Starting this year, students are bound by a stricter attendance policy that many consider unattainable. The new policy cut the amount of absences allowed almost in half, sparking controversy around the school. For a full year course, 18 absences results in the loss of credit for the course, and, for a half year course, 9 absences results in the loss of credit for the course. This is a drastic change from the previous year because even then people lost credit for their courses while the number of allowed absences were much higher. Now, students are scared and frustrated because it seems to be much more difficult to maintain absences than any other year.
“I lost credit for a course last year and that was when the numbers of absences allowed were higher. Now I don’t know if I will be able to adjust because of the drastically lower numbers,” junior Jordan Omid said.
When accounting for holidays, doctors appointments, sick days, medical procedures and family events it is difficult to maintain a max of 18 days absent. While these reasons can be excused absences, the absences still count towards the limit.
This new policy adds pressure and stress for students who have many factors in their lives that might affect their attendance.
“The policy stresses me out because I am very prone to getting sick during the winter and I still have to come to school because I don’t want to lose credit for my classes,” junior Jolie Moalemi said. “I celebrate a lot of the Jewish holidays and I feel guilty when I have to miss school to be with my family because I’m risking my class credit.”
However, from the administration and faculty point of view, the new attendance policy is in place to encourage consistency and responsibility.
“I think it is a good thing – students should be held accountable for showing up, not just to inspire better learning, but to better our community,” social studies teacher Mr. Goldstein said.
Students who miss a drastic amount of class time can be behind in work, make it harder for them to stay on track and can lead to confusion in class discussions. If students attend class more often they can participate more, understand concepts better and perform higher on tests and projects.
From a teacher’s point of view, this new policy can help make students take class more seriously, especially if students were able to miss 28 days of school before the policy was set. Teachers see first hand how much students miss when they are absent and, typically, they can tell it takes a big toll on academic performance.
“If I miss even a day or two of class I have so much work to do and I get really overwhelmed,” junior Sophia Rastegar said. “For example, I just missed two days of school for Sukkot and I already have so much work to make up.”
While Rastegar’s absence was justified because of her religious obligations, it caused her to miss class conversations, teacher explanations and important information.
Overall, the new attendance policy has fostered mixed concerns among students and teachers and is largely seen as harmful to students’ mental health. This stricter policy has students worried about losing class credit, even for excused absences. Maybe a change this drastic and sudden should have been introduced more gradually – or was it finally time for a crackdown on expectations? As the year continues, it remains to be seen whether the new attendance policy will actually boost academic success or simply create new challenges for students.
