When I grew up, school attendance was mandatory. It was enforced with military-like codes and harsh penalties.
Teachers took role every morning during “homeroom class”. If you were late, for any reason, it was noted. Three lates and you’d be sent to the principal’s office, your parents would be called and you’d get detention or suspension.
If you were absent, you needed to provide a written excuse from your parents. If you were absent more than a few days or if you failed to provide the written excuse (or it was faked or unacceptable), you’d be sent to the principals office and you’d be sent to the principal’s office, your parents would be called and you’d get detention or suspension.
Excessive tardies or absences would result in automatic failure. Kids would be sentenced to summer school to make up for these in order to be passed into the next grade.
They did not f*** around.
When I became a stepfather, I was at first taken aback when my wife would let the kids take a day off for a “mental break” or for a long weekend with their dad or just because.
I had only missed school if I was deathly ill. Even then – unless I couldn’t get out of bed, I’d be there.
I think my wife’s approach was better.
Since the pandemic, it seems like attendance at school is optional. Here in Raleigh, schools will close if there’s a threat of a severe thunderstorm or a snowstorm.
The old rules requiring 180 days of in-person instruction have been thrown out. Many times, when class is cancelled the notification says “this day will not need to be made up”.
Wow.
Apparently the “rules” about mandatory attendance, tardiness and minimum days of in person instruction weren’t nearly as critical as we were told when I was in school.
You’d think the way they were enforced that they were. I think they were simply following the rules that were set in place during the industrial revolution to train kids to be good factory workers.
We were on the clock. We arrived on time. We did what we were told. We moved around according to bells.
Ugh.
What a true waste of childhood and an opportunity to be educated.