ScienceWoman is a first-year assistant professor in -ology. She blogs about the intersection of science and real life - primarily based on her first-hand experiences. Her older posts can be found 
Alice Pawley is an assistant professor of ...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.
Education & Careers
Comments
Yay for a snow day! How delightful! I hope you enjoy your day with Minnow and get a few things done as well.
Posted by: Katie | January 17, 2008 9:16 AM
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.
Posted by: Elf Eye | January 17, 2008 10:24 AM
Woo-Hoo! Snow Day!
Posted by: Writer Chica | January 17, 2008 11:27 AM
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
Posted by: seine | January 17, 2008 11:33 AM
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.
Posted by: Propter Doc | January 17, 2008 12:58 PM
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.
Posted by: ScienceWoman | January 17, 2008 2:57 PM
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).
Posted by: Propter Doc | January 17, 2008 3:45 PM
Did Minnow get to play in the snow? If yes, do we get a picture?
Posted by: ecogeofemme | January 17, 2008 7:25 PM
Posted by: ScienceWoman | January 18, 2008 5:54 AM
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.
Posted by: unbalanced reaction | January 19, 2008 10:48 PM
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!
Posted by: Flicka Mawa | January 27, 2008 2:34 PM