Most everyone enjoys an occasional snow day. From teachers and students alike it means the chance to sleep longer in the morning, relax, and accomplish things around the house that you normally can’t seem to find time for. Most of the students make it a point to wander outside during their day off and disrupt the peaceful slate of sparkling snow. The impromptu day off is a good way to slow down in the fast paced scheduled life we lead.
The only down side to snow days is the fact that they must be tacked on to a school’s schedule at the end of the year. As much as the days off are relished in the middle of a long winter, when the end of the year comes and the last day of school has been pushed back, grumblings ensue; especially from the senior class. Their long awaited graduation keeps being placed farther and farther away, seemingly out of reach. When asked on her opinion on the recent rash of snow days, senior Jena Kauffman laughingly replied “I think they are stupid. It’s just prolonging the problem of us spending more time stuck in school!” Chelsie Peachey thoughtfully replied that “Sometimes they are unnecessary. They shouldn’t cancel school the day before, in anticipation of a big snow storm, because most times we could have gone to school.”
Friday, February 22, marked the fifth snow day of the 2007-2008 school year for Mifflin County School District. It is the fourth for this month, with the first one of the year falling on December 13. If anymore snow days are called this winter, students may find themselves in school until the middle of June. The thought of having to attend school inside, with the heat and sunshine outside, does not appeal to many. Freshman, Drew Zimmerman said that “It was nice to have the days off, but in the end it’s not worth it, because we will just have to make the days off later. It’s cutting into my summer vacation!” Few like to waste those precious, planned days of summer fun, or the chance to work and earn more money. There are always a few graduates who start college courses in mid-July who also want to enjoy their shortened summer vacation. While anyone associated with schools, faulty, students, bus drivers, and the parents enjoy the days off now, they pay the price come late spring.