Harry's Gang: Wither the no-school snow day? Say it isn't so

Nothing seems to make a child happier than waking up to a snowfall and hearing their parents say, “School’s been canceled today.” But those days are numbered. Soon, snow days may be a thing of the past. You can thank — or blame — electronics.

I don’t think many people are paying attention to this new development, because the schools are mostly closed now due to the pandemic, and likely will remain in distance learning for most of the winter. Still, this pandemic can’t last forever, and when we get out of it, snow days may be done with for good.

Welcome to e-learning, a newish concept that has been refined thanks to the school’s distance learning experiences during this pandemic. E-learning is a way to keep schools open even when it’s difficult to get to the buildings because of snowstorms. Rather than close the schools, students will stay home and attend classes on their computers. Essentially, it’s how kids have been learning during the pandemic, and I guess it makes sense to use the system during snowstorms, too.

The new snow day policy says that e-learning can be implemented up to five days per school year, meaning school calendars no longer have to anticipate “make-up days” in case we suffer a particularly harsh winter. Instead of canceling school, they’ll just switch to e-learning for that day.

Fortunately, school officials understand the thrill and tradition of snow days, and have decided that the first two events will be old-fashioned snow days, with schools closing and no e-learning requirement. After that, though, students will be expected to participate in e-learning when they can’t get to school due to snow.

I chatted with Cloquet schools superintendent Michael Cary about the new policy.

“The interesting thing about snow days from the perspective of a superintendent is that you’re simultaneously a hero and a villain,” he said. “To one group of people (usually the children), you’ve given many of them a day to play and have fun. To another group of people (typically parents), you’ve caused them the distress of needing to make last-minute, and often inconvenient, arrangements.”

Cary told me, “This phenomenon (of being both a villain and a hero) becomes very apparent when I get approached with the question of whether a snow day is likely. The younger kids will run up, voices full of hope and glee, and shout, ‘Are we going to have a snow day tomorrow?’ This is usually followed by a list of reasons why it’s a good idea and some comments about how wonderful I am to consider it. The adults, usually in a somewhat foreboding tone, typically phrase it as ‘What are the chances you’re shutting down school tomorrow?’ The look on their faces is typically enough to communicate their thoughts on the matter.”

I don’t envy having to make that decision.

I do lament the loss of a tradition: kids lurking by the radio, waiting to hear their school announced in the long list of snow closures, and the cheers that go up when it’s finally announced, “no school today.” Think about what a child does with an unexpected snow day? I recall getting dressed warmly, playing in the snow, shoveling, building snow forts, fighting with my brothers, and wondering why we couldn’t have school that day — it didn’t seem too bad to me. Of course, I kept my mouth shut. Snow days were a treat. I remember my mother telling me to get caught up on my homework. I also remember ignoring her advice.

But I understand the inconvenience for parents, who suddenly have to make arrangements to entertain children and may have to shuffle work schedules. And I do understand the need to educate our children, even during snowstorms.

So we are encouraged when schools innovate and get creative as they carry out the very important job of public education. I am just nostalgic for the snow days I enjoyed as a child, and I’m a bit sorry they will be mostly obsolete soon.

And when you get down to it, it is all about educating our children. As Superintendent Cary told me, “at least the kids don’t miss out on their learning and they don’t run the risk of needing to make up school days in June when the weather is nice.”

Pete Radosevich is the publisher of the Pine Knot News and an attorney in Esko who will host the talk show Harry’s Gang on CAT-7 again soon. His opinions are his own. Contact him at [email protected]