Let us use the scientific method conjoined with philosophy to hypothesize for a moment. Student A is a responsible, knowledgeable individual who receives A’s, and to her collegiate dismay, sometimes B’s. Student A is on track to graduate on time and attends most of her classes, as opposed to Student B who attends all classes and is in the B and C average realm.
The question that comes to play here is who works harder?
The philosophical answer is not presented in this equation because no one can conclusively dictate this due to unseen circumstances.
We do not know Student A or Student B’s class schedules nor do we know whether or not Students A or B have jobs.
We do know that if they’re enrolled at ACU and Student A originally makes an A in the class but accumulates too many absences, she will be docked a letter grade. We understand ACU has informed its future and current students about this policy before enrollment, but that was when students attended high school.
High school was a place where the most crucial decision burdening teenagers was which limousine to rent for prom. High school was not really a place of learning but a breeding ground for adolescent drama; if you do not know what we mean, just take your pick by watching any High School Musical movie.
Getting back on track, the attendance policy encourages students to attend class, but surely there is another way to implement it besides docking a student one-letter grade for missing one extra class than the syllabus allows.
The situation might sound unjust when Student A still makes better grades than Student B even though Student B attends every class while A does not, but unseen factors play a large role in many students’ attendance records.
Should students who miss class be penalized, or should students who attend class be rewarded?
One way to view this dilemma: students should not be awarded for attending a class that will benefit them later in their respected career fields.
If students do not receive a positive incentive, why does a negative one loom over the heads of every student on campus?
That dreadful feeling of acquiring the one extra tardy or else docked a letter grade is just another ulcer waiting to happen.
With students worrying about social lives, work, school and all the other fun and exciting struggles the vast majority of ACU students share; does the attendance policy hinder or benefit students?
A change in the attendance policy could mean more individual responsibility for students. Instead of attending class because they are required to do so, students would need to find a new drive to wake up for that 8 a.m. class. This drive could replace the impending doom of the attendance policy, which draws unwilling students to class everyday.
