Dear Editor:

Alternate Method of Instruction (AMI) days are a by-product of the pandemic.

The pandemic was an extraordinary circumstance, and it required extraordinary measures. AMI days were the best alternative we could come up with on the spot, in order to deliver some form of education to our children when we had no other options.

Nature, one of the most prestigious scientific journals, reported that students “lost out on about 35% of a normal school year’s worth of learning” when in-person learning stopped during the public health crisis. It is also worth noting that the pandemic era format included a teacher in a virtual classroom, which is far superior to an AMI instruction packet with no formal educator present.

Therefore, AMI days should be viewed as a “field splint” rather than the standard course of action. Just as a field splint is not the way you would wish to have your bones mended (rather a temporary stopgap to get to the hospital), we must view AMI as an undesirable way to educate our youth.

Not only are AMI days not working for students, but they are also not working for parents. AMI days do not take into account that only parents who are teachers are guaranteed to be offwork on these days.

It is hard enough to make last-minute arrangements for our children on snow days, but to find a place for your child that is willing and able to instruct them is next to impossible.

AMI days were created as a temporary solution and must come to an end. They have proven inadequate for both students and parents.

We must revert to traditional snow days to better serve our students and our community.

Zachary Fields

Cassville