Opt Out Clauses - Cross Country (for example)

Parents raised the “Opt Out” culture our school seems to have, which is deterring students from participating in events they might otherwise do, if their peers were doing it too. Michael explained that it was a tricky situation because a quarter of the school population, even with the opt out clause, did not come to school that day. Apparently this is a common issue – any students not wanting to participate in an event, simply doesn’t come to school that day.

Not going to school on those days appears to be something that parents are supporting and enabling. The point raised was, in the real world, we all have to do things we don’t want to, our students need to learn that that’s life, some things you still just have to do. Michael related how the school tried to accommodate those not wanting to participate in events which I personally thought sounded good because it showed that school recognised that not everyone is keen on running, sports or whatever the event was. However, still a lot of students didn’t come to school that day.

This is going to be a tricky situation to solve – but perhaps parents being aware that it isn’t just their student not at school that day and that there are alternatives at school, will help.