Attendance Is Key To High School
We Can't Teach You If You Aren't Here
by Paul Massman
August 19, 2008
While some people think packets, on line classes, make up assignments or video presentations can replace "in/with class experiences;" they are wrong. Most of any message comes through to people by non-verbals...looks, posture, tone of voice, gestures etc. which means there is no substitute for being in class. Other students ask questions that, when answered by the others in the class, open up topics, make connections between ideas, or provide emphasis on specific topics. Nothing fully substitutes for missing a class, unless nothing happened in the class that day. While many of our students will claim "nothing is happening" on any given day, their test scores argue that point very effectively.
This even applies to parents and guardians coming to conferences...it just isn't the same by e-mail or even telephone. Each of these devices or techniques tries to make up for the person not being able to talk to you face to face, but each has limitations that increase the chances of miscommunication or even "not communicating." People familiar with e-mail customs should recognize the change in tone THAT MAKING THIS MESSAGE THIS TYPE FACE makes. Many of us have found that "tone" and thus meaning are affected, and it can get in the way.
What this means is, if you can, get your student to school on time and into classes. There is no adequate substitute for that, and it matters every day, every period. Things will come up, people will get sick, but if everyone does his/her best with being here, we can adjust and limit the effects from those absences. Your student isn't coming here for us, but we are here for your student. We are all about the learning and the achievement, and the kids have to be here to get it. Their success is our goal.
