Death of the snow day? NJ lawmakers consider letting schools go remote for bad weather

[TexasTowelie]

A childhood rite of passage may soon become a thing of the past as lawmakers consider giving school districts the option to switch to remote learning instead of taking a traditional snow day.

The bill, known as S464 while it's being considered, would allow public schools or approved private schools for students with disabilities to count remote instruction days called due to inclement weather, hazardous transportation conditions or another emergency that closes the school building toward the 180-day school year requirement.

Currently, schools can count remote learning days toward the requirement only if they are closed for three or more days because of a state of emergency, a public health emergency, or a directive by the appropriate health agency or officer to institute a public-health-related closure.

Legislators advanced the bill out of the Senate Education Committee last week, but it will still need to pass the full Senate and Assembly before making its way to Gov. Phil Murphy’s desk to be signed into law.

Read more: https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/education/2022/02/10/nj-school-snow-days-remote-learning-days-bill/6708534001/

[Ka-Dinh Oy]

1. Personally, I think this is a good idea.

Snow days interrupt planned summer vacation. It also interrupts the children's train of thought on learning because the break helps them forget what was being taught.

I am one of those people who think we should do the same thing as they do in some places in Europe. They go to school all year.

They do have vacations and they have more but it is more broken up and shorter as to not let their minds get out of practice so much.

A lot of children have problems getting back into the structure of a new school year.

Maybe it would be hard to do their exact lessons they have in the actual classroom but doing some type of lessons that coincidence with their grade would keep their mind going.

[Metaphorical]

2. Agreed

Most snow days aren't really "vacation days". Kids can't get to activities, and there's only so much you can do outside before freezing temperatures force you back inside. In most cases, I've noticed kids just get bored, especially when snow days extend beyond a single day, and they disrupt classes. This makes so much sense.