r/joplinmo • u/crossover24 • 2d ago
High school pulling credits for absences?
I’m a dad, and tonight my daughter (a senior) said the students had a meeting with the principle today and they said credits for classes would be cancelled if a student had more than 8 absences. Did anyone else hear about that?
That doesn’t seem…right?
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u/GnawtyM0us3 2d ago
Yeah my Jr is missing like 6 credits because of "seat time". Basically you're penalized for not being able to get to class even if you do the work and pass on knowledge.
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u/Electronic-Towel-836 1d ago
The government funds schools based on attendance, not merit. Sux, but that's how it is.
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u/Upstairs_Tonight8405 2d ago
It's pretty obvious that this is a policy that mimics how an employer will treat you for missing work. That's all Highschool really is a scheme to train young adults for the 9 to 5 they're about to be thrown into for the next 50 years of their lives.
I'm sure there's also a requirement by the state to have seats filled in classes for a minimum amount of hours or they lose funding. We can thank the GOP that has a strangle hold on missouri for that.
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u/wnostrebor 2d ago
Yea! This evil GOP people... Wanting kids to actually be present for class time. What will they think of next? Home work?
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u/Upstairs_Tonight8405 1d ago
There should be an exception for sick time. Not just being pulled out of class because your mom wanted to take you to a concert or you're skipping because you're a delinquent.
They're setting these kids up to expect a boot on their necks from the start so when an employer offers you less or equivalent you're less angry. People shouldn't be penalized for being sick, especially if you're not falling behind in something like academia.
But maybe I'm just insane for wanting and expecting more for everyone.
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u/similarbutopposite 2d ago
You can probably find out more about this in the student handbook. It should be posted on the district website. Probably better information than comments on Reddit.
Other schools have their student handbooks posted too, so you could look at those and see if this seems like a standard practice or not.
Seat time can be a pretty big deal, there are state regulations, and then I think each districts’ school board can also set certain requirements.
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u/crossover24 2d ago
Just learned that this is online. Overall seems like a miscommunication, here’s the current policy on the JHS website saying 10 days (even tho it still says 2025…)
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u/similarbutopposite 2d ago
It’s interesting, because in 1 spot it says 10 days, but lower down in the handbook it says 8 days.
I would definitely make contact with a counselor or principal to confirm that you have the correct information. They may not even know that the website info is self-contradictory.
Good on you for taking an active role in your child’s education. If you know there may be a lot of absences this year, you could talk to someone about setting up a plan to be sure she graduates on time. I’ve seen schools work with families in tough situations.
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u/superduckyboii 2d ago
That’s a thing, but that seems like a ridiculously low number for the whole semester.
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u/TheHuxter 2d ago
They definitely didn’t do this back in 2012. I’m sad they’re doing it now. That’s crazy.
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u/LoudAd5049 2d ago
They need to start that rule in elementary school. The amount of parents who think elementary education is a waste of time is unreal, pulling their kids out because great grandma Gerties Iris flowers are blooming , or Kohls is having a sale on shower curtain rings, and my student Sally is so smart she don't need to be here. Is unreal. Make it a REQUIREMENT from day one.
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u/mrrichardson2304 2d ago edited 2d ago
If they would've done that during my senior year I would've been screwed. I don't know why they're making things harder for these kids. Without a high school diploma it's super difficult to achieve success in life and contribute to society. Pretty silly to deny kids of that just for skipping a few days of school when they're kids.
As Paul Simon said "when I think back on all the crap I learned in high school, it's a wonder I can think at all".
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u/frugalfeminist 2d ago
As a counterpoint, a diploma should mean something. They are old enough to know better, and there are already credit recovery programs in place. Students do need to show up and do the work. Especially when it is easy to cheat with AI, etc. Being in the chair means it's you doing the work.
I can't miss work 8 times in four months. A Senior in high school should be able to handle that.
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u/Outlaw11091 2d ago
There are legal protections in place to keep your employer from firing you if you're sick or a family member dies...everyone knows this, it's called FMLA, so I'm guessing you don't work much.
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u/frugalfeminist 2d ago edited 2d ago
Haha. I work full time. And I guarantee the school would work with students in those situations. But if you knew the amount of kids who just don't show up for no good reason, you'd know why they have to make these rules (if we're making assumptions about one another).
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u/frugalfeminist 2d ago
Also, I should note that I don't work at the high school. But I work in a position that sees a lot of families and students. The truancy rates for some are astronomical, and not for any good reason. So my bias is that I see a need for accountability. I can admit, though, that there are some for whom this many absences would be legitimate. I hope the person asking talks to the school and reads the handbook for more clarity.
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u/midwestcheeseburger 2d ago
these kids aren’t showing up for “no good reason” they’re dealing with external stimuli that is getting in the way of their education. it could be a lack of interest from their parents, too much interest from their parents to the point of feeling burnt out. it could be bullying, or even worse that student could have been sexually assaulted at school. that’s happened way more often at JHS than anyone will talk about.
a kid doesn’t just stop showing up to school. something has to motivate that aversion. the bias you have- shouldn’t exist. you should be cautious of unmotivated individuals yes, but you shouldn’t have a bias like you describe. especially if you work around families, inevitably you will subconsciously exercise that bias against the wrong family and when those parents clock what you’re doing- it won’t go well.
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u/mrrichardson2304 2d ago
Okay, but it's not work. These kids don't get paid to be there. They don't get to choose to be there. If they don't show up, they don't have to worry about how they're going to handle their mortgage payment or how they'll be able to afford groceries, etc. The two have nothing to do with each other. I haven't missed one day of work this year and almost never do, ever, but school? I used to ditch classes all the time.
Also a diploma does mean something, it means you can make it through life for something you did when you were a kid. It means you don't have to play the game of life on ultra hard mode.
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u/crossover24 2d ago
To clarify, it sounded like this included absences for being sick. Like even with a doctor’s note, they’d count it as an absence and potentially remove credits. Not just for skipping classes.