Attendance: Yay or Nay? by Julie DiFazio

When high school students consider being late, they normally don’t think of the consequences. However, this year at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School (OHCHS) there’s a new practice in place that shows the students what happens if they slack off. Due to lots of recent unexcused-tardies the administration has put up new rules against being late too many times.

  While it is a new policy many people don’t actually know about it. The few teachers that do know about this new policy, including Mike Morrell, say “it holds students accountable.” Teachers and administers think that if students do not arrive at school on time, they should have to face the punishment. It takes away from valuable teaching and learning time. One student, who has a tendency to be late a lot, said if she knows she’s going to be late she just doesn’t bother coming to school at all to “avoid dealing with the kiosk and the new program.” There are some downfalls to this new program. While it makes students fall into line, it takes up a lot of administrations time.

Once a student reaches a certain amount of unexcused-tardies they have to visit the office and their names on a detention list. Most students don’t purposely try to be late more than four times but some are just unlucky. John Springer, one of the assistant principals, says that the “growing list” of unexcused tardies and absences is “frustrating.” Some might agree with him if they were to see the number of people who walk in the door late. One thing that is nice about the program is that the number of unexcused tardies resets every quarter, and the students will be able to learn to get to school on time.
Arriving at school on time used to be something some students took lightly. While most students follow the rules, there are now a few unlucky ones who have had to learn quickly. It is hoped that the new policy will improve attendance.

Colleen Holden greets students at the kiosk just inside the high school's front door.