Case Study - Absenteeism

Introduction

The case study approach of this module has been designed to create an awareness of the general classroom behavioral problems that may be encountered on a day to day basis. The examples here are generalized and may be applied to situations other than the ones given here.

Description of the problem

Woody has a problem with chronic absenteeism. He usually misses a few days of school each week. Monday is simply not a school day for Woody and his coming to school several days in a row is almost unheard of. Woody's excuses are usually written by his mother. The excuse might be oversleeping or visiting and aunt, or having a slight temperature, a cold, or the flu. Woody often brings an excuse that says he had to baby-sit for a younger sibling, and once that he had to take care of his mother. Sometimes Woody is in the sixth grade, and in six years he has missed an equivalent of a year and a half of school.

Causes

Although patterns of chronic absenteeism vary, the most common pattern is for a student to miss a few days of school each week. The student's excuses may or may not have to do with an illness. An absentee problem should be considered chronic when it is not always related to a specific illness and involves an average of two days or more per month.

Once cause of chronic absenteeism is a lack of initiative on the part of the parents. It's not uncommon to find children absent from school because their parents did not get them up and out the door. In some cases, children may be kept home to take care of a parent or sibling who is not feeling well. Chronic absenteeism is often a family problem. When one child is absent, so are his or her brothers and sisters.

Chronic absenteeism can also occur if parents are easily fooled into thinking the student is sick. Some parents are unable to determine whether their child is sick or not and, therefore, let the child stay home at the slightest complaint. Staying home and watching TV can be very reinforcing to some students.

Chronic absenteeism may also occur if the classroom atmosphere is not reinforcing or is threatening to the child. If the student is nervous or anxious about the classroom, he or she may try to avoid coming to school. This factor is usually combined with one of the other causes discussed above. Sometimes, the very young child will use illness as a means of avoiding what he or she thinks may be a new and frightening experience.

Goal

The student will come to school every day unless he or she is ill.

The Plan:

Step 1:
Follow all of the procedures for handling absenteeism that are outlined by your district. All of the procedures discussed in this solution section should be implemented in addition to, rather than in place of, the procedures specified by your school's administration.

Step 2:
Discuss the problem with the school or district nurse. If you are uncertain whether the student actually has health problems, arrange for a physical. (Make sure that you follow distinct guidelines in making arrangements for a physical examination.) Request the school nurse or physician to give the parents some guidelines for evaluating whether the student has an illness that justifies being absent from school as often as has been the case.

Step 3:
Discuss the problem with the student's parents. Be sure to provide them with a record of their child's absences. Parents often have no idea how frequently their child has missed school. Let them know that you only wish to help and that you share their concern for their child's welfare in school.

Determine whether the student's problem is the result of the parents not being able to tell whether the child is fooling them. Point out that it's sometimes difficult to tell whether someone is sick fist thing in the morning. If the parents have discussed the problem with a nurse or doctor, suggest that they follow the guidelines that were given to them by the professional. Tell the parents that it's fine to send the child to school when they are unsure about health complaints. Reassure them that you will send the child home if he or she is actually sick. In addition, you can suggest to the parent that if the child is kept at home, he should be kept in bed all day. Reinforce the idea that sick time requires rest time. (Sometimes the child will learn to determine whether he is sick or not with this procedure alone.)

Determine whether the student's problem is the result of parents not caring whether the child is in school. If so, be understanding of the parents. They may have had negative experiences in school. Let them know that you are there to help their child learn but that you cannot be effective unless the child is in school. Some parents may assume that the elementary school day is composed mostly of play. Let the parents know that this is not the case and that what the student learns each day and each year in school will help determine his or her future success. Sometimes just knowing you care will make a difference in the parents' attitude. If the child's attendance improves, be sure to follow up with periodic notes or phone calls to the parents to voice your appreciation to their assistance.

Step 4:
Discuss the problem with the student. Be very frank with the student about the severity of the problem. Show the student his or her attendance records. Let the student know that continued absences will make it more and more difficult for him or her to keep up with the other students. If the student can't tell how he or she feels in the morning, tell the student to come to school anyway. Tell the student that you will send the student home if he or she is really sick. If the student is chronically absent because the parents do not bother getting him or her up and ready, discuss ways the student can do this for himself or herself. Consider having the student do some work around the school to earn an alarm clock. (Check with your principal to see whether there is money available for purchasing a clock.) Work with the student on how to get up and get ready for school. (This will be a time-consuming procedure for you, especially if the student is young. So don't do this step unless you think you can motivate the student to make the effort.) Be sure to greet the student warmly each morning that he or she comes to school.

Step 5:
Make your classroom a positive and exciting place to be. Reassure the student that the student has a secure place in your class and that you like having him or her there. When the student is in class, keep the student active and challenged so that he or she will not want to miss something by not being there. An increase in positive interactions will do much to improve the environment in your classroom.

Step 6:
If you've followed district procedure and all of the steps that are suggested in this solution sheet but without success, do the best job you can with the student when he or she is there. Try not to worry about the problem, and don't feel guilty. When you've done everything in your power to get the student to school, don't blame yourself if the problem persists. Keep yourself open to the possibility of other solutions, but don't let the problem interfere with your effectiveness with the students who are in school everyday