18-year-olds no longer allowed to excuse themselves

18-year-old students at DHS this year will no longer be able sign their own absence or tardy notes, like they have been able to do in the past. According to head counselor Courtenay Tessler, the school’s policy had to be altered after students abused it to get out of class or arrived late repeatedly.

“I know it’s hard to believe, but 18-year-olds were lying about being sick and abusing their privileges as adults.” Tessler said.

DHS loses money whenever a student misses more than one period. “It doesn’t matter the excuse, we still lose money,” attendance secretary Carmen Schnathorst said. According to Schnathorst, during the 2008/2009 school year, students abused the self-dismissal policy, seriously affecting the school budget and causing the Davis Joint Unified School District to abolish the policy at DHS.

Legally, California high schools entitle 18 year old students to sign their own dismissal notes. In effect since April 30. 1977, The California Education Code, Section 46012, provides that a student 18 years of age or over shall have the right to verify his or her own absences from school.

This law provides DHS with the ability to legally allow 18 year old students to sign their own notes, however, DHS is not required to make this privilege school policy.

Some students have claimed that it is not legal for the school to take away an adult’s rights. But the school believes that there is nothing illegal about their decision.

“Legally, although when children turn 18, they are emancipated from their parents, they still have to abide by the school rules and regulations if they are enrolled,” said one of the secretaries of the American Civil Liberties Union.

But some students are against the school’s new the policy. Junior Jui Ching-Chen, who turns 18 on October 2, opposes the restriction.

“It feels like my rights are being taken away,” Ching-Chen said. “I understand the argument but we have had the privilege for so long, there’s a better way for the school to handle it.”

Ching-Chen’s dad works in Taiwan and, later this year, his mom will be often out of the house for periods of time.

“If my mom is not home, I can’t excuse my absences, which could lead to truancy,” Ching-Chen said.

Tessler believes that the ship keeping the note policy aboard sailed off after students began taking advantage of it by ditching. “When kids start to lie, that’s when privileges can’t be given,” Tessler said.

Lawyer and DHS mother Alysa Meyer said that although through the practice of this law “students gain a sense of independence,” there are still “serious drawbacks” to this policy. Although the students are 18 and legally adults, “some students may not be mature enough to handle the freedom that this right affords,” Meyer said.

Manraj Dhesi, previously a student at DHS, admitted to signing his own absence notes for classes he didn’t feel like attending on certain days. He understands the school’s reasoning for banning students from signing their own notes.

“The school can’t really gauge if you are actually sick,” Dhesi said. “Most students over 18 still live with their parents so it shouldn’t be that big of a deal.”

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