As fourth quarter begins and the end of the school year approaches, many seniors are thinking about senior ditch day.
“I think senior ditch day is an important day to sit back, relax, and reflect on all the stressful and gruesome days of high school,” senior Maddy Blemker said.
Financially, a student missing four class periods is a loss of approximately $35 per student. Ditch day also disrupts the instructional day for many members of the faculty. Teachers have to make the decision about what to teach that day and how much new material to cover. This is further complicated because not everyone ditches.
Economics teacher Gabrielle Kashani said, “I usually have a good turnout and continue with the lesson as planned. My students realize the value of learning economics.”
Kashani notes that without an excused absence, students can not make up work. In the past she has also had a sign-in sheet when she suspects it is ditch day.
Additionally, ditch day is a lot more work for office secretary LaTanya Lloyd, who has to follow up on every absence. Some parents excuse their students. Although the attendance office knows it was ditch day, parents claim their child was sick.
“This becomes an issue of integrity. The school is not going to call the parent a liar, but that student really shouldn’t be allowed to make up the work. This creates a moral dilemma for the faculty,” Assistant Principal Anne Dolid said.
“Students should probably turn in a note on ditch day, unless they want to face the wrath of Latanya,” Blemker said. She explains why she would turn in a note: “all we’ve done is gone to school like mommy and daddy have told us to for four years, so I refuse to face any consequences for my one day off of school. I deserve to not care and be free for one day.”
Dolid said she understands that students feel senior ditch day is a right of passage, but that they should be honest about it.
“If you are going to ditch, ditch. Deal with the consequences. Don’t be dishonest about it, or ask your parents to be dishonest about it, so that you don’t lose academic credit for the day. That is the part that upsets me the most,” Dolid said.
Regardless of the consequences, seniors still see the benefits of senior ditch day.
“I think senior ditch day is a fun tradition and while not completely harmless it is worth it,” senior Billy Ireland said. “It is a great way to bond with your graduating class at the end of the year when we are all feeling like we need a bit of a break, and before we all part ways and we won’t see some people again.”
