Question

Explain whether snow days should or should not be replaced by e-days.

Answer 1

Answer:

Explanation:

When the severe weather alert flashes on the television screen and across the top of the Weather Channel app in February, every kid starts praying that the weather gets worse. They set their alarms for 5 a.m., hoping that when they look at their phone or computer screen they see their school among those on the snow day list. Anyone who grew up in the North knows the sheer joy that comes from an unexpected winter day off from school. Whether that means sleeping in, meeting friends at the park with sled in tow, or just a day off from schoolwork, snow days are a rare treat and a special part of school culture in the United States. In the dark, short days of winter, it’s these days that often give a boost to students—and teachers—as they wait for spring.

Anderson County School District 5, in South Carolina, announced this week that they would be getting rid of snow days and replacing them with “eLearning days.” Instead of having the day off, students would spend their day at their laptops completing schoolwork assigned that morning. This announcement likely sends a cold chill (no pun intended) through all students across cold-weather states. They wonder: Could their district be next? Anderson’s superintendent, Tom Wilson, describes this decision as making “good sense” and explains that snow days are a waste of time and resources. Wilson cites that schools have to make up the days in the summer. On snow days, staff and students have an unproductive day at home. But now, thanks to technology, kids no longer have to waste a day because of inclement weather. However, the question is: What if snow days aren’t a waste?

As well-intentioned as replacing snow days with “eLearning days” is, this school district might be underestimating the value of this day off from school. Of course, there is the expense of extending the school year and students missing a day of instruction. But most educators, and all students, can speak to the value of that unscheduled day away from classrooms. School districts need to consider a few things before abolishing the snow day.