With the recent load of snow dumped across Sheridan County, many students fell asleep with crossed fingers that the next morning they’d have the happy announcement that school was canceled for the day. However, even with the terrible road conditions, the students were sadly disappointed and school went on as always.

And why shouldn’t it? What’s a little snow? Sure, everyone had to spend an extra hour in the morning shoveling their driveways and digging their cars out of the snow bank, but it was good exercise and enlightened everyone’s morning to prepare for the scholastic day ahead. Honestly, who doesn’t enjoy the solitude of scraping ice off the windshield at 6 am? Builds character.

Furthermore, what could go wrong with 300 high school students driving to and from school on black ice? They’re sure to be the exception to the thousands of accidents that occur due to the uncertain combination of teenage confidence and undesirable driving conditions. If not, survival of the fittest, right? All the students with massive Suburbans and Chevy trucks will live to see their graduating day, while the owners of undersized Subarus such as myself shall have to hope for the best.

Disrupting the school schedule to provide for those who live out of town beyond the reach of the snow plow, or to consider those who’s cars have less traction than a hockey puck on ice, is unthinkable. Education over caution: the students would never succeed in life if the school sent the message that physics class should come second to their personal safety.

With a snow day we would’ve lost the opportunities to slide the treacherous roads to school and spin our expensive responsibilities on wheels in the parking lot rink to spend 8 hours of imperative education that couldn’t have possibly waited till June. There’s no good excuse to miss PE class! If the snowplow doesn’t cover your street, get up really early. If you live out of town, invest in a pair of snowshoes. If your car gets stuck in the ice and snow clumps, start walking.

The students of district 1 and 3, both unfortunately, lost 8 hours of education when they decided to take a day off due to weather conditions. We can only guess what terrible mind impairing activities these students must have engaged in considering the limitations of the weather-sleeping in, video games, instagraming the icicles on their roof in 5 different filters, and consuming unhealthy amounts of hot chocolate.

They, most likely, will be set back years in the progress towards a successful career. We can only hope they are able to graduate. While these unlucky students slave away an extra day this summer, we will be using our educational advantage for intellectual summer activities such as tanning, tweeting and twisting down Big Goose on inner tubes. Thank you, district 2 for looking out for our futures with such progressive insight. It’s truly appreciated.

So, the next time Sheridan becomes a winter wonderland of snowdrifts, slushy roads and minimal traction…don’t hold your breath for a snow day. Just hope you learn about the effects of friction, or lack of, in physics class not on the road.