Should Senate records be judged like kindergarten, by attendance?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

[napi21]

1. I bet NOBODY wants their attendence records made public!

The comments I heard from the Kerry campaign were that Kerry is willing to give authorization to make his attendence records made public as long as ALL other's records are released as well.

I haven't heard another word after that.

Some broadcasters said on Friday that this could prove disasteras for everybody! Seems there are a lot of these paid folks that don't make it to the meetings.

[sundancekid]

2. kindergarten, meet BashCo campaign strategists

[WMliberal]

3. so what if kerry missed some votes

how much of *'s presidency has been spent on vacation?

[dsc]

4. I work at a school

where I have to fail a student who misses 13 classes out of 90. I literally have no choice no matter what the reason is. The child can appeal to our school board in exceptional cases. I have to say, that given this being a not uncommon policy, it is very hard for me to justify Kerry be absent as much as he is. If 14 year old freshmem are expected to show up 85% of the time, why can't adults making over a hundred thousand dollars a year? This is an issue that has bugged me from day one.

[Blue Wally]

6. One of the reasons

No sitting senator was elecred to the office of president in the 20th century except Kennedy. Senators leave too much of a paper trail.

[0rganism]

7. Have you ever worked at a college?

I know people who missed more than half their lectures, showed up for the tests, and still got the grades they needed. You think they should have flunked, too? Some of them were working their way through college, had to work full time and missed a lot of classes as a result.

Elementary and secondary school, OTOH, is basically a holding pen for kids, to teach them about incarceration during their formative years. It's not just about whether they learn the material -- hell, I did most of my high school learning at home, class was just too crazy and uncomfortable. But I still had to go to class, no matter how worthless a waste of time it was. Your teaching job includes keeping the kids in line, so they don't wander around aimlessly for whatever reasons. That's why you fail students who miss a certain %, not because they missed a test or didn't turn in their homework.

The important things for a Senator to do are understand the issues, craft solid legislation, and vote when necessary. I think this ought to be measured by the "collegiate" standard of success, rather than the "mandatory attendance" version.

[dsc]

8. It isn't my policy and I actually do disagree with it

but in no small respect these policies exist due to politicians judging schools based on attendence numbers. Thus those politicians are saying that 14 year olds should show up for class but then they skip work and still get paid. It doesn't take a degree in logic to see the unfairness in that equation.

[blalock]

5. in a democratic republic

attendance is essential.