For some students, it feels as though there is never enough time to fully prepare for a test, especially if they are juggling a rigorous schedule with multiple AP and honors classes. As a result, Portola High teachers and administration face the issue of students faking sickness to avoid taking exams or to get answers from students who already took the exam. Though this may seem like a good idea in theory, it is a terrible one in practice.
Students should have to show doctors’ notes in order to prove that they are sick to prevent fake sick days. If they are unable to, teachers should at least make it harder to take make-ups to incentivize taking tests when they are due.
Faking sick days is not an uncommon event, in and outside of school. Fifty percent of Americans reported faking a sick day, according to VentureBeat, but there is a difference between faking a sick day for personal or mental health reasons and to be academically dishonest, since the United States often does not provide enough of both. The latter damages a teacher’s trust in a student and serves as an indicator that students are unable to properly prepare and practice academic honesty.
“I feel like one of the biggest things is like us questioning your integrity as a person and as a student,” AP Physics and engineering teacher Anthony Pham said. “When teachers see students slipping exams, one, you didn’t do an adequate job of preparing, or two, you’re staying home because you’re going to talk to some of your friends about things on the quizzes or tests.”
Additionally, the pattern of “sick” students crying wolf undermines the credibility of the sick people who need the day off. Sophomore Dominic Alexander said that although he needs to miss school and make up tests because of a health condition, his friends sometimes tease him about “skipping school.”
“There’s a layer of trust that’s been broken with the students and teachers, and teachers won’t be able to be understanding of students if they keep saying ‘I’m sick, I’m sick, I’m sick,’” Alexander said.
It is understandable why some students feel compelled to be absent on test days as it is better to start a test feeling prepared instead of regretting not studying hard enough. Taking into account the busy schedules that many students have, it seems reasonable that they take time off to study more.
However, this forces teachers to make make-up tests, creating more work for them and is oftentimes disadvantageous for students. Test makeups are usually done during office hours—shortening time limits—or during non-testing class time itself— preventing test-taking students from learning content while a teacher is lecturing. Forcing students to prove their sick days with doctors’ notes reduces the number of fake sick days, decreasing the number of make-up tests that need to be made and allowing students to make the best use of their time.
It is clear that calling in “sick” on test days is not beneficial; it creates more work and more than preventing them from resting, it unfairly prevents them from being able to return to class and have the same testing experience as their peers, but despite this, some students may continue to lie on test days. Having students show doctors’ notes before they can be excused keeps everyone honest.
