Virtual Learning: A snow day is a gift of time to slow down and take a break from school work for a day. It is a gift to all of us: parents, children and teachers.
Most of us can remember the wonderful feeling of discovering that we had a snow day when we were children. Pajamas all morning! Sledding in the afternoon! Hot chocolate and lots of movies! But for many kids today, snow days aren’t just fun and games: They also include logging into Zoom for school.
After the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020, seven out of ten schools moved to a distance or learning model. has remained. Now, instead of safety measures in the face of unprecedented epidemics, the good old snow day is being replaced by distance learning.
In an effort to increase learning in the “post-pandemic” era, school districts and many states have opted to replace snow days with active learning days. Explaining the well-documented pandemic education gap, the theory – allegedly – is that more days in the classroom will help make up for lost learning during COVID-19.
But for overworked, unsupportive parents who often make these school days easier — and for students who struggle with depression and -climbing, anxiety, and feelings of isolation – losing that old snow day feels like a disaster. loss of many other things.
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How virtual learning snow days affect real parents
Just recently, I had to wonder how I could find a full-time job working from home as a journalist and supporting online education at home for two young children. age 10. When a storm hit the east coast. In February, New York City Public Schools announced that students would be doing well instead of giving students, parents and teachers the traditional snow day.
On the morning of my children’s home day, the New York Department of Education sent an email announcing that it was “experiencing a technical issue with the system” preventing students from , parents and staff from logging into Google Classroom.
In a strange situation similar to many days of learning about COVD-19, I found myself again frustrated, exhausted, and trying to calm two confused and anxious children while I was walking around and not feeling well. of technology and liaising with editors, scheduling interviews and responding. Internet information. . But I’m not alone. Rachel, a single mother of three who lives in Eagle River, Alaska, tells me: “We had a school day recently because of the rain and the weather. not good. “My son is autistic and has inattentive ADHD, so he doesn’t adapt to changes in schedule. So when we have study days, he doesn’t learns a lot because it is difficult for him to communicate with the computer. It may seem like he’s focused on learning… but that’s not the case.
Alice Knisley Matthias, a single mother of two school-aged children, tells me that “snow days are supposed to be magical for children,” but her reality is not a myth. She added that there is still chaos around the scheduled school day, and that the frustration has rubbed off on her children.
What Research and Experts Say About Studying Forecasts Instead of Snow Days
While some studies have shown that online learning is beneficial for students with disabilities or those who learn well in non-traditional classroom environments, others have highlighted the negative effects of online learning on mental health, age academic satisfaction and overall academic performance of students. .
Moreover, many studies have also shown that online learning at home adds to the unequal division of labor in the family, as many parents will make their children learn better is the mother.7 For mothers used to know most of the family. child care and home care while working inside or outside the home, additional work (not to mention terrible) work of virtual learning at home – if the family is privileged of the internet and having a computer – wonderful and the best.
Jessi Gold, MD, a mental health psychiatrist says: “The addition of a child staying at home and looking after school is another responsibility that mothers don’t have. time or ability for it,” says Jessi Gold, MD, a psychiatrist. Science Center. “The hallmark of burnout is emotional exhaustion, and finding the emotional strength to support your child in virtual school when you’re at a low point can make existing exhaustion worse,” and – add. “Although a snow day in a virtual school will disrupt the normal day of parents, only a virtual leaning will add to the need they also have, in some way, to become a teacher.”
Shira Spiel, a licensed psychologist with a doctorate in psychology, agrees, adding that “parents should take time off from work during a snow day, regardless of whether it’s for a day or it’s to prepare for a snow day.” Learning is practical, however, if the children have the opportunity to use their free time, the family can enjoy an incredible time together.
Similarly, Rachel says that she “feels more stressed” on new days without snow because her son’s learning needs are not adequately met with the computer.
“When I’m stressed and focused on my son’s class, that’s when I don’t focus on my daughters,” she adds. “Snow days are usually easier to manage because they give my son a chance to play with his sisters and be a kid again. And according to Spiel, the opportunity to “be young” is exactly how children learn.
“In recent years, schools have eliminated fun breaks, which manifest as snow days and holidays, as well as non-academic classes, such as music and art,” Spiel tells me. “I don’t think that’s the answer. Basically, child labor is a game.”
Related: The Power of Educational Games and Toys
Where do we go from here?
As a family with internet access, a computer and enough room to separate my kindergartners and fourth graders while they talk on their computers, we survived the first snow-free day for the 2023-2024 school year. My boys finished their work and went to Zoom class after over an hour of trying to connect. And I managed to be quiet name-calling at least, and turn to this topic even 12 hours later. But my children don’t have the chance to play in the snow.
“There’s a lot of discussion about the importance of mental health in children,” says Matthias. “A snow day is a gift of time to slow down and take a day off from school activities and work. It is a gift to all of us: parents, children and teachers.
Matthias, like many parents, was disappointed to see this gift taken away from him.
Related: Lifelong Learning Lab: Creating a Home Environment that Fosters Curiosity
