Sciencewomen

…that classes are cancelled today due to “inclement weather”

Seriously, I cannot recall being this happy about a “snow day” at any point since middle school. It might have something do to with the fact that I am scheduled to teach for four hours on Thursdays and as of 5:45 am when the announcement was made, I still had a lot of prep to do.

Of course, unlike some of my colleagues, today for me will not be a full day of unexpected research time. With schools closed, so is daycare, so I will be enjoying a full day of unexpected mommy time. Not that I mind really, but it is just another example of how the system benefits those without parenting responsibilities.

Comments

#1 Katie
January 17, 2008

Yay for a snow day! How delightful! I hope you enjoy your day with Minnow and get a few things done as well.
#2 Elf Eye
January 17, 2008

I was supposed to teach a 3 hr. grad course tonight. I have e-mailed the class discussion prompts for a ‘conversation’ to take place on Blackboard via the Discussions tool. It’s the first time I’ve tried out that feature, so I am curious to see how well it will work.
#3 Writer Chica
January 17, 2008

Woo-Hoo! Snow Day!
#4 seine
January 17, 2008

faculty like snow days, too?? i thought students were the only ones who get ecstatic i remember my faculty used to always complain about lost class time … and having to make up material
#5 Propter Doc
January 17, 2008

Uhm, how exactly is this an example of the system favouring people who choose not to, or cannot have children?
I don’t think you can reasonably expect day care workers to make trips in bad weather to get to work when no one else is expected to on campus.
#6 ScienceWoman
January 17, 2008

Propter Doc: In this case, I meant the tenure system, or the publish or perish system. For example, last night when I getting ready to leave campus I was talking with a childless male colleague. He was bringing home a whole pile of work do on his snow day and on MLK day (Monday, no daycare). He’ll have two more days to get research done than I will, but at tenure-time we’ll be evaluated side by side. Sure, I can be more “efficient” (maybe) and sure, I chose the bed I lie in. But none of that will compensate for the lost hours and days of research time. On the other hand, I am having a delightful day tickling my daughter. And he’s just working on a paper. So in the short run, I definitely win.
#7 Propter Doc
January 17, 2008

Ah, now I understand. You’re entirely correct, of course. Publish or Perish does favour people who can be completely immersed in their work and have no other responsibilites or commitments. It sucks. I’m sorry you have to deal with this, but I’m pretty sure that you will do marvelously regardless(it may just not feel that great as you’re doing it).
#8 ecogeofemme
January 17, 2008

Did Minnow get to play in the snow? If yes, do we get a picture?
#9 ScienceWoman
January 18, 2008

faculty like snow days, too?? i thought students were the only ones who get ecstatic i remember my faculty used to always complain about lost class time … and having to make up material

I suspect it has a lot do with the preparedness of the faculty member and the timing during the term. In this case, I was totally unprepared, and it’s my first time teaching the course, so I’ve got a lot of wiggle room over the next 12 weeks to make up for the lost day.

Did Minnow get to play in the snow? If yes, do we get a picture?

Minnow doesn’t have proper snowboots, so I took her for a walk in her carrier so she could see the snow. I also handed her handful of (nice clean) snow, and she demonstrated that it’s instinctual to eat it. But no pictures, sorry.
#10 unbalanced reaction
January 19, 2008

Hope it was a good snow day! I’m jealous…it’s really cold here in LargeUtown. I wish LargeU would grant a COLD DAY to keep us from having to go outside.
#11 Flicka Mawa
January 27, 2008

My current work habits are such that such days are also not used for research, and I don’t imagine myself using them that way as a professor either. This is largely because I imagine I’ll have kids by then too, but also as it is I spend them with my husband. I think it’s healthy to take time off and recoup!