When the teacher is the keeper of knowledge...“attendance matters.”
When children lead their own learning and collaborate with peers...presence is valued and appreciated.
No one benefits from “attendance matters” language. Strongarm language and policy sending an aggressive message that your child better be in school, or else. It creates friction for educators tasked with monitoring for compliance, and for families struggling with challenges or presented with opportunities of a lifetime.
Let’s stop telling ourselves that seat time matters and re-evaluate the amount and quality of learning that takes place. I promise you will find some interesting ideas and examples if we look beyond our comfort zone and rethink the system.
Does your family have the opportunity for the trip of a lifetime? A life event?
Does attendance matter if the school sends my child home?
Let’s come together on the human level to connect, learn and support the growth of our children. There are meaningful measurements with greater value and insight than seat time.