There's Snow Escape from School

There's Snow Escape from School

The first ever snow day in the United States dated back to before the 1900s. And even before then, the earliest winter snow recorded was on October 10th in Cincinnati. Ever since that very first snow day, it has been something school children cherish.

Back when our parents were kids, they would look out for snow and turn on the radio or the local news station to hear if school was canceled. They would jump for joy and sprint outside to play. They would enjoy that stress-free version of life in the snowy paradise.

We used to have that as well. We would cross our fingers as we looked at the snow graciously falling from the sky, waiting for our parents to receive an email informing us all of school cancellation. We, too, would sprint outside, barely taking time to put on mittens, to celebrate our own youth in the white-covered fields.

This all changed when COVID-19 hit us. A full year of online learning led our administration to come to the realization that we could stay at home and learn at the same time. Since that time, snow days have been scarce. We get a total of two full snow days before we’re required to join a Zoom call at 8:00 A.M.

Our district has been stingy when canceling school for the day. Some may not recall this, but last year, on the day before winter break, it stormed enough for us to lose power in half of the building. But school wasn’t let out. They didn’t tell our parents, and we continued to learn in the darkened rooms.

While it’s understandable that our school just wants us to be able to get out of school for summer break as early as possible, you just can’t replace the joy of getting a snow day. Summer break will always come, but snow days won’t. That unparalleled sensation that arrives at our minds when we get to sleep an hour extra then go outside to witness nature in its full glory cannot be mimicked by a day that could come a day later without being noticed.

Snow days have been a tradition since the nineteenth century, and to take that away “just because… summer” is inexcusable. COVID-19 was a difficult time for most students, largely because of remote learning. This learning from home method is a reminder of that difficult time. Harvard graduate, Doctor Stephanie Jones, has done multiple studies on the effects of online learning to children and teenagers. She reports that you can see a rise of anxiety through online learning in children from even the young age of six. Furthermore, Embolden Psychology says, “Taking a day off to relieve all that can improve your mood and your health. Getting silly in the snow, with your dogs, children, family, is also great. Laughing may lower inflammation, soothe tension, boost your immune system, and reduce anxiety.” These clearly shows the positive effects snow days have and negative effects online learning has.

It is simply unproductive to take snow days away from students though it’s proven to help them. Our district must consider these aspects when making important decisions such as these. Bringing back traditional snow days would give children relief from school as well as prevent them from increased anxiety.