The tone indicating that the mod has started sounds.  The teacher stands up from behind the desk and tells the class to talk quietly or study something for a second while they take attendance.  Twenty minutes later, the teacher stands back up, and class officially starts.  Two minutes later, the tone rings again, indicating taking attendance just wasted half of the class.

For the past week, teachers have begun taking attendance before every class.  The main question that comes to mind is why.  Do teachers not trust us?  Have we done something to lose their trust?

Taking attendance should be a one a day thing, and then if students choose not to show up to class it’s their own fault.  When students get a job, teachers will not be there to make sure they are there every day at the right time.

JC is a college preparatory school, and at college, teachers do not take attendance at all.    It is the students’ choice on whether or not they show up to class, and it is their choice on whether they want to succeed or fail in the class.

It’s embarrassing when the teacher has to look around and make sure everyone is in class that was there at the beginning of the day.  I feel that I have done something to lose their trust.  The thing is, I don’t know what.

Instead of just putting in this new rule immediately after exams, the school should’ve held an assembly for each of the classes telling them what has been going on, and why they were considering taking action.  They should have explained their reasoning behind their actions.

If taking attendance in every class is absolutely necessary, then something needs to be changed so that the process can be quicker.  Maybe instead of writing down all the names of the students who are present, write down the names of students who aren’t there.

This new attendance policy is not very efficient or worthwhile.  It wastes a lot of class time for only a little change in attendance.

Amanda Graziano is an Opinion Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.