Our Incentive Program makes next to no sense. In order to opt out of a final, students often come to school even when they’re sick. Also, why should some students have the option to get out of classes when they only get a C or B? Most students just do as much as they can to get out of a final.

The 2014 Fall Incentive Program states that:

“1. Any student that has 2 or less absences OR tardies (1 absence and 1 tardy would equal 2) for the semester is eligible to take 1 semester final off of a class of their choosing that they have maintained a C grade or better.

2. Any student that has 1 or less absences OR tardies for the semester is eligible to take 2 semester finals off of a class of their choosing that they have maintained a C grade or better.”

Excused or unexcused absences count against you, as well as doctor’s appointments and court appearances. School activities and college visits do not count against you.

The Incentive Program states that the administration is getting us ready for the real world where employers will dock employees for not being on the job or making money. I guess that makes sense, but how many years will it be before any of us have real jobs? Also, colleges don’t let you opt out of finals; the program needs to change to be appropriate for high school students.

The students that work hard and attempt to get the A that they need in the class should be able to opt out of that class. Some schools in and around Kansas have this incentive program, and I feel as though it helps people try to get an A in the tough classes. Also, not being able to come to school due to an illness should not count against you. If you’re sick and show up to school then get the whole school infected, that isn’t your fault, that’s the Incentive Program’s fault.

The Incentive Program needs to be changed because colleges don’t let you opt out and most of us will not be going into real jobs so we don’t need to be treated like adults. The administration should either throw it out so we all have to take finals or change it to allow students who put forth the effort to get an A to opt out of that class's final.