Reply #54: No, the discussion is about merit

[depakid]

and equity.

Holding a child back from a grade because they miss some arbitrary number of days in class.

And to abstract- any other rule that penalizes a child academically for non-academic reasons. (obviously, I'm not talking about violance or reasonable expulsions).

I'm sure that, had that rule been in place, I'd have been held back several times due to a combination of sick days, travel or going to my Dad's office. Childcare is also an issue. Didn't seem to affect my ability to ourperform my classmates.

Moreover, such a rule increases dropout rates-

If you're into John Dewey, he'd say both that experiential learning from travel, museums, offices and even home activities is just as important (and maybe more important) than being in today's classrooms. He'd also say that rules like this teach just what I mentioned in my last post- the things about just show-up, etc. Teaches them mediocrity and to either accept unfairness or bolt from the school system.