Keeping Up When You Are Absent

Video Overview:

Even at 8 years old, Osihris realizes that missing school is hard. “If you miss school for one day it’s like missing two days, because the teacher, every day she teaches something new,” says Osihris. Joseline, who is 12, agrees. “I was just absent for two days, and then I come back, I don’t even know what they’re doing.“

When kids are out of school, even for a good reason, it’s hard to keep up, and sometimes it seems easier to just give up. School administrators see many children fall behind because of attendance problems, and, eventually, many of these kids want to give up on school altogether and drop out.

But instead of giving up, some kids catch up on their homework and reading assignments by calling or emailing their friends and teachers, or by asking their parents to get their work from school. At 17, Maria feels that for some teens, “The only thing that is lacking is hard work. You just have to apply it yourself and believe in yourself because that’s important. If you believe in yourself you can do anything. So just keep trying.” She believes it all depends on how strongly kids want the grade, the education and the diploma.

Discussion Questions:

1. What do the first three students say about “catching up” after an absence?
2. Hector Madrigal says, “When children fall behind because of attendance problems or whatever reasons, eventually that leads to children wanting to give up on school altogether … and dropping out.” Do you agree or disagree? Why?
3. What are some ways the video suggests a student can keep up with the work missed during an absence?

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. Maria says, “The only thing that is lacking is hard work. You just have to apply it to yourself and believe in yourself because that’s important. If you believe in yourself you can do anything.” Discuss a time when you had to really believe in yourself to achieve something. How does this apply to staying in school?
2. The video ends with the line, “It all depends on how bad you want it.” Tell about a time you had to work extra hard to get what you wanted. What did you have to do to achieve your goal? How did it feel to succeed?