Skipping: In High School, It Doesn't Mean Jump Rope

In high school, you'd be hard pressed to find someone who has never skipped a class by the end of the four years. I'm sure there are some, but it seems like these are an endangered species.

Some reasons I've heard for skipping:

• Issues with teachers; meaning, strict teachers, conflicts between students and teachers, etc.
• Incomplete homework, or a presentation of some sort that the student is unprepared for. Often, In group projects, one person of the group volunteers or is elected to take one for the team and save the rest by skipping the class.
• Other homework. I know a lot of people who will skip a "less important" class to study for a test or do homework.
• Study hall or supply teachers. The rationale behind this excuse is that nothing useful will be taught during that period anyhow. Work periods are also included in this. When asked, the student will probably say, "Well, it's just (fill in the blank)."
• Pure laziness, carelessness, or other plans. By "other plans" I am not referring to valid reasons such as doctor's appointments. I mean, "Yo, we're all skippin' English, gonna go play Rockstar at Jeremy's; you in?"

I'm sure there are more, but those are the main ones. I am not a skipper by nature, I have a theory that my conscience is about 12 times the size of the average person's. However, I have skipped a handful of study halls after convincing myself that they weren't really useful.

And maybe there are some times where skipping can be seriously justified; I don't know. How does one judge that? But I do think that there is a lot of excessive skipping, and it is problematic.

My two main issues with chronic skipping are lack of respect for authority figures, and lack of work ethic/selfishness.

Your teacher has chosen to condemn themselves to be in a classroom everyday for a career, to help teenagers grow, to teach. Maybe you don't feel they really care, and maybe they aren't passionate about their job. However, think of the term "high school career." If high school is your work place, where we work to earn grades rather than money, then your teachers are your superiors, and as such, you must respect them. Skipping is blatant disrespect. You may as well say, "I do not care about your class. The information you are passing on to me means nothing. I don't have to listen to you."

And in this way, the issue of disrespect links to the issue of self-centered attitudes and terrible work ethic. What happens when we graduate and take this mind frame with us into the work force? When we "enter the real world," as we are so often told?

We get unreliable employees who call in sick just because they would rather stay in for a day, who aren't committed to their jobs, who expect everything to land in their laps, who produce very little. What started with skipping French, ended with a less than motivating dead end job, that you are probably at risk to lose.

If you must take it selfishly, you're not doing yourself any favours.

Low Expectations

There is a new rule being imposed by the Board on high school teachers: they are no longer allowed to penalize for late assignments. Students can now ignore deadlines and not lose marks for it.

Why this was decided, I have no idea. Of course we can all understand that there are extenuating circumstances that can sometimes make it difficult for deadlines to be met. Personal matters, outside obligations, too much homework from various classes can all be causes for stress in a student's life.

I have always known teachers to be very understanding and forgiving in such situations. If you are typically an honest student who makes the most of your education (note: I don't put any emphasis on academic excellence), teachers are willing to cut you some slack when you need it. If you ask beforehand, most will give extensions or find alternate options. Everybody is human. We have limits.

I believe that beyond just skill and regular curriculum, high school is a place to learn about ethic and accountability. It can be the four years of your life that shape who you will be the most. If you are going to grow into a person of integrity, your habits will begin to be developed now.

Under this new rule, there is no accountability for laziness. I have already seen its effects in the classroom. The whole class can be held back because of too many late assignments. The teachers are not able to get assignments graded as quickly, so they will hold off on the next project so as not to get too backed up on marking.

This mind frame being built is going to hold students back later in life, whether in post-secondary education or in the workforce. In the real world, deadlines are not to be taken lightly. I recently had a teacher exclaim to the class, "If you were employees, I'd have fired most of you by now!" She would have had reason, too.

I should also mention the flip side of this rule: teachers are, however, allowed to tell a student that they do not have time to mark their late work, which will result in a zero. I hope they use this when appropriate... I fear them too compassionate.


And to those who were wondering, yes, the title is a reference to Great Expectations.