As I sit at my computer, it’s 9:30 on a Thursday. I’m not at work, but staying home because of the blizzard warning that is in effect and has kept my entire family at home.
My kids are excited about a day off school, and I see that Facebook posts are rampant with commentary on not having school, on why it took so long to make this decision, and whether we should have tried going today.
While most kids rejoice at snow days, I always sit back and shake my head. I wholeheartedly support having today off; safety is paramount, and I wouldn’t want my kids on a bus with all the blowing snow out there. However, a day off now means we will tack one on at the end of the school calendar.
Before today, the last day of school was scheduled for May 30. You’d better change that now to May 31 and hope we don’t have any more full days off because of weather, or you can flip the page to June and come to school then too. This is the most ludicrous way of making up snow days, but there are potential solutions to this problem.
First, here is why just tacking days on the end is bad for business. Whether you are a parent or a child, everyone knows how squirrely kids get as the school year draws to a close.
This is especially true after Memorial Day. That week tends to be a flurry of softball tournaments, track and field days, and general wrap-up activities.
Now start adding days onto that and imagine how much educating gets done. I don’t care how good you are at teaching, June is not a month to accomplish something. (I’m actually in favor of year-round school, but that’s a column for another day.)
How can we solve this dilemma? Here are three solutions, any of which could be easily implemented.
The first is that any time we have a snow day, we take the next day that is scheduled off and make it a school day. Taking into account contractual issues and the necessity of workshop days, that day would be President’s Day.
Since we had no school December 20, let’s make February 18 a school day. The advantage to this is mainly that it is more educationally sound; we can accomplish a lot more on a day in February than the end of May or in June. With all the hoopla about testing, we might as well have one more day to prepare before MCAs roll around in April.
Sure, people make appointments and other plans, but this is a two-month warning. Switch things around. If you planned a family trip, then I guess you’ll miss a day of school; people tend to go on tour whenever they want to anyway, even if it conflicts with school time.
Another option is to start the year with the calendar having three extra days tacked on anyway. This is a matter of perception.
If everyone starts the year thinking we won’t finish until June 4, then plans are made accordingly, and the mindset is to prepare to teach around that schedule. Once the April board meeting rolls around, the school board can look at how many snow days we’ve had.
If it’s less than three, they can change the calendar and let everyone off a day or two early. Talk about good public relations - Hey, we’re letting you out early this year!
The final solution is my personal favorite; many other districts do this. The first snow day is off for everyone – don’t worry about it!
If there are one or two more days off, the teachers will make up that time, whether it’s by reporting that day or through extra time before and after a regular day. We could get a lot accomplished with our peers, be it planning or working together to get our curriculums aligned. After three snow days, we might have to look at adding student days.
If these options work elsewhere, they should be able to work at NRHEG. I’ve voiced these opinions before, but now’s your chance.
Tell school board members if you like one of these ideas; I know you don’t like the thought of tacking days on the end of the year. Otherwise I guess I’ll see you in June.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all my wonderful readers; I hope you all have a great holiday season and stay safe!
Word of the Week: This week’s word is xerophyte, which means a plant adapted to growing in a dry or desert environment, as in, “She was bemused by the gift of a xerophyte in Minnesota, where it clearly had no chance to survive.” Impress your friends and confuse your enemies!