Although it takes six tardies before a student can get suspended, and it’s acceptable to be late or absent a couple times a semester, the only person hurt is the student missing class.

Chances are, a student who misses enough school will end up in Danny Speicher’s ISS room.

“It’s understandable [to be absent],” Speicher said. “I know that school isn’t always fun, but if you want to be successful in life, [school] is where it starts.”

Speicher feels that he is more lenient if a student is in his room a couple times, but says there is no excuse for being in ISS repeatedly. Both Speicher and junior Will Evans feel that the reason students are frequently late is a matter of character. If students can’t show up to class on time, what will happen to them in the real world when they have a job?

“You have to start making good choices now, so you can make good choices later,” Speicher said.

Evans and Speicher agree that being absent or tardy is only acceptable every now and then.

Sophomore Ruthie Willmott is late to school often, but doesn’t think it should matter to anyone else. She feels that school starts too early for her to focus and that class isn’t any different regardless of whether or not she is in class.

“I haven’t gotten in trouble for missing school, and my grades are fine,” Willmott said.

For Willmont, there doesn’t seem to be any motivation to be to school on time as her parents don’t mind, and “the teachers are pretty cool about it,” Willmott said.

When students get a 6th tardy, they have an in-school suspension. Basically, students are given all the homework they will miss for that day and have all day to do it. Students don’t see an out-of-school suspension until they are tardy 8 times.

“Everyone should stay in school, because school is pretty important,” Evans said. “You don’t want to be ignorant all the time.”

Speicher’s general ruling is that being absent is understandable every now and then, but “there is always enough time to get to class.” Future employers will not be as lenient as the school system is.