You're Excused (Amending the Code of Conduct)

The Code of Conduct of GCE Lab School, is an article with school regulations and a list of Disciplinary Action Levels. A regulation that has stand out to me and other students in the Code of Conduct is the Absences Portion. Down below you will find what is written in GCE Lab School Code of Conduct 2017-2018. “​Absences​ A parent or guardian is expected to communicate an absence with GCE Lab School as soon as possible when a student is going to be absent. Students are expected to contact their teachers as soon as they are able to address next steps for makeup work. A student is accountable for any work in class while they are absent. If a student is absent for more than 20% of classes during a term, the student and family will meet with the Head of School to address appropriate school placement and support systems.”

This portion of the Code of Conduct addresses the steps a parent or guardian as well as student is supposed to take when the student is absent. This also mentions a disciplinary action when a student is absent for more than 20% of classes during a term.

Syllogism P1: GCE is responsible to know where students are on school days.

P2: Parents/guardians should be made aware of the students excessive absence.

P3: Head of School is responsible to address appropriate school placement.

P4: Students should be present to school.

C: GCE Lab School needs to be responsible to hold students accountable for absences.

In GCE Lab Schools Code of Conduct there is no mention of two things that are put into action when the student is absent, that the Code of Conduct do not state. The first thing that they don’t mention is that a student loses a Deliverable point when absent. Although it’s only one point, it can really show in your “Accountability” portion of your grade. The second thing the Code of Conduct fails to mention is that there are no “Excused” absences. This can affect your student profile/transcript and can reflect a student poorly. ____________________________________________________________________________ Down below you will find my argument and syllogism for the deliverable point you don’t receive when absent.

P1: When absent you and a parent communicate with GCE Lab School and the students teachers.

P2: Student is accountable for class work they missed.

C: Students are only absent physically, but continue to do school work online.

My formal syllogism for absences in the Code of Conduct, is that the student will still contact the teacher and do work that students did in school, so why should they not receive that deliverable point? I think that if the student reaches out to the teacher, and does the work that was due that day they should still receive a deliverable point, but if they fail to do so, then the student will not receive the delievable point. ____________________________________________________________________________ Down below you will find my argument and syllogism for not being able to receive an “excused’ absence.

P1: Students don’t have full control of their immune system.

P2: Students don’t have control of family emergencies.

P3: Students don’t have full control of different appointments.

P4: Students don’t have control of college visit dates.

C: There are things out of the students control, and should be able to have “excused” absences.

My formal syllogism for absences in the Code of Conduct, is that the student does not have control over doctor appointments, or the dates of college visits, or if they get sick. If the students can prove that they we're at the doctors, or they visited a college their absences should be excused. They should not be penalized for something they had no control over, if reasonable. ____________________________________________________________________________ The Code of Conduct has a logical flaw in the “Absences” portion. It states that “ A student is accountable for any work in class while they are absent. “ if this is true then why does it say “Students are expected to contact their teachers as soon as they are able to address next steps for makeup work.”. If the student is supposed to the class work they missed that day, there is no makeup work to be done because the student already did the work they would have done if they went to school.

As I’ve stated before, the Absences portion of the GCE Lab Schools Code of Conduct has affected many students. Here is a quote of an upperclassmen who has had to miss school for health reasons.

“As I am nearing senior year, it is time to apply for colleges, and as I look at my transcript with my grades and attendance, it looks as if I’m a student who likes to miss school. When in reality I

have to have constant checkups with my doctor for a major surgery I have been planning since freshman year. If GCE Lab Schools Code of Conduct would allow to have “Excused’ absences like most schools do, the amount of absences I would have wouldn’t be so dentrumental on my transcript which is why I fully support to amend GCE Lab Schools Code of Conduct and allow students to have “Excused” absences.” -VD Signature of VD as a co-signer to my amendment:

X: ​

​ Veronica D.

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