A 'Is For' Absent By Chris Piper

When college professors evaluate students, should those grades be based on performance only? On the other hand, should part of that evaluation be predicated on the requirement that students have to attend class regularly? This issue of making classroom attendance a significant part of students’ overall grades is what author Chris Piper discusses in his article, “‘A’ Is for ‘Absent.’” Writing from a student’s perspective, a student who himself has been subjected to such attendance policies, Piper asserts that this practice is both unfair to students and ultimately detrimental to their overall learning. He outlines the logic professors use to justify attendance policies, but suggests counterarguments and alternative approaches to grading standards