Opinion: Why Snow Days Should Not Be E-Learning Days

Kathryn Dennett 

When COVID-19 struck the world, everything that people did was changed. From how they went grocery shopping to in person school, COVID-19 impacted everything. One aspect that is now more apparent than ever, snow days. With the advancing technology and use during COVID-19, e-learning has become an aspect of student’s lives. Children of this generation and future generations will not experience the joy of having freedom from school in the middle of winter.  

In the article “Why snow days are good for you – and how science is on your side” by Mike Szydlowski. He talks about the psychological impact that the winter season has on your body which is made worse by other factors. Especially the fact of there being little sun which can enhance our moods to be happier. As adults and children become more tired during the winter snow can help by creating this quiet and sense of relaxation.  

For students, it gives them a break from the internet and schoolwork but with lessons now being online it does not allow them to be kids or young adults. Not only do snow days allow students to have a chance to reset they also allow them to have creative freedom. But with lessons being available on the internet during these breaks people are no longer having a chance to experience these helpful qualities that come with cold weather and icy conditions.  

While college students may be just as excited as younger students for snow days there is a distraction caused. Teachers will experience less focused kids who were expecting a snow day. The minds of the students will be somewhere else because they were expecting no learning. This can cause less material to be retained and learned.  

Another perk of having snow days is the fact students can catch up on the homework they already have. This would allow them to catch up and get on top of assignments so when school is back in session their grades rise and they are not buried in work. This would allow teachers to also catch up on grading and allow them not to assign more work for them to grade.   

One factor that is not talked about much is the possibility of no power or internet. Blackouts happen a lot during the winter. How will students get on their laptops to learn if there is no power or internet? Then there are students without internet whether the power is on or off. What will happen to these students if they do not do the work?