Editorial: Crackdown on skipping school

THE Clark County School Board did the right thing last week when it set a tougher attendance policy for students.

Starting next semester, middle and high school students who miss 10 classes -- for both excused and unexcused absences -- will fail that course and may be in danger of having to repeat a whole year of education. Previously it took 18 absences to trigger an automatic failure. Elementary students who miss 20 school days may have to repeat the grade.

Board members believe the new policy will reduce truancy without increasing the dropout rate. "I look to administrators to use this policy to the students' benefit, not to remove a student from class," board president Susan Brager said.

As the Sun's Benjamin Grove reported, there was a mixed reaction to the board's decision. Business owner Glen Woods, the father of two high school students and one middle school student, didn't believe the new policy set too high a standard, comparing it to his business. "I don't have any need for an employee who comes to work only nine days out of 10," he said.

But some students and parents said the new policy does not address the root cause of why students don't show up for class. In response, school board members said they would study the issue to see why students skip school.

Under the new policy, parents will be told about their child's absences. In addition, an advisory panel will update the board on how the policy is working and keep statistics of the number of absences.

One of the keys for improving education rests with parents. If parents don't take an interest in their child's education, including teaching them about responsibility, then their child has a good chance of not caring about getting an education. Unless students show up for class there is no way they'll learn.

Ruth Joseph, the school district's attendance administrator, probably summed it up best. She said the district can spend millions of dollars on new schools with the finest technology and the best teachers. But if the students don't show up how can they possibly benefit?

It's good that the school district is requiring that the students actually attend school and get an education before they advance to the next grade or get their diploma. But at the same time it's a sad commentary on the state of education and parenting that such a policy has to be put in place.

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