Do you love winter? Its appreciation varies enormously from person to person and from region to region. Some love it, others hate it. You can't ignore the cold and darkness associated with it, but you can also enjoy the effects that winter brings. The school adapts in many ways.
In winter, nature takes a break. Insects and most animals hunker down, birds emigrate and humans can imitate them. Warmth becomes essential and encourages people to get closer. We have more time to read, reflect... and, for some, to get depressed. The night lasts longer, perfect for admiring the sky and learning about astronomy. Going out? You can enjoy it, but on one condition: be well-dressed. Snow and ice are a rich subject for study and fun, so you might as well make the most of it.
We've been adapting to it for millennia, and in these times of climate change, we'll have to adapt again, and differently. The inescapable winter is one of the realities that everyone living above 30° latitude has to face in one way or another, for a more or less prolonged period. The local nature of the weather makes it a reality specific to each environment, and each school approaches it differently. In Quebec, where I live, snowstorms have always been a feast in terms of the unexpectedness they imposed on the well-adjusted school schedule, and that hasn't changed much for my children and theirs today.
Winter is here. You can study it, endure it and enjoy it. All at the same time.
Denys Lamontagne - [email protected]
Illustration: szczurek - Pixabay
