BEHAVIOR PACKET #5: CUTTING CLASS
INTRODUCTION
You have been given this packet to read because you cut a class. Cutting class can
lead to some very serious problems. You cannot learn from your teacher if you are
not in class. When you do not keep up with the rest of the class, you fall behind.
Your grades usually suffer when you miss class.
Cutting a class today may seem like the thing to do. It may seem daring or fun.
You can be guaranteed it won’t seem like a good idea later. Ask any student who
has dropped out of school the following question: If you could do high school or
junior high school over, would you cut classes? Most would tell you that cutting
class is a big mistake.
This packet gives you the chance to discover the importance of attending class
every day. When you read about other students who have problems with cutting
classes it may will help you to make improvements in this area.
SCENES FROM A SCHOOL
David follows Jim’s lead-- but in the wrong direction
David was not very popular at school. He was quite and dressed poorly. His hair
was always messy and his clothes were too small on him. David’s shirt sleeves
came above his wrists and the cuffs of his pants fit snugly around the top of his
ankles. His only friend was Jim. David met Jim in his drafting class. Jim was a
year older than David because he had been held back for a year in sixth grade.
Jim was not doing well in school. He liked to stay at home where he could work
on his model airplanes and watch afternoon baseball. He started to convince David
to leave school early with him.
David cut a couple of classes with Jim but was nervous about doing it again. He
started to make excuses why he could not leave school. Jim called David a
“chicken.” David did not want to lose his only friend so he started cutting class
again with Jim. They were caught.
Minor Behavior Packet #5: Cut Class
©2000 Advantage Press, Inc
The principal told both boys they would be dropped from their 7th and 8th period
classes if they cut class again. Sure enough, they cut class again and were caught.
Two days later David and Jim were dropped from their afternoon classes and
suspended. Now they are in study hall 7th and 8th periods. They must go to
summer school to make up their classes.
Tricia heads to summer school
Tricia didn’t like school. She thought it was boring. The only classes she liked
were science and math. She hated English and history but her least favorite was
physical education. She was not athletic and she was out of shape. Tricia’s
smoking habit only made exercising more difficult for her. It was even hard for her
to run two laps around the gym without being winded.
Tricia often came to gym class with excuses about why she couldn’t participate.
One day she would have an upset stomach and the next day she would have a cold.
And of course she would forget her gym suit once a week.
It wasn’t long before Tricia was cutting her gym class once or twice a week. Since
her PE class was first period she would make it a point to come to school late and
then head for a washroom where she would put on makeup and comb her hair.
Her PE teacher would report her absence to the office. Tricia told the assistant
principal she accidentally overslept. At other times she would give him a note
from her mom. Finally the assistant principal called Tricia’s mom. He discovered
Tricia’s mom never wrote the notes for her to be late to school. Tricia’s older
sister was writing the notes for her. Tricia must make up her PE class in the
summer. She is not looking forward to that.
REASONS FOR CUTTING CLASS
Most students cut class because they want to be somewhere else. They want to
leave school early to meet someone. Some come late to avoid taking a test or
turning in a project that is due. But most students cut class for the thrill of it. They
are trying to get away with something.
Some students cut class because they are not getting along with someone in class.
An argument with a best friend might cause a student not want to be in class with
Minor Behavior Packet #5: Cut Class
©2000 Advantage Press, Inc
him the next day. Sometimes a student is so upset about something that he feels he
can’t possibly sit through an entire class.
Peer pressure can also cause a student to cut a class. Sometimes friends talk others
into cutting classes. Peer pressure can be powerful. Some students throw
everything away to please a friend. Be careful!
The most dangerous reason for cutting class is when the student sees no value in
going to school. He or she sees no reason to attend. This student has made a
decision that other things are more important. It is not surprising that this type of
student often becomes a dropout.
RESULTS OF CUTTING CLASS
In almost all cases, cutting class produces the same result: lowered grades and a
bad reputation. When you don’t do as your teachers expect, you are telling them
something about yourself. Your attitude is showing. You are saying that you aren’t
reliable and can’t be trusted. This can hurt your chances of both doing well in
school and getting a good job later. Will an employer feel right about hiring
someone who cannot be counted on to show up for work every day?
Besides the message you give other people about yourself when you cut class, you
also hurt your grades. Class attendance is usually part of how your teacher decides
your final grade. Teachers feel it is important that you are in class every day.
Falling behind means knowing less about what was taught as well as knowing less
than your classmates. Why make your job as a student more difficult?
HOW TO AVOID CUTTING CLASS
Changing the way you look at school can help you with attendance. Think about
school as an opportunity, not a burden. You’ll never have this chance again, don’t
waste it! Set priorities and make attending all of your classes the most important
thing about your school day. Remember, when you get a job you won’t be allowed
to cut work. If you do, you’ll soon be out of a job.
Friends are important but don’t let friendships get in the way of being successful
at school. Some students let other people do their thinking. When this happens,
things are sure to go wrong. Try not to let outside interests get in the way with
Minor Behavior Packet #5: Cut Class
©2000 Advantage Press, Inc
going to school. Save visiting with friends or going to the mall for after school or
weekends.
Finally, set a goal. Make sure your goal includes going to all of your classes.
Design a goal that will fight your temptation to cut class. Write your goal on a
piece of paper. Read it every day and you will soon be on your way to being a
better student.
Minor Behavior Packet #5: Cut Class
©2000 Advantage Press, Inc
STUDENT RESPONSE FORM #5.l
CUTTING CLASS
Name
Teacher
Date
The questions below were written to help you think about how you behave. Please
answer them honestly. Be neat, spell correctly and write in complete sentences.
You are expected to answer all the questions. Your teacher, a counselor, the
principal or your parents may read your answers.
1.
What class or classes did you cut?
2.
What was your reason for cutting class?
3.
List four reasons why students cut class.
Minor Behavior Packet #5: Cut Class
©2000 Advantage Press, Inc
4.
Why is it not a good idea to cut class? List at least three reasons.
5.
Why did David start cutting his classes? Give an example of negative peer pressure. Now
6.
Why is it important to be in class every day as expected?
7.
What happens when people who have jobs don’t show up for work? Why?
8.
Write a goal that will help you attend all of your classes.
Minor Behavior Packet #5: Cut Class
©2000 Advantage Press, Inc
STUDENT RESPONSE FORM #5.2
CUTTING CLASS
Name
Teacher
Date
The questions below were written to help you think about how you behave. Please
answer them honestly. Also be neat, spell correctly and write in complete
sentences. You are expected to answer all the questions. Your teacher, a counselor,
the principal or your parents may read your answers.
1.
What is your reason for cutting class?
2.
Why is it better to be in class than out of class? Name three reasons.
3.
Why did Tricia cut her P.E. class? Why was this a mistake for her?
Minor Behavior Packet #5: Cut Class
©2000 Advantage Press, Inc
4.
If you were the principal of your school and an employer called you to ask for a recomm
5.
What would school be like if students could pick and choose the classes
they wanted to attend.
6.
If you were an employer and you needed to hire someone, what qualities
would you seek?
7.
Why do you think that students who eventually drop out of schools are
students who had bad attendance records?
8.
Write a goal that will help you attend all of your classes.
Minor Behavior Packet #5: Cut Class
©2000 Advantage Press, Inc
FILL IN THE BLANKS #5
Name
Fill in the blanks with the correct word. You may look back to the reading section
for help
1.
Cutting class can lead to some very
problems.
2.
When you do not keep up with the rest of the
3.
Tricia’s
4.
Most students cut class because they want to be
5.
Some come late to avoid taking a
6.
Some students cut class because they are not getting along with
class.
7.
Sometimes a student is so
about something that he feels he can’t
possibly sit through an entire class.
8.
Peer
9.
Some students throw
10.
The most dangerous reason for cutting a class is when the student sees no
in going to school.
11.
Will an
feel right about hiring someone who cannot be counted on
to show up for work every day?
12.
Class attendance is usually part of how your
grade.
13.
Think about school as an
14.
Set priorities and make attending all of your classes the most
about your school day.
, you fall behind.
habit only made exercising more difficult for her.
else.
or turning in a project that is due.
in
can also cause a student to cut a class.
Minor Behavior Packet #5: Cut Class
away to please a friend.
decides your final
, not as a burden.
©2000 Advantage Press, Inc
thing
15.
Friends are important but don’t let
successful at school.
Minor Behavior Packet #5: Cut Class
get in the way of being
©2000 Advantage Press, Inc
UNSCRAMBLE THE WORDS #5
Name
Unscramble the words below. You may look back to the reading section for help.
1.
usresio
2.
ruffes
3.
lingafi
4.
gattenind
5.
loppura
6.
scexuse
7.
bringo
8.
retfog
9.
surepres
10.
proodut
11.
berillae
12.
danceatten
Minor Behavior Packet #5: Cut Class
©2000 Advantage Press, Inc
Answers Packet #5: Cut Class
1.
Cutting class can lead to some very serious problems.
2.
When you do not keep up with the rest of the class, you fall behind.
3.
Tricia’s smoking habit only made exercising more difficult for her.
4.
Most students cut class because they want to be somewhere else.
5.
Some come late to avoid taking a test or turning in a project that is due.
6.
Some students cut class because they are not getting along with someone in class.
7.
Sometimes a student is so upset about something that he feels he can’t possibly sit through
an entire class.
8.
Peer pressure can also cause a student to cut a class.
9.
Some students throw everything away to please a friend.
10.
The most dangerous reason for cutting a class is when the student sees no value in going to
school.
11.
Will an employer feel right about hiring someone who cannot be counted on to show up for
work every day?
12.
Class attendance is usually part of how your teacher decides your final grade.
13.
Think about school as an opportunity, not as a burden.
14.
Set priorities and make attending all of your classes the most important thing about your
school day.
15.
Friends are important but don’t let friendships get in the way of being successful at school.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Serious usresio
Suffer ruffes
Failing lingafi
Attending gattenind
Popular loppura
Excuses scexuse
Boring bringo
Minor Behavior Packet #5: Cut Class
©2000 Advantage Press, Inc
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Forget retfog
Pressure surepres
Dropout proodut
Reliable berillae
Attendance danceatten
Minor Behavior Packet #5: Cut Class
©2000 Advantage Press, Inc