Erica Flatt, Charger Staff
We’re all high school students. Some of us are eighteen years old and
only months away from graduation. So, why is it that when we hear the Snowbird
jingle we get more excited than first graders?
We check channels 2, 4, 5, and 7 early in the mornings hoping to see that we’re
closed.
There’s something about watching TV and seeing a map of all the Tennessee
counties a dark blue color and computer designed snow falling on the counties.
This means only one thing...school’s OUT!!!
If we get snow on a school night, we’re checking all night to see if we’re
out for the next day. We watch the closings and see Pickett County and we start
saying to ourselves (or out loud) “please be closed...please be Putnam...please
be closed.”
Then, we see Robertson County. At this point, we begin cursing the TV. If we’re
lucky enough to see Putnam, within five minutes the phone’s ringing off
the hook with the news, “We’re out tomorrow!”
If it starts snowing while we’re at school and we hear the “Beep,
beep, beep” of the intercom, a buzz fills the classroom with, “we’re
getting out!” Only we hear, “Mr. So and So, you have a phone call
on line two,” or “Whoever is driving the blue van parked in front
of the building, you need to move it.”
Of course, there’s always the class right after it starts snowing. You
learn nothing except the regular rumor, “Monterey’s already out. We’re
getting out in an hour.”
First of all, it’s only a rumor! Monterey’s not getting out for three
flakes of snow, and they definitely have not gotten out already when it’s
only been snowing for five minutes. 
You’re also probably going to hear, “If Monterey’s getting out,
they have to let us out too.” This is not necessarily true because there
have been times when they’ve been dismissed early, and we’ve stayed
here.
I agree with the rumor. If they let one school out for bad weather, they should
let us all out. I’m sure there are some students at CHS that call Monterey
“home.” They should be given the same chance of safety as MHS students
get.
If every county around us is closed, and we’re not, you’re going
to hear, “Every county around us is closed, why aren’t we?” or
“We should be closed too. There was still ice on my road this morning.”
First of all, a single patch of ice that’s three inches in diameter, snow
still lying in ditches, and the forecast being fifty degrees and sunny is not
going to close our schools!
Don’t get me wrong - snow is great and exciting. I love snow days just
as much as the next high-schooler, and I think we should use all thirteen days
that we’re given. Just don’t overreact.
If we get out, we get out. If we don’t get out, we were supposed to go
anyway.
You should never assume that just because we miss a day or two, or three that
the assignment that was due the original school day won’t be due the day
we come back. Also, don’t assume that a test will be postponed. Be ready.
And if we are out for snow, have fun!! Layer up, get some friends together, get out the sleds, and head for the hills! In the meantine listen for that Snowbird jingle.
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