2008 Woodie Awards
Professor reacts to "skipping class" editorial
Issue date: 3/7/07 Section: Opinion
Dear Editor:
Brad Waterhouse's February 14 editorial, ÒSkip to My Loo,Ò made for some very interesting reading, especially for me as a second year professor who has also given some thought to attendance policies. As I read, I wondered whether or not the student perspective offered by Mr. Waterhouse would help clarify the issue for me because I always wind up asking myself when writing up a course syllabus if there isn't a better way--a more responsible way--to think about and deal with attendance issues.
Waterhouse's overall claim, largely implied, seems to be that attendance policies do more harm than good. He wants his audience to see them for what they are: punitive, inflexible, paternalistic, vindictive, and perhaps worst of all arbitrary. I don't think the term Waterhouse uses, Òfrivolous,Ó actually captures the complexity of his overall argumentative strategy, but the term does help him connect with his primary audience, Castleton students who have needed at some point to be mindful of what a particular class's policies are. I suspect that this is a large audience, not because truancy is a major problem here (is it?), but because a relatively small percentage of students actually do attend all their classes. Life throws us curves, and as he points out, sickness, family issues, and especially at Castleton full- and part-time jobs make it difficult if not impossible for most students to win Òshiny ribbons or plaquesÓ for perfect attendance.
So far so good. Most rational people would have no trouble nodding their heads in agreement. I also think most people would appreciate the qualifications Waterhouse makes, despite the fact his primary objective is to be critical of attendance policies. He doesn't, for example, endorse Òpointless class skipping,Ó nor does he claim that it is unfair to Òdock a kid for not participating.Ó Such qualifiers help him to shore up his credibility, as he demonstrates that he believes in the intrinsic educational benefits of being in class, benefits that members of his audience demonstrate they believe in too when they show up for classes on a fairly regular basis.
Brad Waterhouse's February 14 editorial, ÒSkip to My Loo,Ò made for some very interesting reading, especially for me as a second year professor who has also given some thought to attendance policies. As I read, I wondered whether or not the student perspective offered by Mr. Waterhouse would help clarify the issue for me because I always wind up asking myself when writing up a course syllabus if there isn't a better way--a more responsible way--to think about and deal with attendance issues.
Waterhouse's overall claim, largely implied, seems to be that attendance policies do more harm than good. He wants his audience to see them for what they are: punitive, inflexible, paternalistic, vindictive, and perhaps worst of all arbitrary. I don't think the term Waterhouse uses, Òfrivolous,Ó actually captures the complexity of his overall argumentative strategy, but the term does help him connect with his primary audience, Castleton students who have needed at some point to be mindful of what a particular class's policies are. I suspect that this is a large audience, not because truancy is a major problem here (is it?), but because a relatively small percentage of students actually do attend all their classes. Life throws us curves, and as he points out, sickness, family issues, and especially at Castleton full- and part-time jobs make it difficult if not impossible for most students to win Òshiny ribbons or plaquesÓ for perfect attendance.
So far so good. Most rational people would have no trouble nodding their heads in agreement. I also think most people would appreciate the qualifications Waterhouse makes, despite the fact his primary objective is to be critical of attendance policies. He doesn't, for example, endorse Òpointless class skipping,Ó nor does he claim that it is unfair to Òdock a kid for not participating.Ó Such qualifiers help him to shore up his credibility, as he demonstrates that he believes in the intrinsic educational benefits of being in class, benefits that members of his audience demonstrate they believe in too when they show up for classes on a fairly regular basis.
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Betsy Parks
posted 3/09/07 @ 4:16 PM EST
Attendance policies can be restrictive, but I understand why a professor would try to police student absences. I have my doubts about very strict policies, however, and I have even dropped classes because I felt with a busy schedule that I wouldn't be able to fulfill the attendance requirements. (Continued…)
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