Why Should the Attendance be Modified?

By Vita Danilova, 7th Grade

Have you ever come to class ten seconds late and got marked unexcused tardy while the people with the ‘Z’ last names have still not been called? Because I have. I have and I think it should be different. Of course, you might not ever think about this if you’re, like, a “V”  last name or something, but I am one of the first ones, “D” and it should be different.

I get marked tardy a lot because I come after my name is called. Only around five names are said after mine, and attendance isn’t even over. So I get marked tardy for coming at the same time as other kids, who have their last names later in the attendance list!

Just think about that;  you come to class at the same time as a person with an ‘L’ name, but you’re a ‘D’ last name. Just because their name comes later in the list, that makes the entire difference between tardy and present! And that is not fair. The even bigger problem is that if you get too many tardies, you can get detention for something that is out of your control.  Do you know what too many detentions lead to . . . SUSPENSION! Do you know what too many suspensions lead to . . . EXPULSION! People with names that are later in the alphabet get a pass. So if they’re not late, why should you be? 

Pros 

Obviously, we need to acknowledge that alphabetically ordered names help us in emergencies, (such as fires, lockdowns, extreme weather, etc.) To make sure that everyone is safe and accounted for. That’s fine and dandy and all, but we also need to make sure we’re not marking people tardy when their names come in the beginning of the alphabet.

Problems occur + cons

It greatly depends on what letter your last name starts with. If it starts with an ‘A’, you’re out of luck, as you will be marked late.

If it starts with a ‘Z’ however, you lucked out! 

Despite you coming to the class at the same time, you are not late and the poor Nicholas Alvarez is. When you have a class that is on the other side of the school, it can also be difficult to get there on time for attendance. 

solution

How will we fix this problem?

Well, we need to come up with a negotiable compromise so that everyone is safe and no one is being wrongfully marked tardy. That negotiable compromise is figuring out a different way to do attendance.

The fire drills and other situations in which everyone needs to be accounted for will still use the alphabetical order, as that is simpler to remember and use.

For attendance in classes, however, it would be simpler and more efficient to create a system in which each person could mark off their name in a google form, or perhaps a seating chart that you have to follow so that the teacher can look through quickly, and mark the people who are not in their seats tardy/absent, not going in any particular order! Then, when class actually starts, the people who are late will be marked late, making it easier for the teachers and less annoying for students. 

conclusion

In conclusion, this common problem that is quite frustrating and unfair has an easy solution and fixing it would be an amazing step towards a perfect school!

Thank you so much for reading this, and have a good rest of your day!