We are taught at a young age that attendance matter, but what if it didn’t have to matter? As young adults, we should have the ability to take our lives into our own hands. Whether or not we decide we need to show up to class should be one of our responsibilities. For example, you have above average grades, have already finished the homework due that day and you’ve already learned what is going to be taught, then you should not have to show up. This should not be a punishable act.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a firm believer in education. But it should be your responsibility to show up to class if you are failing, essentially incorporating the college attendance system. But what if you have above average grades and you are on track to graduate, then shouldn’t you be able to decide when you go to school? This system would be only for seniors because they have their set GPA and are going to soon graduate. It gives students the sense of adulthood, allowing them to gain control of their own lives. If you need to go to class but you don’t show up and your grade fails as a result, then that’s on you. It also shows the effects of not showing up to class when you need to (which is not all the time).
Being realistic, there are a lot of reasons why we actually cannot do this. The school gets paid for students being present. Studies shows that everyday attendance to school is linked to the improvement of grades. For example, a study conducted by National Center for Education Statistics in 2009 revealed that “Students who attend school regularly have been shown to achieve at higher levels than students who do not have regular attendance.” There are also plenty of parents who would disagree with what I’m putting out, and parents are a huge influencers for school decisions. But I have come prepared! What if the government paid schools based on what grades their students earn instead of whether or not they show up? Only kids with exceptional or above average grades are permitted to have a choice of attending certain days of school. Shorter school days would be an incentive for those who are on track to graduate.
To address the problem of parents, I talked to a couple of student’s parents and a good amount of them would allow their child to skip classes or days if they already have everything in order. We could have a “permission slip” , for students and parents who want to participate in this new program, that gives the consent from parents allowing their child to “skip” class therefore making it legal. Another positive is that students who need to work to support their families have an ability to get a job during school and to gain more work hours.
I think this is a wonderful option to have while I am in school and I would benefit so greatly as I have above average grades and most of what my teachers do all day is lecture. But of course this is only hypothetical. What do you think about it, any opinions?
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a firm believer in education. But it should be your responsibility to show up to class if you are failing, essentially incorporating the college attendance system. But what if you have above average grades and you are on track to graduate, then shouldn’t you be able to decide when you go to school? This system would be only for seniors because they have their set GPA and are going to soon graduate. It gives students the sense of adulthood, allowing them to gain control of their own lives. If you need to go to class but you don’t show up and your grade fails as a result, then that’s on you. It also shows the effects of not showing up to class when you need to (which is not all the time).
Being realistic, there are a lot of reasons why we actually cannot do this. The school gets paid for students being present. Studies shows that everyday attendance to school is linked to the improvement of grades. For example, a study conducted by National Center for Education Statistics in 2009 revealed that “Students who attend school regularly have been shown to achieve at higher levels than students who do not have regular attendance.” There are also plenty of parents who would disagree with what I’m putting out, and parents are a huge influencers for school decisions. But I have come prepared! What if the government paid schools based on what grades their students earn instead of whether or not they show up? Only kids with exceptional or above average grades are permitted to have a choice of attending certain days of school. Shorter school days would be an incentive for those who are on track to graduate.
To address the problem of parents, I talked to a couple of student’s parents and a good amount of them would allow their child to skip classes or days if they already have everything in order. We could have a “permission slip” , for students and parents who want to participate in this new program, that gives the consent from parents allowing their child to “skip” class therefore making it legal. Another positive is that students who need to work to support their families have an ability to get a job during school and to gain more work hours.
I think this is a wonderful option to have while I am in school and I would benefit so greatly as I have above average grades and most of what my teachers do all day is lecture. But of course this is only hypothetical. What do you think about it, any opinions?