When going to high school I was so excited for the extra freedom coming as soon to be adults. I anticipated hanging out with friends and coming to school around 10. But now as a sophomore I am a little disappointed.
As high schoolers we undergo lots of stress especially those who strive to be the best. We have homework, practices, rehearsals, and more all on top of our normal 8 hour day, 5 days a week of attendance. This year we have moved to a hybrid four day week schedule but the need for days off for sickness or rest still remains. As a student who works hard in my classes to keep a high gpa and ranking, I feel I’m not allowed days off.
One reason is because of the exemptions each grade level gets allowing you to be excused from any exam in a non AP/College course class. But exemptions come with guidelines such as no unexcused absences and no more than 3 excused absences. It sounds like a good deal until you get sick and miss three days of school and have to keep perfect attendance for the rest of the semester. Exemptions are so nice after all the semester’s hard work but it’s hard to strive for that with such strict rules.
Not only that but throughout school we are encouraged to have perfect attendance with getting extra exemptions, having an extra tassel at graduation, and more. I also fall behind when I’m gone and get stressed. All of these reasons are why I feel unable to miss any school and that’s a big weight to have on my shoulders.
I propose that not only this high school but the entire school system in the United States give more freedom to hard working students. Although school is important and so is attendance, restrictions should be loosened for a few more days a semester. Students, especially those who excel, should be able to take a day off for rest, sickness, or a weekend trip. Needing a break should be normalized and not looked down on.
There is a lot messed up with the school system in this country and a lot that needs to be fixed. But what matters most is the health of teachers and students, and that should be the main goal of our government and school system.
