Instead of this somewhat pointless magazine article, the phenomenon of astronomical winter and meteorological winter being out of phase can be used to teach num

Instead of this somewhat pointless magazine article, the phenomenon of astronomical winter and meteorological winter being out of phase can be used to teach numerous important concepts to children (and, apparently, to magazine contributors). Seasons can teach periodicity, phase relationship, the relationship between an input (solar flux) and a system that integrates that input (atmospheric temperature), leading to the calculus of trigonometric functions, or leading to principles of accounting. Really this one simple natural cycle can be the basis of an entire semester of high school science or math. Whining about the calendar is pretty superficial.