Imgorthand/Getty Images; debate photos courtesy of families

Should Schools Cancel Snow Days?

January 31, 2022

To many kids across the U.S., a snowstorm means an unexpected day off from school. Some kids stay cozy with a mug of hot cocoa, while others sled down snow-covered hills.

But students in New York City public schools will be attending class in any kind of weather this winter. The city’s Department of Education announced last May that instead of schools being closed during heavy snow, students will log in for remote learning. Officials say the new plan will cut down on interruptions that come with school closures. They say that this can prevent students from falling behind.

Meanwhile, in many other cities, schools will continue to close during bad winter weather. Some people point out that many kids don’t have reliable Wi-Fi, and it could be even worse in snowstorms. Officials in the Mahwah Township school district in New Jersey think snow days are important.

“Snow days are chances for students to just be kids,” they say. “These are times for memory making.”

Here’s what two of our readers think.

Natalie Tantipitham

Some kids missed so many classes because of the pandemic. Now that we know we have the ability to learn remotely from home, there’s no reason to cancel school because of snow. Plus, we can still play outside in the snow and have fun after class!

Also, without snow days, schools won’t have to add days to the end of the year to make up for the lost time. This way, we can have a longer summer break.

Jonathan Arena

I live in New York City, and I’m not happy about the new plan. We deserve a break from school once in a while. Just because we studied remotely during the pandemic doesn’t mean we should do it all the time. In-person learning is much better.

Last winter, the most fun I had was doing socially distant outdoor activities like sledding with my friends. Besides, getting some exercise outside is good for kids!