Natasha Gabbay ’10 and Farrel Levenson ’11
Managing Editor and Opinions Editor
When the bell rings on Dec. 23, at 11:45.a.m, Staples students can’t leave the school fast enough. Everyone is eager to take a break from the constant stress and schoolwork, and begin their winter vacation. However, many students have already left Staples for other places, whether it was two days early, the night before, or the morning of. Before winter vacation, student attendance is always lacking at Staples High School.
The week before break officially has one-and-a-half days of school, but people don’t take those days seriously. Some students, such as Trevor Lally ’10, don’t believe they should even take place. “We shouldn’t have school. Teachers don’t want to teach anything new because kids won’t remember over the break, so we just end up watching movies,” said Lally.
Lally isn’t the only one who feels that the days before vacation are pointless. A female junior doesn’t attend school on the pre-break half day, or any half-day for that matter, due to her feelings that shortened days are not valuable. “I don’t come in on half days. It’s just not worth it – I will be sleeping,” said the student.
As shown in the poll, 16 percent of 93 students are in agreement that these days before break are unnecessary and don’t achieve anything. However, most are forced to attend school, including Hannah Jacobs ’09. “My parents believe education is the key to success. If [a school day is] scheduled, I should be there emotionally and physically,” said Jacobs.
Nevertheless, the absences still cause difficulties for teachers. They still have the right to teach new topics, but many students miss out on the new information. “I think it is a tough situation because everyone is in the holiday mood and wants to talk about what they are doing, they are checked out. And, because Westport is an affluent community, some students are literally checked out [for vacations],” said social studies teacher Cathy Schager.
Further, excessive absences inconvenience the attendance personnel as well. Patrica McQuone, who is in charge of attendence, dreads those days before break, as it’s horrible for her to account for the plethora of absences. “It is awful. Nobody will be in school. It’s going to be awful,” said McQuone.
However, McQuone did say there is something students who are leaving early can do to ease the stress at the attendance office.
“Fill out a pre-planed absence form, and it will make our lives so much easier,” said McQuone, “and bring them to me.”
