the TV, waiting to see if our school popped up on the bottom of the news channel,” one former student said. “Saying that we had a delay, or better yet, a closing. It made the experience so much more fun whenever we would get a snow day.” 

It is well-documented that the average person should exercise 30 minutes every day. It is also documented that the average person should spend at least two hours a week exercising outside. However, it is also well-documented that the average person spends less time outside during winter. I can attest that when I was a kid and was told that I did not have school because of the cold or snow, it ignited a vigor in my young blood to go outside and play.

I will never forget that day in 3rd grade when I felt awful upon waking up, but the second I heard the phone say that school is canceled because of snow, I got that jolt of energy to go outside. Things change, of course, but I cannot think of any situation that could replicate such a wondrous feeling. This does not just apply to elementary school children. I can vouch that when my environmental science teacher noted that we would most likely have a cancellation on February 3, 2022, students, all aged 15 to 18, were ecstatic.