By Gabriella Ciuffetelli Editorials Editor
I wish I could say that I can empathize with my fellow students who gripe about attendance policies, but the truth of the matter is that I can’t.
I honestly never understood why people feel that being asked, or, heaven forbid, required, to come to class is somehow irrational. Considering the fact that sitting in a chair for two hours is apparently beyond the scope of reason for some, I can only imagine how these people feel when they’re asked to actually do work.
For someone to complain that it is unfair for their participation or overall grades to suffer because they make the conscious decision to not come to class is an inconceivable notion. In fact, there have been numerous documented studies that show that class participation positively affects students’ learning experiences.
Students who show up to class and actually participate do much better than their peers in the same class who use textbooks alone, according to a study done by the University of Western Ontario’s Harry G. Murray and Megan Lang.
Furthermore, the same study shows that students who don’t participate and are instead simply physically present for the class still do better than the students who only use textbooks.
Not only that, but an absence affects more than just the missing person. Your presence, believe it or not, contributes to the overall learning experience for everyone in the room.
This is especially true in small, discussion-based classes. When two out of nine kids don’t show up on any given day, is the class really going to have the best, most diverse discussion possible? I think not.
In fact, this holds true even in bigger classes. The average class size at Hofstra is 25 students. When there is no attendance policy in place, how many of those seats will actually be filled on any given day? With no incentive for students to attend, it most likely won’t be all 25.
On the other hand, I know that some students complain not about the fact that there are attendance policies at Hofstra, but rather that there is a lack of uniformity among those policies. This, to me, is actually a valid concern.
While I think the idea of losing a letter grade for a single unexcused absence is a bit unfair, we must acknowledge that policies like these are in place not for the fun of it, but because time and time again students have proven that they will not go to class unless there is an incentive for them to do so. Apparently, learning new things isn’t enough.
As a teacher myself, I also recognize the burden that is put on professors when students class. Even having just one absent student can mess up lesson plans, which are usually planned in advance. Not only is missing unfair to your peers, but it is unfair to your professors.
In reality, I know of very few professors who do not have any wiggle room for documented or excused absences. In fact, I can’t name a single professor who doesn’t allow students to miss class for extenuating circumstances.
Look, I’m not saying that I’m a perfect student, but I do accept that part of being an adult is showing up for your obligations, especially when you get to choose which classes you will be attending and at what times.
I think the only way to hold students accountable is for there to be a campus-wide attendance policy that is both fair and firm. However, students also need to do their part in making that a reality by proving they can handle it.
If you’re sick, get a note. If you have work, fix your schedule. Talk to your professor instead of complaining to everyone else about it. I very much doubt that you would just skip work because you “don’t feel like going.” Why would you skip class for the same reason?
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