Electronic Music @ De Anza College :

Friday, April 30, 2010

Attendance: Time for Serious Discussion (esp. for the Friday class)
At the start of the period on Friday, April 30 there were only eight students present in class.

This is not OK.

Class starts at 10:30. Not 10:32. Not 10:35. Not 10: 45...

It is not the case that because this is a Friday-only class or because it is a music class that attendance is somehow less important. This is especially important in a class that meets only once per week. If you are late, it is equivalent to being late for every class for a full week in a class that meets every day. If you miss class it is equivalent to missing an entire week of class.

There are several ways we can deal with this. The approach I much prefer is for you to understand these issues and resolve them so that I do not need to. I think that each of you is capable of getting here on time and on a regular basis, and I believe that each of you understands the critical importance of this. I would like to be able to not worry about this situation, knowing that you are going to take care of it.

On the other hand, if students in the class cannot fix this themselves I will have no choice but to deal with the situation in ways that neither you nor I want. The first step will be to have a pop quiz during the first five minutes of each class. Another approach will be for me to drop students who are late twice or who have more than one unexcused absence - as described in the course green sheet.

Let's try the responsible approach, OK?

Posted by Dan Mitchell on 4/30/10; 10:44:41 AM. | Discuss

Mar May