Attendance

In accordance with official college policy, I expect students to attend all scheduled classes. By enrolling in the course, you make a very strong commitment to do so, and it is especially important in light of the nature of this course. Since our process is conversational rather than didactic, our relations and discussions as a group are key to the learning experience – absence affects not merely your individual work in the course, but the classroom dynamic itself and thus the other students as well.

I have a principled objection to the rest of the official attendance policy, which sets out in detail what constitutes an excusable absence. As legal and moral adults, neither the college nor I have any business adjudicating your life choices. So as far as this course is concerned, should you ever decide to absent yourself, your reasons are entirely your own concern. What is a legitimate concern is the effect that an absence, whatever its reason, has on your educational experience, and on that of your classmates. I thus respectfully request that:

a) You never absent yourself from a scheduled class meeting for any but a very compelling reason, according you your own judgment.

b) If you must be absent, remain in close communication with your classmates, so that when you return you will be completely up to speed with everything that we did and said in your absence.

c) Proactively consult with me, and with your other professors, if a personal circumstance will affect your completion of the course as a full participant.