PRESIDENT BIDEN DEALS WITH STUDENT ABSENCE

BIDEN TACKLES STUDENT ABSENT

By: Derek Varsalona

I commend President Biden for tackling student absences during the school year.  But President Biden is going about this the wrong way.  The main reason he is concerned about absence is not for the students sake but for the unions sake.  The other thing is that while he talks about Corona Virus being a leading cause of the absence he fails to blame China for the bioterrorism and absence that they have caused during Covid. 

Having students being prepared for the world is important.  The requires students being in class at least 75% of the school schedule.  That does not mean the students should be learning from behind a computer screen like we had during the pandemic. That means the students must be physically in the classroom and ready to learn along with their teacher.   I had the option to take online courses during my college years.  I never did.  That would not have helped me since I need the face to face interaction.

Students who are chronically absent are less likely to be up to par with learning.  They will not be reading on grade level or having the proper math and science skills.  The best way to keep up is to have kids in the classroom.  Being on the online courses are going to take kids further behind and will most likely have the pupils repeat the grade in summer school and next school year.

A student that misses at least 10 days of school is critically unprepared for the world.  Learning from behind a computer screen does not solve the lack of engagement.  They are going to be missing out and will not be prepared for college or the real world. 

All students need engagement that is important.  Let us do everything we can to keep kids in school and prevent them from dropping out.  On this issue, President Biden has the right approach.  As always comments accepted.

Biden Mistackles Student Absence
Image: President Biden
White House.gov
Thursday, May 16, 2024

Source: President Joe Biden. “Fact Sheet: Biden-Harris Administration Announces New Actions and Resources for Increasing Student Attendance and Engagement as Part of White House Everyday Counts Summit.” whitehouse.gov Washington, DC: Wednesday, May 15, 2024.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/05/15/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-announces-new-actions-and-resources-for-increasing-student-attendance-and-engagement-as-part-of-the-white-house-every-day-counts-summit/