Perfect attendance adds up for three siblings

The Gallardo children -- Nancy, Esmeralda and Humberto -- haven’t missed a day of school since kindergarten, and last week they were honored at Compton City Hall. 

During the meeting, city officials presented recognition plaques that honored Humberto for five years of perfect attendance, Esmeralda for seven years and Nancy for eight years. Nancy begins high school in the fall.

“Receiving this city recognition helps them to better understand me when I say that education is the key to success,” said their mother, Trine Rodriguez.

-- Mary MacVean

Comments

[seashar]

Um..m...I'm not sure I share the importance here of perfect attendance. What exactly does this mean? It is true, that after entering high school, attendance will impact the road to the magic diploma. Said magic diploma allegedly has something to do with "success", but only as one more filtering process in the scramble for jobs. For those planning to go to college, of course, it is a rare institution that does not require the diploma.

Try on a fantasy here, folks: Every single student in every school in the United States gets a high school diploma and goes to college, graduating with a bachelor's degree. Take the fantasy and continue with the rest of the scenario. Does everyone get the job of their dreams? Does everyone get a job period?

[Eileen Hamilton]

I hope the reason they haven't missed a day of school is that they're all exceptionally healthy. There's nothing worse than sending your ill child to school; the teacher has to deal with a sick child and often the illness spreads to other students in the class.