Students shouldn’t aim for perfect attendance because it can damage their physical and mental health.
When pushed to have perfect attendance, students may feel pressured to come to school when sick which can cause the spread of diseases.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website states that a student must “be well enough to participate in school” before returning.
If a student comes to school sick not only will they spread germs to other students, but they will also be unable to complete their work to the best of their ability due to their physical condition. Without getting proper rest, a student may also continue being sick for a longer period of time, which will affect their ability to participate in school more than one day off would.
Students, especially high-achieving ones who take a lot of AP and Honors classes or have many extracurriculars, can get burnt out or anxious because of their high work load. Taking a day to themselves can improve their mental health and academic performance.
The MAYO Clinic website says that a day off to rest can “help the person get re-centered, experience gratitude and improve mood and attitude by focusing on things that bring joy.”
A student who has time to reset and rest can perform better academically than those who go to school burnt out and stressed.
Some parents and teachers make the argument that if students are not at school they will miss out on important lessons or assignments and that coming to school every single day is necessary for students. Studies have shown that being present at school prevents students from falling behind and ensures that they stay on top of their work. While it is true that school attendance is very important for students’ learning experience, those who go to school sick or burnt out risk not properly absorbing the lessons or completing the classwork. Students should make sure that they go to school when they are healthy and calm, but forcing themselves to go to school can be the exact opposite of what they need to be academically successful.
