I read with interest your article of Feb. 16, 2006, “Attended class today? You just won $10,000” (p.3). The trouble with giving rewards for perfect attendance is that it encourages students who are truly ill to come to school anyway, thus increasing the likelihood that they will spread their ailment. I also believe this policy clearly discriminates against students whose religious holidays are not school closure days. I know of no school in the United States that remains open on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day, yet many remain open on Jewish High Holy Days, when most observant Jews would not attend school.

Although the article states that punishing students for skipping school is not effective, Chelsea High School principal Morton Orlov said attendance did not increase with the new incentives; rather, the threat of punishment is what made the difference. Perhaps permitting students to have a limited number of excused absences during a school year would allow students to remain home when ill, observe religious holidays as their families see fit and still qualify for good attendance incentives.

Absenteeism is a tremendous problem in many schools. I applaud those looking for a creative solution.

Andrea Oppenheimer BU parent