Topic 2- Mai

Some people believe that university students should be required to attend classes. Others believe that going to classes should be optional for students. Which point of view do you agree with? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

The biggest difference between high schools and colleges is that colleges treat their students as adults. Children are forced by law to attend school, but adults are not. Therefore, no college student should be required to attend classes.

In fact, some teachers always complain about the students who are absent from classes. They keep conservative opinion that these students are lazy and are forecasted to get bad studying results, then mandatory attendance policy is implemented strictly in their classes. Yet, have they ever wondered if the reason of students’ absence turns out to be their lectures? Some professors just read from Power Point presentation or from books students already have, ramble and ramble about a topic in a monotonous voice, which make students feel sleepy. And because they take points off for missing classes, the motivation for most students to attend classes is to get their points.

College is so much more than just classes; sports, clubs, part-time jobs, social activities like fund raise for charity or organize events...all play an important role on students’ lives and help them perfect their skills besides academics at school. Once in a while, students can not either attend classes or join these activities. They must trade-off, they must manage their time and take responsibilities for what they do. At the age of college students, over 18, they have already reached maturity stage; therefore, can make rational decisions.

In addition, many students can study on their own, they find it more efficiently than just attending lectures. They spend time studying at the library, finding materials by themselves; this way, on the other hand, practices students’ independence in learning. A student who does not attend classes all the time does not mean that he is a lazy and bad one with always low grades. And the core of the issue is that most students enter the colleges with their own free will. In other words, they actually want to study there, they actually want to gain knowledge prepared for their future; hence, they actually don't need much persuasion to attend classes.

In short, I honestly think mandatory attendance policy should not be enforced at college level. Professors are not baby-sits of students who are adults. This policy places a burden on both professors and students; therefore make them uncomfortable when teaching and studying.