Exploratory Essay: Is Compulsory School Attendance Beneficial or Not?

School reform is a very serious matter as it shows various issues, which are essential for

good education. One such issue is compulsory school attendance that is applicable in almost all

schools. As our assignment was to read John Holt’s essay, it created a huge impact on me after a

while. In this essay – “School is bad for children,” Holt describes that school does not provide

knowledge. However, it steals a child’s curiosity and critical thinking to learn something. In

addition, children lose their dignity, independence and worth after schooling (Holt 13). In the

essay, John Holt expressed abolishment of compulsory school attendance laws. If not abolished,

there should be some changes in it. While reading this part I felt curious that why Holt is

opposing school attendance laws. In John Holt’s words, initially compulsory school attendance

laws were to protect children from child labor. Nevertheless, today it does help anyone not even

teachers, students and parents. Hence, I decided to explore more about compulsory school

attendance today.

I was not sure how current system compulsory attendance law works. Therefore, to know

about school attendance system today, I found one article in the Atlantic. An investigative

journalist Annette Fuentes writes the article – “The Truancy Trap”. The article describes that

court charge high penalties from parents for child’s non-attendance. The truancy law is

applicable now to Atlanta, Georgia, Lynchburg, Virginia, Detroit, Los Angeles, and Compton

(Fuentes). Furthermore, Fuentes also says that school administration, officials and court

prosecutors are dealing with truancy problem. According to this article, criminal justice system

tackles everything through “ratcheting up enforcement, slapping students and parents with big-

dollar fines, and threatening jail time” (Fuentes). I found that this strict policies does not help

students however, it affects parents adversely. Fuentes points that strict attendance policies affect

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low-income families with financial struggles, health problems and learning disabilities. This

article helped to understand where current truancy law stands. This law does not help parents

however obtained a large lump sum fine from them. However, I wanted to know more this law

before any conclusion.

To understand truancy in more depth, I researched the journal articles in online library. I

found a journal article – “Truancy Laws...” written by Deborah Gleich Bope and published in the

journal named Clearing House. This article described the new law in Nebraska’s elementary,

middle and high school on May 20, 2011 (Bope 110). As per this new law, when a child is absent

for more than twenty days the school district reports to the county attorney (Bope 110). Bope

also explains the old and current system of school attendance laws. I figured that previously with

such laws people removed their children from school. However, today school is aware to

understand the reason behind consistent absenteeism. I also found the new reform law in

Nebraska does not charge big fine but try to resolve the issue.

Bope in this article explored how the Nebraska’s school follows truancy laws. The child

who is absent very frequently is send to at-risk-task force at school. This task force contains

members like social worker, school principal, psychologist and counselor. This group tries to

understand the real problem by talking with student and their parents. In addition, school also

send a notification letter to families when student is absent for more than fifteen days (Bope

112). Here, I was relieved to know that new reform law is different from previous one. This was

very different from Holt’s suggestion. At that point, people did not take these policies seriously

at all. However, not just in Nebraska are following this new reformed law. After reading this

article, I had one more doubt whether compulsory school attendance works for students

personally or not.

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 Therefore, I researched more articles in online library on compulsory school attendance

and its effects. I came across another article – “The complexity of compulsory attendance”

written by Kathie Cristie. She explored that whether these law works for students or they are

only in name. According to the article, “Raising the compulsory attendance age decreases

dropout rates, juvenile crime, and teen pregnancy” (Christie 341). Cristie also says that, such law

put pressure on parents to send their children in school. The dropout problem is also resolved

with such laws and a student has his diploma graduation. This certificate can help them to earn a

livelihood and being independent. Here, it is clear that compulsory school attendance law is

helping children positively.

After the in-depth research, I conclude that compulsory school attendance is effective for

students and parents. However, it depends on the how it is approached by the school and judicial

system. The first article stated that truancy laws obtained large amount of money from parents

with low-income families. Nevertheless, the second article proved that a more sophisticated

approach like at risk task force could be beneficial. Instead of charging penalties, the reason

behind absence should be the main objective. On the closing note, school attendance is important

for children because it helps to achieve better outputs. Some examples are low dropout rate, and

maximum graduation percentage. Thus, the law with a good and sophisticated approach can

improve the lives of students.

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 Works Cited

Fuentes, Annette. “The Truancy Trap.” The Atlantic, 5 Sept. 2012,

https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2012/09/the-truancy-trap/261937/.

Gleich-Bope, Deborah. "Truancy Laws: How Are They Affecting Our Legal Systems, Our

Schools, and the Students Involved?." Clearing House, vol. 87, no. 3, May 2014, pp. 110-

114. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1080/00098655.2014.891885.

Holt, John. "School Is Bad for Children." Saturday Evening Post, vol. 242, no. 3, 08 Feb. 1969,

pp. 14-15. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com.leo.lib.unomaha.edu/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=a9h&AN=17009381&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Kathy Christie. “The Complexity of Compulsory Attendance.” Phi Delta Kappan Magazine, vol.

88, no. 5, 2007, pp. 341–342., SAGE Premier 2018, doi:10.1177/003172170708800503.

Stadum, Beverly. "The Dilemma in Saving Children from Child Labor: Reform and Casework at

Odds with Families' Needs (1900-1938)." Child Welfare, vol. 74, no. 1, Jan/Feb95, pp. 33-

55. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com.leo.lib.unomaha.edu/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=a9h&AN=24227223&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Woltz, Charles K. “Compulsory Attendance at School.” Law and Contemporary Problems, vol.

20, no. 1, 1955, pp. 3–22. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/1190271.