Identifying Claims

Claim:

I believe that rewarding kids for

attendance is a great way to motivate

them and help them develop good

habits.

Agree or Disagree?

What is the Claim?

Mark Shilakes, 11 from East Lansing, Michigan

Kids don’t have much control over when they’re able to come to

school. They can miss school because of illness or injury, or

even a family vacation. Have you ever been absent from school,

or late, and it was out of your control? The answer is probably

yes.

Kids should not be rewarded or penalized for things over which

they have no control. Just think: If you couldn’t be at school,
whatever the reason, it would be frustrating to lose out on an
attendance award. If there has to be a reward for something, it

should be for grades or paying attention in class.

Claim:

Kids should not be rewarded or penalized

for things over which they have no

control.

Agree or Disagree?

What is the Claim?

Dhruvan Dayan, 10 from Foster City, California

Rewarding perfect attendance is a way to reinforce a great life
skill. Kids should get into the habit of showing up every day. It

will help them in the future, when they’re going to work. A
reward system can also make students feel good about

themselves, and encourage those who usually come in late to
put in more effort to arrive on time. More time in school means
more learning. Of course, when a student is absent because of
illness, it shouldn’t be counted as an absence. That’s only fair.
Coming to school every day and on time is an essential skill. It

deserves to be rewarded.

Claim:

Rewarding perfect attendance is a
way to reinforce a great life skill.

Agree or Disagree?

What is the Claim?

Shreya Jassi, 9 from Hicksville, New York

Kids shouldn’t be rewarded for attendance. Kids get sick, especially

during cold weather. When I got sick, I wished I’d stayed home. I

worried that my friends would get sick because of me.

There are other incentives to strive for perfect attendance. You
won’t miss out on fun projects. If you play an instrument in school,

you won’t miss practice. And there are the little things: the bad
jokes your teacher makes, and having classmates to talk to, and
to work and laugh with. These things are reward enough. So don’t

be sad if you don’t get an award for perfect attendance.

Claim:

Kids shouldn't be rewarded for

attendance.

Agree or Disagree?