Mandatory class attendance by students is important if institutions are to generate individuals with the essential skills and proficiency required in the competitive market environment. In the case of De Anza College, there are valid and strong arguments for taking either side. However, my opinion is that, mandatory class attendance is good regardless of the hustles involved. In assessing this case, I will consider the general views for and against mandatory class attendance, but more important, I will give priority to the consequences of budget cuts on De Anza college students and its effects as far as class attendance is concerned. Whereas institutions of higher learning (Universities and Colleges) are basically venues for independent learning, it would be unfair for students to pay huge sums of money as tuition fee only to learn by themselves.
When students do not attend classes, they automatically miss out on some important details, and this makes them become less motivated and committed in performing assigned duties especially in their workplace. More so, in the event that the class is a discussion type, and with some students absent, it will mean fewer minds participating, hence this will have a negative impact on those present. Again, it would be very humiliating for a teacher to plan a class, and all students fail to turn up. Therefore, if attendance is not mandatory, there is bound to be an unfair situation for all parties.
For example, in the situation of De Anza College, it was observed: – “dropping out of classes is simply inconsiderate. Many students are desperately trying to fulfill their specific requirements, and are already challenged by the current economic recession and the budget cuts; taking up seats that potentially could be theirs, and leaving them empty a few weeks later, is unfair” (Spring Calling Students to Abandon Classes 12). Students need to attend classes anyway, without which they will not be students any longer. Besides, non attendance means wastage of resources as teachers are paid more for doing less class work.
Learning institutions have put in place many policies aimed at helping their students to excel. While some of them have rules that compel students to attend classes regularly, others have an optional attendance program which allows students, who are unable to physically attend classes, to attain education. However, research has shown that, universities offering optional attendance have a relatively low quality of education.
Social interface provided by physical attendance of classes gives students social skills which enhance their interaction skills in their future endeavors. Obligatory class attendance is helpful to the students and the country at large. The key rationale of students attending institutions of learning is to study, and therefore, these institutions ought to ensure that they build up good policies which will aid the learning process. Teachers in the learning institutions are known for facilitation of learning and they must ensure that all programs offered in their institutions meet high standards. It will be hard for teachers to come up with innovative programs if their students cannot be compelled to regularly attend classes. The students will not meet the qualification specifications in the work environment, hence limiting their recruitment possibilities. In addition, class attendance is a way of developing discipline and responsibility. This quality is essential even in the work place (Gross 27).
In order to realize high value education, teachers should be continually encouraged to come up with new programs. The primary and ultimate responsibility of any learning institution is to empower its students to gain knowledge and skills that will help them easily find a job. To do this, teachers should strive towards equipping their students with the necessary skills and knowledge which can help them find employment. They should ensure that their students are forced to attend classes regularly.
When there is mandatory class attendance, students get to learn practical lessons applications other than theory. For instance, a medical student who did not obtain the relevant skills to diagnose people’s diseases would find the profession of being a doctor very difficulty if not impossible. Several institutions have reduced learning facilities and staff at a time when these facilities are in great demand. In this scenario, it is impossible for a student to obtain experience just after receiving education. It is due to this important requirement that class attendance should be compulsory. Mann observes that “with all the budget cuts in California, all people looking for jobs are now competing on a worldwide scale with the Internet. It’s not just local anymore. You need basic math and science skills or else you will get left behind.” (Mann 7).
When students attend classes, they meet challenges from their colleagues of different views and backgrounds. These help develop and strengthen their social abilities and thus prepare and adequately equip them to fit in the contemporary society in which disagreements are part of life. For example, it is mandatory for doctors to deal with their clients (patients) who would rather be in another place. Computer programmers on the other hand will be required to diagnose the needs of their customers rather than just being only acquainted with the latest technology. With the rising intricacy of contemporary life, team work is an essential facet towards the completion of composite tasks (Gross 31).
There are those who argue that attending classes should be optional for students. They argue that college students are adults and are able to make independent decisions. The students fully understand the consequences of their actions, including failure to attend classes. Students are supposed to attend classes which they are only interested in because naturally, interest is known to be the mother of study. It has been proved beyond doubt that indeed, students attend classes easily if they have interests in them. This is also attributed to the fact that students are not always interested in every class and therefore should be given an option to choose the classes they would like to attend in order to cultivate a higher efficiency in learning. Considering the case for De Anza College, it is logical for one to posit that mandatory class attendance is bad. This is especially due to discomfort resulting from overly parked classes at start of a quarter, strong sapping of student motivation during spring quarter and De Anza’s academic year which is famously out of sync with most other school districts and Universities, which puts its students at a disadvantage when applying for summer jobs.
As I conclude, having analyzed in detail, the crisis facing the California higher education due to the declining economic situation, I wish to reiterate that, mandatory class attendance is good. With the highly competitive and demanding job market, coupled with the economic crisis, those who are offered the opportunity to attend classes need be considerate enough not to waste them by abandoning classes.
Works Cited
Gross, Barbara “Tools for Teaching” New York: Wiley Publishing, 2009
Mann, Joy. “Falling Economy Fills Classes”. La Voz Newspaper Articles, 2009.
“Spring Calling Students to Abandon Classes”, La Voz Newspaper Articles, 2009.