School doesn’t just teach reading, writing, and math—it also prepares students for real life and helps shape who they become as adults. At Westfield High School, students are only allowed to miss 18 days per year before facing consequences. But in middle school, there are no clear rules about how many days a student can miss, which has led some students to skip school just because they feel like it.
To learn more, we asked several teachers for their thoughts on this issue.
Mr. McMorrow, an 8th grade language arts teacher, said he supports consequences for excessive absences. “Missing too many days of school can negatively impact a student’s progress and growth throughout the year,” he said. He added that some students skip school simply because they don’t want to come, and those students usually fall behind and struggle to catch up.
Mrs. Billows, who teaches 6th and 8th grade math, strongly agrees. “It is hard to catch up, especially in math, because things build upon each other,” she explained. She also pointed out that it can be unfair to students who come to school every day. Sometimes, she has to reteach lessons to students who were absent, which takes away time from the rest of the class.
Many teachers believe that missing school too often doesn’t just lead to lower grades—it also creates long-term problems for students. While making up missed work is important, some teachers think more needs to be done. They believe there should be additional consequences for students who skip school without a good reason.
With more attention on attendance, maybe it’s time for middle schools to consider setting clear rules—just like the high school does.