Should we HAVE to go?

Brandon Carter

While some research has been conducted to show that mandatory attendance of college classes can lead to better grades, much of this research was done in a narrow rang of majors. They don’t take into consideration all of the classes that are offered and so they have no definite way of knowing whether or not it improves students grades. Some classes that have a mandatory attendance policy are the ones that require the least student participation. If a student doesn’t want to be in a class they are less likely to pay attention to what the professor is teaching. . If a professor does require attendance, it’s could be because nobody would want to come to class otherwise.

While sometimes classes have to have mandatory attendance, good professors don’t always have to require attendance. They can organize their courses in a way that makes it obvious that a lack of attendance will severely harm performances on tests and papers. When students realize that if they don’t come their grade will suffer they are more likely to want to be there in order to get a better overall grade. On the other hand, when required to come to class students are likely to do one of two things, either skip class altogether just because they can or they show up and aren’t as invested in class as someone who wants to be there. If someone shows up because they actually want to learn or to pass the class they might have a more vested interest than say, someone who shows up because they have to keep their seat occupied. Mandatory attendance may not always improve student’s grades.