It is a common belief that students should attend classes, and with good reason. Attendance makes class work easier to grade, and students learn more by attending classes regularly. To this I would agree, but I also believe attendance should be optional. Students should attend classes because attendance is a requirement for high school graduation, and universities are obligated to provide their curriculum to students. However, I believe that universities should encourage students to attend classes, as it is beneficial to both the student and the class.

The first reason that I believe students should attend classes is because it allows easier grading. Professors have to follow the guidelines set by their universities when grading assignments. These guidelines include a uniform grading system, the minimum acceptable grade, and the minimum acceptable time for an assignment to be completed. If a student fails to meet one of these requirements, then the professor has no choice but to deduct points from his or her grade. If, for example, a student submits a math problem five days prior to the final exam, the professor must deduct points from that grade. If a student does not get a grade for an assignment on time, the professor has no choice but to deduct points from the grade. If, on the other hand, a student submits a math problem that is two days past the deadline, the professor must deduct points from his or her grade. Attendance allows professors to ensure that each student is adhering to the grading rubric.

Without the attendance requirement, professors would be unable to ensure uniform grading, since some students may deliberately miss class in order to turn in a late assignment. Attendance also allows professors to verify that students have actually completed the assignments. Professors rarely grade assignments blindly; they walk around the classroom and look over all of the students’ work. If a student’s paper appears to be missing a required element, the professor may walk over and ask the student a question to ensure that he or she has understood the assignment. If a student does not answer, the professor may deduct a point from the student’s grade. Without the required attendance, professors would be unable to verify that students have completed the assignments.

Conversely, some students may attend class, but fail to do the required work. These students could make up for the missed assignments, but in doing so, they would pay the price. Because class attendance is a requirement for high school graduation, students may believe that attendance is a requirement for graduation as well. However, many high schools give students the option of graduating with a diploma or a portfolio. If the attendance requirement were waived for high school, students might miss class more often, and this would cause problems for professors and school administrators. Also, high school students would have to waste their time attending classes that they have already mastered.

If attendance were optional, students would not feel obligated to attend classes. Some students may discover that they enjoy the subject material of the class, and they may not feel a need to keep up with the class. Other students may discover that the class is too difficult for them, and they may choose to drop the class. In either case, the student’s grade for the class would suffer. Attendance allows for the student to give his or her best effort, and it ensures that all students in the class are receiving equal treatment. In addition, if attendance were optional, students would have to attend classes that they find interesting. These classes would tend to be smaller classes, and the students would be more likely to interact with their professors and with each other.

Overall, I believe that attendance should be optional for both high school and college students. Professors would have fewer problems grading assignments, and students would have more freedom in the decision-making process.