SHOULD THE NUMBER OF ABSENCES BE LIMITED Statement: "Having limited school absences makes me angry." Argument: In elementary school and high school, there is no argument that can be posted in favor of allowing students to have an unlimited number of absences per term. There are laws that require children to attend school until the age of 16. Further, each state has a curriculum framework that specifies what knowledge and skills students should achieve at each grade level. There is a federal law about student performance, the No Child Left Behind Act. Schools are graded on student achievement. There is a very simple premise - you cannot learn if you are not there. This applies to all levels of education. The North Bergen High School (2008) wrote: Absence from school is an important cause of failure." The policy goes on to point out that colleges and universities and employers do not look favorably on a student who is absent a lot (North Bergen High School, 2008). School districts generally determine the number of unexcused absences a student may have in a specific duration of time. There are numerous legitimate reasons for absences, including the student's own illness, attending funerals, and even religious holy days. Usually, a note from a physician is required when students miss a determined number of consecutive sick days. This, again, is determined by school district. Student absences do not just affect the student who does not attend. It affects the teacher and all the other students in the classroom. Medina (2008) reported that about 20 percent of New York City's elementary school students, 24 percent of middle school students and about 40 percent of high school students missed more than a month of school in the last year. Chronic absenteeism is sometimes referred to as an invi