When Going to Class Just Isn't Worth It

Why Professors Should Do Away with Mandatory Attendance

By Prahlad Sankrti

One of the many aspects of college life that makes it a richer and fuller experience than high school is the freedom (and in turn, responsibility) that one enjoys as an adult. However, one limitation to this freedom comes in the form of mandatory attendance policies in classes, which involve attendance contributing to a student's final grade, or a student losing points after a certain number of absences. Personally, I've found myself scratching my head over why this is a requirement in many of my classes. After all, why does it matter whether you show up, as long as you eventually learn what you need to?

Let me clarify that I'm referring to lectures. For classes with a discussion section or a lab, it seems reasonable to mandate that students come to these sessions, since there is an in-person, experiential aspect of learning which can't be easily replicated outside of class. But when it comes to sitting down and getting talked at, students ought to be allowed to make a choice about whether or not it's worth it to attend.

For instance, some students may learn just as well (if not better) from other resources outside of class, such as the textbook. Others may have events or activities which take precedence during some weeks (such as work, a cultural gathering, an art fair, and so on). And others may just want to sleep in a bit later or play video games in their dorm instead.

Our academic culture should be open and understanding of the fact that different students will have different priorities and make different choices as a result. I'm not saying that skipping class is always the right option—of course not. I'm simply saying that it's a choice students should be given without being penalized for it. If they've been opting for video games too often, it will probably be reflected in their exam scores. And frankly, some professors could use the cue given by decreased attendance that perhaps they could improve as lecturers.

Granted, studies have shown that students who attend their classes regularly do better in them. But as adults, it's time for students to be able to make that choice freely.