Will schools in Michigan be calling a snow day with districts fully integrated with distance learning?

DETROIT – As Tuesday’s severe weather approaches, a unique dilemma arises for parents and students.

We are talking about a snow day. With districts fully integrated with distance learning, will districts herald a snow day? As of Monday afternoon, that answer was still not clear.

There are many things that educators must grapple with in order to educate children during a pandemic.

That includes distance learning, face-to-face learning, hybrid learning, parents, teachers, students and now the snow days issue.

Related: Detroit Metro School Closures: View List

‘Can the children get there? We just need a day to take a break, ”said Heidi Hedquist of the Pontiac School District.

In Michigan, it is a foregone conclusion that you will likely have snow days. In fact, the state allows up to six snow days when the weather makes it dangerous or unrealistic to take children to and from school.

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With distance learning, we now know that kids can be trained on whether there is 12 inches of snow on the ground and counting or a bright, cold, sunny day.

So why do we need snowy days? It is a question that educators in particular have debated about measurable learning loss in the last 10 months of education during a pandemic.

Reyonna Orr has three children in the L’Anse Creuse school district.

“Snow days are important. Everyone deserves a day off, ”said Orr, adding that the pandemic has been especially stressful for students.

Her two sons learn completely face to face and her daughter attends school four days a week for a hybrid learning model.

“We all need sanity to snow… Give us a day off,” she said.

Weather forecast: 15 to 10 inches of snow tonight

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