by Mahek Khetani | arts and entertainment editor
Second semester of senior year is a blissful feeling like no other. You can skip an entire week of school and not miss a thing probably. But what happens when that one week turns into 100+ days of absences? Saturday school is what you would think of but as of late, that chance for redemptions has been ceased. Yeah, no more quick 3-period long Starbucks trips.
“Honestly this year, everything starts to go kind of over your head in terms of classes, and it’s not laziness it’s that there’s so much to deal with on a personal basis, you tend to skip a couple of days for college visits and stuff like that, but it just adds up and you don’t even realize it,” said senior Gisele Leyton.
The absences were so high that in early May, Principal Mehlbrech sent out an email stating that a whopping 102 seniors were at risk of not walking the stage due to poor attendance.
“With no more Saturday school, kids have to labor for their teachers like grading papers and what not, and that doesn’t sound like a bad idea in theory but I just don’t get how this fixes the already missing work students have. I haven’t needed to go to Saturday school but I always thought it was a good second chance for senior before they leave.” added Leyton.
Saturday school allotted students time to lessen stacks of missing assignments, but with termination of such program, you’re on your own.
“I know it’s a rough time but during the second semester, seniors become so disillusioned with leaving the campus they start to think they’re already gone. It’s hard to have sympathy for someone with a month’s worth of absences because , you’re eighteen, and you should already understand how to multi-task different priorities,” said junior Julia Ross.
While second semester may consist of watching Disney movies every other class period, school is school. you’re not yet absolute and that’s what administration is trying to shake into you.
“It’s definitely a wake up call for those who always thought there would be something to fall back on. Life after college is gonna be so much more independent, your professor isn’t gonna email you everything you missed because you didn’t feel like going to class,” said Ross.
Take it from us, she has a point. Sympathy is nonexistent on a college campus. There’s freedom without a doubt, but the minute you go haywire, it’s hard to get back on track.
“Personally, I don’t blame the kids. Adults will say a lot, and yes laziness can be a factor but I think there are other methods that won’t strip away a kid’s chance at redemption. Does everyone deserve it, no but the school system exists to aid students in every way possible so why stop once they’re eighteen,” said senior Mariana Lozano.
All students are expected to maintain a 90% attendance rate, however we can all name a few kids who are walking at a strong 50%. And while teachers are chasing these kids down so they can graduate, where do we start reinforcing the value of independance.
“Making kids help the teachers they’ve been inconveniencing as opposed to just doing make up work is a great method in my opinion. I think it teaches the value of the education you’re privileged enough to have, and it also doesn’t make staff members show up on a Saturday when they have other priorities too,” said Ross.
Either way, we can’t seem to put a stop to the mass senioritis raiding our halls, all we can do is guide students in a somewhat right direction.
“I don’t think it’s all teen angst, not every bad move is out of spite for the system. A lot of people I know truly have things going on beyond the campus. And I don’t think putting an end to saturday school was done out of spite either. When there’s a couple of seconds left in overtime you just do what needs to be done,” said Lozano.
