“Winter Thaw” To Replace Low Homework Weekend

Instead of a low homework weekend in the middle of winter term, “Winter Thaw” weekend returns to the Exeter schedule on Feb. 3, providing a three-day weekend for rest and relaxation. Students will still be required to complete a normal homework load in exchange for the extra day off.

The tradition of Winter Thaw was first proposed in 1997 by former student Win Butler ’98 as a time for students to recover during the cold months of winter with no school on Monday. Historically, there was no homework assigned during the weekend and many student activities were planned around campus. The tradition carried on until the 2012-13 year when Saturday classes had been greatly reduced.

Dean of Academic Affairs Laura Marshall described the difficulties that faculty faced when Saturday classes were largely removed from the schedule and its effect on Winter Thaw. “When we significantly reduced Saturday classes, we tried to make sure that it had a minimum impact on the amount of class time the students had. We looked at days here and there that we could take back and the Monday for Winter Thaw was one,” she said. But instead, a low homework weekend became a new part of the schedule.

This year, Winter Thaw was placed in the schedule after Director of Studies Scott Saltman noticed the unusually long winter term. “We saw it as a particularly long stretch from when we return in January to when we leave for March break,” Saltman said. “We hope that having a break in the middle will help.”

In addition to this change in schedule, there will be no Saturday classes in the winter term unless there is a snow day, which would call for Saturday classes on Feb. 22. 

Although Winter Thaw has been a tradition in the past, Saltman stressed that the three day weekend was suitable this year but is not a tradition that has been officially brought back. “I want to emphasize that this is not necessarily the path we will take in future years. It fit the calendar well this year,” he said.

History Instructor Meg Foley recounted her experiences with Winter Thaw in the past. “I remember having that day off in the past was a huge day just to catch up on things, both work and home life, things that had gotten away from me and the whole month of January,” she said.

However, Winter Thaw, as well as other long weekends forces some instructors to lose regular class time. “Some of my formats have not met very frequently, so I think that one of the potential effects is that lack of continuity,” Mathematics Instructor Kevin Bartkovich said. “But when it comes and you get to this free Monday, nobody is going to be complaining.”

Other faculty noted the importance of having a break in the middle of a long winter term, for both teachers as well as students. “Of course students deserve some rest and we all know academic life at Exeter isn’t easy. For teachers, it’s important to get some time off to spend with their families, partners, and it makes them better teachers,” Chair of Theater and Dance Rob Richards said.

Modern Languages Instructor Ellen Glassner agreed, adding, “Everybody deserves rest during that time of year.”