Do you think it's right for High Schools to penalize kids for being late2school?

I dont think you should get penalized for being to school late. I have to wake up at like 5:45 to leave to school at like 6:40 at the latest to make it to school on time at like 7:00. Alot of the time (not most of the time but alot) Ive been late like 2 or 3 minutes to my 1st Period class because either my dad is doing stuff in the morning, like he goes out to this place to work on cars and stuff and he's always up very very early, or sometimes I just wake up late and end up getting to school still no later that 7:10-7:15. Some of my friends have gotten detentions for being late to school and even referrals. My teacher, luckily for me, doesnt give detentions for being late. He didnt say anything about it most of this first semester....

But.....

Out of nowhere like 2 weeks ago he said that each time you were late to class you lost 5 points in you participation grade. Thats ridiculous! I pay attention in that class like crazy because its chemistry and he's never brought that up until that moment. I asked alot of my friends in that class to and they all say that was his first time bringing it up. So I talked to my counselor about it and she told me to check the syllabus my teacher gave me at the beginning of the year to see If it said we lost five points every time we were late.

BTW, if you dont know a syllabus is a paper of class rules that the teachers make up for their class and hand out at the beginning of the year.

Well yeah I checked the syllabus and it never said that you lost 5 points in participation each time you were late so by the time I was warned I was alredy late like 15-20 times.

It barley brought down my grade though once he put in the participation grade in. But still its dumb.

But I dont think kids should be penalized at all for being late to school. Of course I can see if they are late to classes after period 1 then I can see them punishing them. Unless they really just got to school at 3rd period for whatever reason then they could get a note from their parents or something.

But really, the school doesnt know what goes on at your home! Maybe their are kids who are depressed, and dont make it to school on time because of family issues, and im pretty sure getting a detention is not going to make things any better.

So I was thinking on writing a persuasive essay to the school (the principal or something) on why kids shouldnt be penalized for getting to school late so I need help with some good points. Unless if im missing something then im pretty sure kids shouldnt be punished for getting to school late.....

Is this a joke? Of course kids should be punished for being late. School starts when they say, not when it's convenient for the kid.

I think it should entirely depend on your first period class. If it's Math, you should be penalized. If it's Foreign Language, it shouldn't matter. :P

But seriously, you can always see if you can get excused due to extreme circumstances or family issues.

I think it should entirely depend on your first period class. If it's Math, you should be penalized. If it's Foreign Language, it shouldn't matter. :P

But seriously, you can always see if you can get excused due to extreme circumstances or family issues.

entropyecho

[QUOTE="entropyecho"]

I think it should entirely depend on your first period class. If it's Math, you should be penalized. If it's Foreign Language, it shouldn't matter. :P

But seriously, you can always see if you can get excused due to extreme circumstances or family issues.

Pirate700

You get penalized for being late for work. Why shouldn't you get penalized for being late for school?mrmusicman247

Well what if your parents are abusive and whatnot and they wont call in?IcyFlamez96

In that case, tardiness is the least of your worries.

[QUOTE="IcyFlamez96"] Well what if your parents are abusive and whatnot and they wont call in?entropyecho

In that case, tardiness is the least of your worries.

You get penalized for being late for work. Why shouldn't you get penalized for being late for school?mrmusicman247

School helps kids get ready for life after, so if a kid is late to school a lot, or even all the time, and they don't get punished for it, there is more of a chance they will grow up with the mantallity that being late for work is fine too. You can always get up earlier if you need to, 15 minutes less sleep wont kill you or anything.

If you're late to school for family reasons then most schools will be fine with it.

It depends on the circumstances. I think the first 2-3 tardies should just be warnings. Sometimes **** just happens -- bad weather, crappy traffic, etc. But if someone makes a habit of showing up late they should be punished for it. JML897

Well im 15 so Its not like I can drive myself yetIcyFlamez96

There isn't a bus stop near to where you live? Tell you parents to take you to school on time. Or you could walk. Sleep at the school if you need to. You're 15. Not 5. The school shouldn't have to hold your hand.

For a single time being late? No, for a pattern of lateness (like, being consistently late) yes.Ring_of_fire

[QUOTE="Ring_of_fire"]For a single time being late? No, for a pattern of lateness (like, being consistently late) yes.Pirate700

[QUOTE="Pirate700"]

[QUOTE="Ring_of_fire"]For a single time being late? No, for a pattern of lateness (like, being consistently late) yes.mrmusicman247

[QUOTE="Ring_of_fire"]For a single time being late? No, for a pattern of lateness (like, being consistently late) yes.Pirate700

Yes and no. There should be like a 5 minute grace period because if kids are getting like suspended for missing a minute of class (which has happened to me) they end up missing all the rest of their classes and that makes them fall behind, and makes the schools look like hypocrites. After that grace priod though yeah they should be penalized.

[QUOTE="mrmusicman247"][QUOTE="Pirate700"]If I recall correctly, that's how it was at my high school. The attendance office would give you two unexcused tardies but on the third you got a detention. Then if you didn't go to detention you got a Saturday school.

Pirate700

[QUOTE="Ring_of_fire"]For a single time being late? No, for a pattern of lateness (like, being consistently late) yes.Pirate700

They shouldn't when you have a good reason.

[QUOTE="Pirate700"]

[QUOTE="mrmusicman247"] That's how it was at my school. Saturday School sucked >.>mrmusicman247

Yeah, and after all that whining I'm thinking they should increase the penalty.

[QUOTE="mrmusicman247"][QUOTE="Pirate700"]Wouldn't know. Believe it or not I never even got a detention in HS. :P

Pirate700

If you are late, you miss part of the class, isn't that enough? Why force people into a detention or something just for being late? School is completely different then work. They are there to learn, not help out and get money.

There is absolutely no need to punish them for being late. None.

Nothing like teaching kids they can come when they want. Thats a good skill for future jobs.

Just to add though, if a student is consistently late and attracting attention to themselves when coming in, like making a lot of noise, then they should be penalised. But if they can just walk in quietly and sit down. Then that should be fine. If they miss important info, that's their problem, no reason to make it worse for them.

If you are late, you miss part of the class, isn't that enough? Why force people into a detention or something just for being late? School is completely different then work. They are there to learn, not help out and get money.

There is absolutely no need to punish them for being late. None.

lazyathew

Back when I was in High School we had to get a little paper for being late. Every morning there was a whole line of people and it would take like 5-10 minutes to get your turn. We'd be late even more, it was so deficient and idiotic. I just couldn't take High School seriously.

There should be no penalty to have a deteremntial effect on the students overall grade, that should be based on ability and understanding of what suppose to be learned from the class. Some type of penalty may be appriopriate but only after the teacher/school has contacted the parents of the student and see what's going.

You have to ask yourself, what would happen if you was five minutes late to work? If the answer is anything other than being fired or suspended I want to know what kind of job you think you're going to get. If they don't punish you then you have no incentive to do the right thing. You need to be on time. If you can't handle being on time you can always drop out and get a GED, which will pretty much lower your job and college options.

I used to be where you were, got a few Friday evening detentions for it. The way we did detention they made us go into the cafeteria and line our chairs up in a straight line. Then we just sat there one behind another for two hours from 3:45 PM to 5:45 PM. Eventually they increased it to three hours. Sucked to be me on those days...

I must had all the luck in HS, I always came 5-10 minutes late but the teacher never cared about me like if I was transparent but I had noticed before that other students came around the same time or late and received penalties.

Grr 1st period kind of classes, just cant stand them.

I had a teacher penalize our participation grade if we didn't stand up and do the pledge of allegiance. Now that's crazy. Get to school on time ya damn hippy!achilles614

That's illegal.

If you are late, you miss part of the class, isn't that enough? Why force people into a detention or something just for being late? School is completely different then work. They are there to learn, not help out and get money.

There is absolutely no need to punish them for being late. None.

lazyathew

Don't bring logic into this conversation. This is a thread in which to be punitive! :P