The first snow storm of the season raged up the Eastern seaboard! Students thought they might have a snow day, but in some districts, the leadership said “No!”
This will upset those “reformers” who think it is time to get tough on the kids, time to get ready for the next test, time to squelch any sign of happiness, but:
In West Virginia, a school superintendent said a loud “Yes!”
In a letter to the school community on Tuesday, Jefferson County Schools Superintendent Bondy Shay Gibson said she was canceling classes so that students and faculty could take a much-needed break during a very hard year.
“For generations, families have greeted the first snow day of the year with joy,” Gibson’s letter states. “It is a time of renewed wonder at all the beautiful things that each season holds. A reminder of how fleeting a childhood can be. An opportunity to make some memories with your family that you hold on to for life.”
“For all of these reasons and many more, Jefferson County Schools will be completely closed for tomorrow, Dec. 16, in honor of the 1st snow day of the year,” the letter continues. “Closed for students … closed for virtual … closed for staff.”
Gibson said she hoped the snow day would provide the kind of joy, rest, and celebration that has been so rare during the pandemic.
“It has been a year of seemingly endless loss and the stress of trying to make up for that loss,” she said. “For just a moment, we can all let go of the worry of making up for the many things we missed by making sure this is one thing our kids won’t lose this year.”
“So please, enjoy a day of sledding and hot chocolate and cozy fires,” she said. “Take pictures of your kids in snow hats they will outgrow by next year and read books that you have wanted to lose yourself in, but haven’t had the time.”
“We will return to the serious and urgent business of growing up on Thursday, but for tomorrow,” the letter concludes, “go build a snowman.”
Magnificent! Go and build a snowman. In the snow. Not in an app. I love it.
Thank you for sharing, but every Superintendent on Long Island shared the same message.
Send me their letters!
bp:
This particular letter went viral on Buzzfeed, & was posted in GoogleNews: that’s why it ended up here.
Surprised that Mayor DeBlasio decided to ignore Mother Nature in favor of technology.
A new kind of Scrooge story, this being so close to Christmas?
When I first read his letter, the first thought I had was ‘Yes, he is human!’
Haaaa!!!!
I absolutely love this! Kids and teachers who are virtual also need a break from screen time.
So did we in Nanuet. Snow day today
Sent from my iPhone
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Hear, hear for snow days!
I spent most of mine shoveling but it was wonderful to be outdoors.
Plus, the pure white stuff buried what was left of the grotesque Trump signs still standing near my home. A true, fresh start for all of us.
It reminds me of the last Calvin and Hobbes comic strip. I don’t know if it will copy into here. Well worth looking at if you’ve never seen it.
John:
3rd paragraph–what a fitting & welcome analogy!
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!
Bravo to those superintendents! They remember there’s a little kid in all of us and nothing says “let kids be kids” like a snow day. If we ever needed some nostalgia, a surprise break, and something that feels like “school the way it oughta be” – it’s now. A snow day is the first normal thing we’ve had in 9 months.
When I was teaching in one district in Illinois, I’d get up early and listen to the radio station that was broadcasting whether or not districts had cancelled classes.
The district that I worked in seemed to be the one that rarely closed. I found out that the decision on whether or not to keep schools open depended upon whether or not school buses could drive on the roads to pick up kids.
I read that some places on the east coast had 2-3 feet of snow. How do school buses pick up children if any are in schools that are doing in-person teaching?
Several years ago I read that NW Indiana had 20 snow plows but only 7 were operating. There was no money to get the snow plows fixed. [But Indiana always brags about having a budget.]
Dude, sweet!
Here’s an interview with Superintendent Bondy Shay Gibson.
Good candidate for Sec of Ed.
She understands the most essential things about kids, learning and teaching.
Thanks, Christine. This was delightful!
Someone with her priorities in order!
Yes! I would like to ask those that think we should “get tough on kids” what it actually means to them.