Related Review of Literature

SKIPPING CLASSES

Education is the deliberate, systematic, and sustained effort to transmit, provoke

or acquire knowledge, values, attitudes, skills or sensibilities as well as any learning that

results from the effort (Cremin, Public Education).

It is common for students to skip classes in many schools. Some students think

that they are mature enough to do whatever they want. Teacher’s talk is annoying.

Skipping classes and having their own way is much cooler. They think they can make

responsibilities for themselves. For this phenomenom students usually think classes are

boring. They are not willing to spend time on things they are not interested in. They may

think the content of the textbook is not useful in the future. Also those going to college is

just for a diploma. They go to classes for just passing tests. That’s why they would rather

play computer games, video games or anything they are interested in than coming to

classes. (Alice wu, 2003)

Skipping class is a coined term that actually means intentionally not attending a

required class in one's formal education without a valid excuse/reason. Cutting of

classes is especially rampant in public schools in the Philippines where there is

inefficient security and a relatively high number of students thus making it hard to

monitor each student. This issue is rampant as well in tertiary educational institutions

where there are no more limits as to when one can or cannot go outside of the campus

and a limit as to when one can or cannot leave the classroom during a lecture. This

problem affects three people: The parent, student and teacher

CAUSES OF CUTTING CLASSES

 The three main reasons for this phenomenon are. First, students usually think

classes are boring .Second, peer pressure is another factor that causes this

phenomenon .The primary cause of cutting classes is plain laziness

EFFECTS OF CUTTING CLASSES

Being chronically absent affects high school graduation rates and the chances for

success in college. … That’s compared to 51 percent of students who didn’t miss that

much school. Kids with learning and attention issues are even more vulnerable to the

impact of chronic absences (Catherine Grumal)

First off, cutting becomes a gateway to more dark, serious problems. How? Well, when

the student manages to cut class, he /she will eventually have to find something to do

with his unauthorized free time. Since most of the youth nowadays have lost several

good values that act as a safeguard for several undesirable, immoral activities. The

general youth in the past (the time of youth of our parents and grandparents, 60's, 70's,

and 80's) had big respect for the commands and instructions of their parents, they had

very strong conservative views in ways such as showing very little skin in their outfits

and prolonging the process of courting to over a year or two. Compared to the youth

now, who wear short shorts, miniskirts and plunging neckline blouses and the courting

process that takes a week to over a month, or sometimes it does not exist at all. There

are even these things called hook ups where a girl is taken home by a boy and they

engage in coitus even if they don't know each other. These immoral sexual activities

actually happens when lascivious teens cut class. Also bad influences (usually in the

form of a student's classmate) who will show them how to smoke or do drugs, will

eventually teach them how to smoke pot and drink vodka.

 Secondly, cutting classes obviously decreases the need opportunities for them to

learn. All the important lessons they need to learn in order to become academically

competent. Instead of learning, they are ruining their lives with vices.

Thirdly, they are wasting the hard earned money of their parents

Lastly, teachers would have to experience unnecessary hassle. They would be charged,

or filed against them for failing to secure the safety of a student. This kind of vices mostly

affects;

The student

-He/she learns different vices and thus ruins their lives with these vices. Also, the

opportunities that are presented to them for learning decreases, thus decreasing their

important educational experience.

The parent

-The hard earned money they a llot for their children's educations is deliberately wasted

by the child.

The teacher

If it is found out that they lost a student during class hours, they will be reprimanded, or

worse filed a case against them.

THE SOCIAL FACTORS/FORCES/CONDITIONS THAT INSTIGATE THE

OCCURRENCE OF THE SOCIAL PROBLEMS

Peers/classmates/friends who are bad influences

These people influence the victims of class cutting with different immoral temptations in

the form of vices and or immoral activities. They invite these students to cut class on

order to play games at the local computer shop, drink booze, smoke, engage in coitus

etc. Since there are numerous students who are willing to do anything to be accepted

into a social group, one of the things they are willing to do is cut class with them. So in a

nutshell, there are two social forces that instigate class cutting, namely peer pressure

and temptations.

THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE PROBLEM

Cutting class creates an undesirable habit and mindset. This mindset is the

mindset of being lazy. When you cut, you also create this habit of walking away from

something you do not find desirable, even if this activity/thing you are walking away from

is important and necessary.

Also, the money that our parents work very hard for to send us to a good school in

order to attain a good education is all put to waste. Your parents spend so much money

for you to just slack off. And finally, when one cuts class, he or she tends to engage in

undesirable activities such as drinking, smoking drugs etc. Because usually, the peers
that invite you to cut are bad influences. They will be the one who will teach you how to

smoke and do drugs and drink etc.

EXPLANATION OF THE ISSUE USING EITHER ONE OF THE SOCIOLOGICAL

PERPECTIVES.

Symbolic-Interactionist Perspective

Society, especially the parents and teacher community will tend to attach a meaning to

cutting class. They deem the activity of cutting as a symbol with a meaning which is that

the students have a short attention span, that they are lazy, and that they do not have a

genuine interest in learning and their over-all future. This meanings are true. Students

who cut class actually cut class due to these characteristics.

SOLUTION OF CUTTING CLASSES

Skipping in a class is one of the main causes why students have poor academic

performance. Most of the students have experience to cut class or skip class. Maybe

because they feel bored, hate the subject or maybe they don’t like the teacher. But what

would be the possible effect if a student cut or skips class? There is a possibility that

they will engage in different undesirable activities and can get poor grades. There are

several guides on how to skip class, but going to class is important! Attending every

class keeps you up to date on information that will be on exams, allow you to connect

with fellow students, and make it much easier to get good grades. Skipping even one

class can get you behind your work. Speak with your teacher in order to catch up, as
well as to make it clear to them that although you may have skipped a class, you are still

making an effort to learn a material and get good grades. Try to follow up, by going to

your teacher’s office or faculty hours. This will make an even greater impression on

them, and they will help you to pass the class even more. Even if you’ve skipped more

classes than you have attended, and you think there’s no way you can pass at this point,

it is always worth a shot to speak with your teacher and see if there is any way you can

pass the class. Speak with your parents is also important. Although you might want to

avoid getting in trouble, being honest with your parents about poor attendance will

motivate you to not stop making the same mistakes. This will also give your parents

some foresight, so if you do end getting bad grades, they will not be totally shocked all at

once. Depression and anxiety are two of the main reasons why college students end up

skipping many classes during a semester. Skipping one class leads to more worry and

sadness, which leads you to feel overwhelmed, which prevents you from getting to your

next class, and this just further creates a negative feedback loop. Dealing with

depression and anxiety is very difficult to do by oneself, so get help as soon as you can.

And remember, no matter how overwhelmed you feel by high school, hurting yourself is

never the solution. Make the decision today to not skip anymore classes. You can do it!