Perfect Attendance Awards

I think these student awards that are given out at the end of the school year are absurd.  They are not based on academics, only that the student’s physical body is present in a seat.  Of course, I am in no way trying to diminish the achievements of students who were not attacked by the various germs, illnesses and bacteria that float around school campuses waiting for a vulnerable host.   Perhaps schools can find another way to recognize students instead of a school-wide award that seems only to highlight the students who either went to school sick or were lucky enough not to get sick in the first place.

As a former (and forever) teacher, however, I find that some recipients of perfect attendance awards are sent to school on days when they clearly should have stayed home.  THEY WERE SICK!  For whatever reason, they went to school and brought their germs with them,  exposing others to whatever is wrong with them.

Also, as a working mom, I am aware that parents can have no other  option but to send a child to school when he or she is sick, but schools should not award the kids for their parents’ decisions!

A student can show up for school every day and still not be “present,”  especially if they are not feeling well.