Attendance incentives catches attention

Malorie Wiederkehr, Section editor

Sophomore Hope Hanson has just woken up for the school day ahead, but her schedule is hindered when she learns she has an increasing fever and feels extremely nauseous. However, health does not seem to be her biggest concern. What fills that spot is not being able to attend school, keeping her from her education and from taking her finals early.

New attendance incentives propose that if students can keep a C average in a class or higher, and if they miss four or fewer days of school, they will be allowed to take their final early. However, you must still attend your final even if you take it early, or job shadow or do something productive as an alternative. The only thing that is excused for the offered absences are on campus or school related activities.

“You inhibit student’s chances of taking their finals early when they have no control over their health, which I do not think is fair, “ Hanson said.

While Hanson views the newly addressed attendance incentives as beneficial and a good idea, she does not agree with the fact that missing due to medical issues is not excused. This, however, is the only improvement she observes that could be made.

“I think the incentive is a good start to rewarding students but I do not think it will make much of a difference because it technically does not get you out of finals. It is a good idea to reward students for attendance but I do not think this way will be effective,” senior Brett Davies said.

Davies has an opposing opinion towards the recent requirements of taking student finals early. He stands firm in appreciating the idea of incentives, but does not think they will do much good, given the maximum amount of four days and the strict demands they offer with hardly any wiggle room.

“I do not know why the school would want me to miss a half day during finals week, but then have to job shadow or something else to miss that day if I did take the test early. I might as well just go on the half day and take the test, that way I would have more time to study,” junior Parker Weiser said.

The attendance incentives have made an impact and created diverse opinions from different students. Whether you view them as a beneficial idea or not, the opportunities still stand.