Texan Mosaic

Attendance necessary to pass college courses

by: NICOLE TRUGILLO/Editor-in-Chief

Attendance.

For many people who have gone to school or are currently going, they have heard this word too many times.

If you have a job, you have most likely have heard this word as well. But, we’re not talking about having a decent amount of days on your work schedule. We’re talking about attendance.

In high school, it was mandatory to show up to class, because that’s how you would get your credits to graduate from high school. If you didn’t, most likely you would have to attend Saturday school, which wasn’t any fun. But, most kids did it anyway so they could graduate.

Well, college is slightly different. Many college kids will question if attending class is really worth it. I have been guilty of this myself, but I have never been dropped from a class for not attending.

Most college students don’t feel the need to go to class because it’s a waste of time. Since they paid for it, they figure that they have the right to not go. Well, that’s wrong. Why waste your money on a class that you’re going to get dropped from anyway because you’re too lazy to go to class? Some professors don’t expect much from you. Some of them just want a college student to sit in class, while others want you to pay attention. But that is beside the point.

Attendance is probably one of the main reasons college kids fail or get dropped from a class. Then, days later they wonder why they have been dropped, or why they’re failing. It’s because they don’t go to class!

College students wonder why they’re failing a class that they don’t attend. Well, if I could guess (I’m a good guesser), I would say the reason why someone is failing a class that he or she doesn’t attend is mainly because he or she just doesn’t attend class. It’s not that hard to figure out. How can you learn a subject if you’re not in class? How do you expect to pass a class if you’re not attending?

College students argue that if they paid for the class, then it’s their “right” and “decision” to not go. That’s also wrong. I don’t understand. Why pay for a class that you don’t plan on even attending? Also, if it’s your “right,” then how come professors don’t have that same “right” to either drop or fail you from the class? Because, once you sign up for a class, they give you a syllabus which explains their attendance rules. If you don’t like the attendance rules, then drop the class yourself. I think that someone would have a better chance to drop it themselves because some professors just fail you if you don’t attend class.

I know many college students think, “Class is a waste of time. I could be doing something better with my time.” If you haven’t figured that out yet, I’m pretty sure professors feel the same way sometimes. If you stop to think about it, for someone who’s not attending class, you’re wasting the professors’ time tracking down your attendance record, which is very irresponsible.

I have a solution for students who don’t like attending class; it’s called “online classes.” It’s simple. You sign up for an online class and you follow along online. It’s flexible with your schedule. If you have a job, or if you can’t drive back and forth from college, then online classes would be good for those types of situations.

I’m not saying that I’m not guilty of not going to class, because, believe me, I am. But there’s a difference between missing a couple of days and just not going all together and not caring. You’re wasting the professor’s time, your time for signing up for the class, and your money.

Attendance is a big part of passing a face-to-face class. If someone is passing a class without attending it, then he or she is wasting his or her time because he or she paid for a face-to-face class. Some online classes are cheaper, and you’re wasting your money if you don’t even attend class.

If you don’t attend class, no one can stop you. But, don’t ask why or argue when the professor decides to drop or fail you because you decided to be lazy.