In response to the 2009 Western Association of Schools and Colleges report revealing astronomical truancy rates at Paly, the administration has intensified consequences for unexcused absences: students who cut class must now attend an hour of Saturday school for each class they cut, and those who receive a third truancy letter may be restricted from participating in school activities.
The administration added the “Student in Good Standing Policy” to the Palo Alto High School handbook for the 2009-2010 school year. The new policy states that students with unacceptable attendance records may not be allowed to participate in what it calls “co-curricular activities.”
The policy, found on page 27, states that “a student must be in good standing with the school to be eligible to participate in co-curricular activities” which include, but are not limited to, athletics, cheerleading, student leadership, student performances, and school dances.
A student is no longer in good standing with the school, the policy states, if he/she has “received a third truancy letter during the academic year.” A student receives a truancy letter after three unexcused absences in a single class.
The policy will not begin “without communication with students,” said Assistant Principal Todd Feinberg. “We are not in the business of sneaking up on you guys.”
Saturday School is scheduled to begin in early October according to Assistant Principal Jerry Berkson. According to the “Saturday School Assignment” sheet, students “are required to spend one hour [of Saturday School] for every class that has not been cleared.” If a student does not attend his/her Saturday School on the date that has been assigned, the student will be immediately scheduled for the next available date. Failure to attend both Saturday schools will result in a suspension for defiance.
Furthermore, attendance records will begin to be included in official transcripts starting this year, said Berkson.
The administration hopes that all of these measures will effectively deter students from cutting class. “The whole thing is very simple. Don’t cut,” Feinberg said.
A range of viewpoints concerning the new policy is present throughout the student body. Junior Sam Greene feels that the administration has chosen the wrong venue to pursue truancy at Paly.
“I think that there should be more standardized academic consequences as opposed to Saturday School,” Greene said. “Cutting shouldn’t have to do with the administration, it should affect the teacher-student relationship.”
Senior Nicholas Dumas disagrees with Greene. “I really don’t cut and I don’t have much sympathy [for those who do],” Dumas said. “And I do think that it will reduce cutting.” Dumas added that Gunn has been effectively employing the Saturday School policy for several years.
Some students are especially troubled by the portion of the Student in Good Standing Policy which makes it possible for students who receive three truancy letters over the academic year to be restricted from participating in athletics. “It’s not fair for the people who do sports,” junior Irene Wang said.
Overall, staff and administrators feel that more severe consequences for cutting are the only way to mitigate Paly’s truancy problem.
“If the ticket for running a red light is too harsh, just don’t run a red light,” English teacher Kevin Sharp said.