Absence policy should cover all students

Published 11/20/97

We go to college for many reasons, and while some attend college solely for the parties, the booze, and the men and women, the majority of us come to these institutions, also known as higher learning, hoping to receive a well-rounded education and an overall understanding of ourselves and others.

Not all betterment is received directly from the college classroom and textbooks. Many lessons are learned through the participation of school activities, or school clubs or groups. But when these nonaccredited engagements, in which many teachers and administrators advocate students involvement, are met head-on with classroom time, sometimes the student gets a raw deal by having their activities directly affect the final grade they receive in a class.

When the attendance policy of some teachers dictates that a student can't miss more than a certain number of classes, and that policy conflicts with a student's other appointments, the student may refuse to join a club or organization on that assessment alone.

Recently, Point Park College created a new systemwide school policy that will allow absences that are a result of varsity athletic events, off-campus appearances in performing arts and academic department approved field trips. The measure was done in hopes of enticing more students to become more involved with activities.

Point Park has implemented other student-involvement measures. President Katherine Henderson designed a proposal to restructure class times in hopes of freeing up time for students to go out and participate in Point Park's functions.

Although it's understandable not every club or organization should have the right to this procedure, this exemption, for the moment, of only certain groups of students receiving excused absences is a worthwhile idea. However, a total abolition of the attendance policy should be in order. Is it really fair to dock a letter grade for a student working several jobs to pay for tuition and living expenses who may miss more than three classes because of scheduling conflicts with their employer? If the student manages to pass with an acceptable grade, the answer is "no."

It's understandable for some teachers to implement an absence policy. Some students are so apathetic towards certain subjects that one wonders how they stay alive; however, this issue should be resolved on whether or not the student is capable of completing the work.

Even if a student has perfect attendance, what good is keeping them in class if all they end up doing is doodling in a notebook or undressing the good-looking classmate ahead of them with their eyes? If a student doesn't seem to care at all, the best lesson he or she will learn is the grade received at the end of the semester.

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