# why do they give out awards for perfect attendance **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 10, 2010, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-give-out-awards-for-perfect-attendance/563676 "2010-12-10T16:56:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-give-out-awards-for-perfect-attendance/563676/1 "2010-12-10T16:56:49Z")
it’s not fair that someone should be expected to last the hole school year without getting sick and maybe it encourages kids to go to school when sick and infect others ---
**Author:** ![The\_Universe\_Lashes\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8797f3/32.png) [@The\_Universe\_Lashes\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Universe_Lashes_Out)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-give-out-awards-for-perfect-attendance/563676/2 "2010-12-10T17:02:52Z")
I seriously doubt any kids actually care about perfect attendance. Especially the prospect of maybe getting a little ribbon at the end of the year, versus staying home today. It’s a silly award, but at least it does provide a little bit of recognition to those physically superior specimens who don’t get sick all the time. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-give-out-awards-for-perfect-attendance/563676/3 "2010-12-10T17:05:46Z")
> [@HowieReynolds](#): > > those physically superior specimens who don’t get sick all the time. Or the ones that go in when sick, spreading germs to everyone else. ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-give-out-awards-for-perfect-attendance/563676/4 "2010-12-10T17:13:09Z")
Lots of schools receive funding based, or at least partially based, on attendance records. The more often you show up to school the more money they get. ---
**Author:** ![Ronald\_C.Semone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@Ronald\_C.Semone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ronald_C.Semone)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-give-out-awards-for-perfect-attendance/563676/5 "2010-12-10T17:22:36Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > it’s not fair that someone should be expected to last the hole school year without getting sick > > and maybe it encourages kids to go to school when sick and infect others On the other hand, if you attend every day, you won’t miss the day the teacher discusses the difference between “hole” and “whole”. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-give-out-awards-for-perfect-attendance/563676/6 "2010-12-10T17:23:58Z")
I had perfect attendance at hole school. That’s because I really dug the subject matter. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-give-out-awards-for-perfect-attendance/563676/7 "2010-12-10T17:34:31Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > it’s not fair that someone should be expected to last the hole school year without getting sick > > and maybe it encourages kids to go to school when sick and infect others **PSXer** must be a guy. No periods. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-give-out-awards-for-perfect-attendance/563676/8 "2010-12-10T17:36:27Z")
What’s the matter, PSXer? Did your college kick you out and send you back to high school? ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-give-out-awards-for-perfect-attendance/563676/9 "2010-12-10T17:45:47Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > it’s not fair that someone should be expected to last the hole school year without getting sick It’s not expected that _everyone_ can, but some people can, and it’s nice to give them some small recognition for never saying, “Ah, I don’t feel like going to school today.” Awards are given for sillier things than that. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-give-out-awards-for-perfect-attendance/563676/10 "2010-12-10T17:49:45Z")
Schools are giving out more and more awards to try to raise money from the huge tips people give them when passing out the certificates. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-give-out-awards-for-perfect-attendance/563676/11 "2010-12-10T18:20:48Z")
Am I the only one whose school didn’t have them? We had an awards ceremony day in high school for subject awards and general community service type ones and athletic ones but not one for attendance. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-give-out-awards-for-perfect-attendance/563676/12 "2010-12-10T18:32:28Z")
I had a friend who didn’t miss a day of school from first day of 1st grade to the last day of high school. He got some special framed award and a letter from the Cardinal read at graduation. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-give-out-awards-for-perfect-attendance/563676/13 "2010-12-10T18:44:32Z")
To get you ready for working in the real world where no one will care if you have the sniffles or not. Toughen up, kids! ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-give-out-awards-for-perfect-attendance/563676/14 "2010-12-10T18:46:58Z")
I remember they had them when I was in school and also when my oldest was in school. Her school gave kids pizza parties for perfect attendance! My five year old’s school does not mention attendance certificates at all. I don’t think anyone in this house ever got one. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-give-out-awards-for-perfect-attendance/563676/15 "2010-12-10T18:50:07Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > Schools are giving out more and more awards to try to raise money from the huge tips people give them when passing out the certificates. They have to, thanks to all the money they’re losing on the kids who simply eat out of the garbage instead of buying school lunch. ---
**Author:** ![Chopper9760](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@Chopper9760](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chopper9760)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-give-out-awards-for-perfect-attendance/563676/16 "2010-12-10T20:00:46Z")
My folks always scoffed at the 2-liter bottle of soda awarded to kids with perfect attendance for the year. “Wouldn’t you rather skip? I’ll buy you soda.” ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-give-out-awards-for-perfect-attendance/563676/17 "2010-12-10T20:03:38Z")
What if they threw a perfect attendance party and nobody showed up? ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-give-out-awards-for-perfect-attendance/563676/18 "2010-12-10T21:13:08Z")
I used to go right up to the limit of unexplained absences you were allowed before they dropped you a letter grade. But that was it’s own reward. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-give-out-awards-for-perfect-attendance/563676/19 "2010-12-10T21:26:21Z")
My daughter was supposed to get a Perfect Attendance award on the last day of elementary school. She stayed home sick. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-give-out-awards-for-perfect-attendance/563676/20 "2010-12-10T21:27:11Z")
I used to get White Sox tickets for perfect attendance. For _me_, that was a reward. Most kids would have considered it punishment. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-give-out-awards-for-perfect-attendance/563676.md?page=2)