Class Attendance Should be a Choice The demand for a higher education degree is becoming more and more prevalent and necessary; and with tens of thousands of dollars being spent on college tuition annually (over 14,000 dollars for in-state public tuition, and over 33,000 dollars for in-state private tuition on average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics), students are forking out a lot of money for a quality education. Though college degrees are becoming more of a necessity for most well paying jobs, it is still the student’s choice to attend college and spend all of that money. I believe that as consumers of the service that is education, if students are to spend this kind of money, they should be able to control their time spent in the classroom, but attendance policies and their repercussions at the college/university level are not making that possible. Grading on attendance policies at the college/university level is too harsh, and should be done away with all together. Many higher learning institutions have made it a necessity to physically be in the classroom to receive full points in a class. They do so by making attendance policies and making attendance part of the overall grade. Some subtract points for each missed class, some give a few “freebies” or unexcused absences and some even completely fail the student if they’ve missed a certain amount of classes. As customers of the service of education, it is wrong to force people to use the service (or be punished if they don’t) if they don’t want to. Some people might argue that students are not really customers at all, and that school is their job. Though I do believe to be successful in school you should treat it like a job, that doesn’t take away from the fact ... ... middle of paper ... ...aGrange University in Missouri, Macy Luallin stated that she “missed at least one class each week”, and that she “calculated, and if it weren’t for attendance points, she would have received an “A” in the class.” In the end, though, even if class attendance does positively correlate with overall grades, it is should still be the student’s decision to attend class and receive these grades or not. By ridding the college curriculum of attendance based points, teachers would be respecting the fact that students are paying high dollar for an education that as customers, students should be able to control. It will also help with the stress of the busy and multi-faceted lives that the majority of undergraduate students have these days. By doing away with attendance policies, schools could even elevate their attractiveness by being fair and understanding to their students.
From the beginning of high school, students strap on their seatbelts and prepare for one of the most vigorous races of their lives – becoming successful. With the rare occurrence of a break, kids are expected to keep on driving as fast and as powerfully as they can in order to get into a “great” college, which would be followed by graduate school and then an actual job that would make a lot of money. In American society, common values include working hard, determination, and being so productive that free time is not even a question. However, this philosophy is taking a major toll on American college and high school students. For at least 40 years, America’s future has been steadily growing unmotivated, tired, and hopeless due to the overemphasis on performing well in school. This phenomenon is appropriately expounded in William Zinsser’s “College Pressures”, which takes a look at the top four sources of tension that cause these feelings of dejection and agitation. After reading this article, I came up with a few solutions to this national problem. It is time to switch the harsh, over-encouraging green light of education to a comfortable yellow one. In order to make this ideal transition, directors of education across the country need to primarily reduce the amount of out-of-class assignments, lighten the grading system, and incorporate days in the school year that allow students to express their thoughts about school and provide useful feedback.
Parents are forcing students to take classes they don’t want, leaving the student dull and unheard. Parents focus their kids to take challenging classes in order to satisfy their fear of the child getting into a good college. Students are told by parents and the school system that they must take this challenging class and extracurricular just meet ‘the standard quota” but reality it’s not true. For instance, Zinsser’s did a survey on Yale students and asked the students a question about their parental guidance and why they follow it. The results were scary, most students stated: “well my parents want me to be a doctor… They’re paying all this money….” (Zinsser
According to Leonhardt, many people who drop out usually plan to go back eventually to get their degrees, but very few actually do. According to “Access to Attainment”, approximately 65% of all job openings will require postsecondary education by the year 2020 and “many of the long-standing programs and policies designed to foster access no longer supports the needs of today’s students” (Miller, et al. 5). The availability of higher education to the public has greatly changed over time, and thus the system and the programs must adapt as well to continue providing the best access and opportunities possible to individuals. “….a college education matters much more now than it once did” (Leonhardt). Lower-class students coming from low-income high schools might not have the same opportunities for learning as their upper-class counterparts, and as a result they are less likely to be accepted to elite universities. The education system is beneficial for many but it is flawed as well, especially in preparing high schoolers for college, which has the potential to greatly impact their
College is one of the most fundamental institutions in our modern world. It is a place where most of our future politicians, doctors, scientists, and leaders are made. Though, it seems that the price tag that comes with a college education is something that is too hefty for some students. Countless debates go on about whether the price of college should be abolished or whether the cost still is on the students to pay for.
Attending college has changed quite a lot throughout the years. When it first arose, it was only accessible to the wealthy, and it was unheard of for everyone else. Only a few decades ago a bachelor degree could almost guarantee a comfortable job, and it was another advantage to any resume. In our current times, many students struggle and are unable to go to college due to the rising price tag that is not showing any signs of slowing down. A college degree is what most employers look for now-a-days, making it more essential than ever before. Unfortunately, it is becoming increasingly difficult to attain one. College tuition and fees should be lowered because 1) student loan debt is crippling for college graduates, 2) lower tuition will increase the accessibility of education, and 3) regulated tuition would lead to a
In high school, the teacher pretty much babysits the students. The teacher always has to get on their students to pay attention in class, to do their work, and to stay awake during the lecture. Also high school teachers don’t really expect their students to read ahead in their textbooks. In college the professors are very different. College professors expect the best from their students, because they know that their students are spending a very large sum of money in their education. The professors expect their students to read their textbooks before class, and to do their homework. They also expect their students to stay awake during the lecture, if not they will kick the student out. College professors don’t care if a student doesn’t turn in their homework or if they forget to read a chapter in their textbook. College professors are not worried about this because it’s not their grade, they already have their degree. Also, college professors won’t accept any late work. They also are very strict on absences and most college professors will rarely give any extra credit to replace a student’s absences. This is one of the reasons why high school teachers and professors are not the
Since the 1973-74 school year to the 2008-2009 school year, the price of attending a four-year public or private school has roughly tripled after adjusting for inflation according to College Board. (Update). The current price of college tuition leaves students with many problems in order to receive a college degree which most careers today require. Attending college is part of the “American Dream” and the freedoms that this great country offers but when students can not afford the freedoms we offer, then it becomes a problem. Most college students are left with substantial amounts of debt restricting them from further advancing in their careers after they graduate and the average family can not keep up with the rising costs of education and have to resort to finding other ways to get the desperately needed money. College Tuition--tripling in 40 years, leaving students with large amounts of debt, accounting for 3.3% of the total U.S. gdp-- should be lowered.
As the high school chapter is coming to a close, many students have to make a decision that will affect the rest of their lives. Hopefully, for many that decision is to enroll in a college and attain a higher education. However, as tuition costs rise, students have to take a second look at their options for a better future. A community college is that second look for many because it is the less expensive option. From 2007-2009, enrollment for community colleges has increased by 24 percent (“College costs and the CPI”). Students aren’t choosing a college for educational purposes because they are overwhelmed by financial issues. They are attending community colleges so they will be able to graduate with a lower debt. Some seniors have wanted to attend a certain university all their life and they work toward that goal through grade school; however, they are hindered by soaring tuition for that college. Students should be able to attend a private university if they mee...
Students go to college in search of knowledge, a new lifestyle, and the hope of a job after graduation. For many young adults, college is a rite of passage into an independent, mature new lifestyle. Not only is higher education a rite of passage, for some, it is also an opportunity to have a better life. Overall, college is a wonderful part of many people’s lives, yet the way the college education system is conducted wastes students time and money. College is basically composed of two parts: general education classes and major specific classes. General education courses are the source of wasted time and money, and should not be required of students. A few of the problems associated with general education classes are that they are basically a repeat of high school, unfortunately they can be the demise of students, they are costly, and they waste time.
Northern Arizona University set up these electronic scanners outside of classrooms so that they can monitor who actually shows up to class. They have to scan their ID and when the light turns green they are marked present. It bothers a lot of people because they feel like college is a time where they finally get to make decisions on their own. The students feel like it is very unnecessary because it shouldn't matter who shows up to class, it matters that you take part in the class discussion and actually learn. “ Rather than focusing on, ‘Did they scan their car?’- the more important thing to think about is what they are doing in the classroom” (University Attendance Scanners Make Some Uneasy). Paying for classes will not stop kids from skipping. A lot of people drop out of college before they even get a chance to finish it. “About 3 in every 10 students drop out after the first year” (University Attendance Scanners Make Some Uneasy). If putting this system in front of every class motivates people to show up to class and do their work then they hope that the dropout percentages will decrease. “ THe stronger a student’s grade performance in the first year, the far more likely they are to persist at NAU and graduate” University Attendance Scanners Make Some Uneasy). Even though that electronical scanner seems tedious, it will help more people in the long
Teachers in college for the most part don't really care whether or not you are in class. All it means is that if you are not there, you are going to get a failing grade if it happens too often. Missing too many classes will cause the teacher to withdraw you from the class, resulting in a failing grade. If you do it the smart way you would withdraw from the class yourself because then it would have no negative effect on your overall G.P.A. In high school the teachers are always on you about attendance. If you miss too many days you can fail. If you are not in class they want to know why. They also want a note from your parents excusing you from class. Some schools even want your parents to call you in sick if you are not going to be there. If you do not have a note they can write you up for an unauthorized absence and, give you a detention.
Halberstam Joshua uses humor to effectively communicate his message to the college students that are looking to be successful in college. By communicating on a lighter note, the author has helped the readers to solve the dilemmas between ethics and culture. His style is rather informal and one that requires little preparation, which makes it interesting to read his work. Halberstam introduces a topic on attendance, he begins it with an introductory statement where he humorously states that despite him not taking attendance, he does not owe favors to anyone (Halberstam 1). Consequently, he draws insights and evidence from the colleges system that some professors are strict on class attendance and participation, while
There are plenty of well backed supports given towards the author's stance on this issue. The main consists of his argument being the fact that he is paying for a service rather than it being a requirement to show up like in public school. He explains that whether or not he is passing the class should be the only real thing that matters and not if he is actually showing up to the class. The overall intent of this essay mainly shows focus on trying to reach out to professors and persuade them into trying different types of policies rather than giving
While studying or even registering for a class presents a challenge to some college students, the greatest obstacle remains, going to class. Attending college is supposed to signify a new found freedom to make many important choices regarding education without high school mandatory attendance policies. However, students everywhere are coming to the staggering realization that college is not too different from high school. Teachers still take class roll and students are still expected to be at every class on time. What next, hall monitors in the hall? The time has come for action to be taken. Colleges must abolish mandatory student attendance policies for several reasons to be further discussed.
Fees and loans are too big of a load for young people to carry. A lot of students drop out do to the pressure of having to worry about all the loans they have to pay back after they are done with college. This should not be an issue to the student. According Iatham Emmmons, “Even worse, a large portion of students never receive funding at all due to the multitude of stipulations that must be adhered to in order to qualify for assistance. A major flaw in the current federal educational assistance programs is that the students’ parents’ income is used to calculate financial need” (Emmons 3). Even citizens who try to get help by applying for funding never end up getting it because they do not meet the needs required for the funding. Education should be p...