Many cherish the joy of waking up to a surprise snow day, as schools close and the world transforms into a winter wonderland. However, the question arises: how do these unscheduled breaks affect students’ academic achievements?
MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:
In the aftermath of a major storm that swept across the United States, snow shovels are out, flights are grounded, and schools are shuttered. The sight of children sledding down a hill may be heartwarming, but it begs the question: are these snow days beneficial to students? We delve into this with Joshua Goodman, a professor at Boston University specializing in education and economics. Professor Goodman, welcome to the discussion.
JOSHUA GOODMAN: Thanks for having me.
KELLY: To put it plainly, do snow days benefit students?
GOODMAN: Emotionally, the answer is likely yes, but academically, not so much. Missing a single day out of the typical 180-day school year results in a noticeable drop in both reading and math proficiency.
KELLY: Can you quantify this impact for us?
GOODMAN: Missing 1 out of 180 days translates to a loss of about 1% of the educational content for that year. It’s akin to concerns during the pandemic when schools were closed for extended periods. A few snow days won’t derail future ambitions, but they should be used judiciously to ensure students are on track.
KELLY: There are other considerations too. For some students, school is crucial for meals, offering perhaps their only hot meal of the day.
GOODMAN: Absolutely. The past five years have taught us that schools provide more than just academic learning. They offer nourishment, supervision, and allow parents to work. While my own children are thrilled to be sledding today, I’m fortunate to work from home. Many parents don’t have this luxury, making school closures challenging.
KELLY: As much as I enjoyed snow days in my youth, they’re less appealing as a working parent. Despite the downsides, are there positive aspects to snow days?
GOODMAN: Indeed, there are three key benefits. Firstly, safety is paramount; avoiding bus travel during snowstorms prevents accidents. Secondly, snow days create cherished memories, possibly more valuable than a single day of learning. Lastly, as a former high school math teacher, I know that declaring a snow day is less disruptive than having sporadic absences, which complicate teaching.
KELLY: It’s challenging when some students miss out while others proceed with the planned lesson, isn’t it?
GOODMAN: Exactly. Teaching only part of the class and then reteaching content to absentees is inefficient. It’s preferable for everyone to take a day off and resume learning together.
KELLY: Professor Joshua Goodman of Boston University, thank you for shedding light on the implications of snow days.
GOODMAN: It’s been a pleasure.
(SOUNDBITE OF THE PIANO GUYS’ “LET IT SNOW”)
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