Attendance Clerk Carol Hess takes more than 300 phone calls every day from parents excusing their children from class. She said she’s heard every excuse in the book—from doctor’s notes to a pet iguana’s autopsy, students always seem to find a reason to miss school. In reality, these students get called out to skip a test, take a nap and even tan if it’s an especially sunny day.
Regardless of your favorite pastimes or preferences, it’s important to recognize education is a privilege and a blessing. One in every ten people are illiterate, and hundreds of millions of children around the world do not attend school, according to Our World Data and the United Nations Education, Science and Cultural Organization.
The Blue Valley School District is the top district in Kansas and well within the top one percent of school districts nationwide, according to Niche. The district also ranks first in teachers in Kansas. Overall, Blue Valley Northwest offers an enriching education with opportunities for a diverse student body, yet students frequently take it for granted.
Even if traditional classes like literature and history are not your cup of tea, the content and skills you learn from them will greatly benefit you in the future. There is a reason that Kansas law mandates children attend school and learn certain subjects. We develop morals and become aware of warning signs by studying past atrocities in social studies classes. We improve communication and writing skills through English classes. We improve critical thinking and problem-solving skills in math and science classes, which prepare us for future challenges and conflicts.
Education empowers us to learn, think and achieve anything we desire. While we won’t necessarily use everything we learn daily, we are incredibly fortunate to have time and resources allocated to subjects that build other practical skills.
In the Blue Valley School District, students have access to more than just the core curriculum, like the fire science program, woodworking, jewelry, child development, sports marketing and many more. Other districts don’t have these opportunities, and so many people around the world would give anything to have the educational options we do.
In an ideal world, we all treat our schoolwork like a privilege, not a chore. It is unrealistic to expect students to grin through their grueling math homework, but next time you are about to text your parents to call you out of class, remember the invaluable opportunity we have to attend school every day. Join clubs, learn about different career paths and find leadership opportunities to develop as a human. Stay in school all day, because the sun will still be shining after the final bell.