Editorial: Perfect Attendance Awards Not Necessary

By Maddie

Perfect Attendance Awards--students want them, and parents strongly encourage them, but are they encouraging sick children to spread their germs?

As most know, Perfect Attendance Awards are certificates that award kids for perfect attendance and for the absence of tardiness. Every quarter these sheets are signed by Mrs. I and handed out to those students in our school who did not miss school at all for the time period. But what I am wondering, and questioning is, are they necessary?

I am aware that teachers and members of the School Board want our children to attend and enjoy school, but is there a line that we should draw? I believe so, and I strongly think that these certificates are not at all necessary.

I do not want to take the joy out of the students who work hard to stay healthy and on top of their school work, and stay in school, by taking away their certificates to prove it. But if that is the only way that we can keep infected and sick kids from getting worse and getting their classmates sick, then I believe these awards shouldn’t be distributed.

With that said, I really don’t believe it is necessary to go that far, but how can we keep the kids that do risk their health by going to school, realize that their health is a more important factor? I am only asking to have students be aware when they need to spend that day or two in bed, though they may be eager to spend that time with their friends.

To all those children that stay in school, try to be healthy, do their homework, and on top of that live a life outside school, I believe we should all model after you, but I don’t think, and I think that you should know, you don’t need an award to show all of your personal success. So with that said, Perfect Attendance Awards are not needed at The Garrison Union Free School, but there is no reason we should take them away without trying to fix the problem. So stay healthy, and do your best.