Teachers are always serious about time, especially when it comes to being late. With many seniors avoiding class or even skipping altogether, schools have to devise a way to convince students to show up.

School policy allows seniors to be exempt from teacher-made final exams if the student has less than ten tardies and/or absences as well as a grade of 80 percent or higher. This rule only applies to teacher-made exams but can always be an option to boost one’s GPA.

English teacher Tristan McKinney said, “I think it works. If they’re here for their senior year, and they’re taking the classes that they need to graduate, then I think that it’s appropriate as long as they respect the teacher and attend their classes.” 

Teachers have noticed a decline in senior absences, but the policy does not stop students with grades lower than 80 percent from skipping classes.

Senior Zarria Watson said, “It’s more like a privilege for seniors to be able to do all the work they did over the years and to just be done with school without the finals. If they hold up their promise to the school to learn and to listen, then this privilege won’t have to be taken away from us.” 

Students agree that this policy helps them focus on other important work like jobs and/or studying for state exams.

Teachers understand that students are going to become adults in the future, and whatever decisions they make today, could impact them in the future. So it’s important to listen and learn in class, for it will affect you in the future.