In 2023, 12 million students in the United States remained chronically absent—a number that is suspected to rise, according to the American Enterprise Institute.
Experts are finding that there is a sudden increase in frequent chronic absenteeism and general apathy towards school this year. Even students who are typically high achievers face this cycle of disengagement.
This pattern is not unique to Mill Valley. According to a study by Gallup and the Walton Family Foundation, “School engagement is down. The middle and high schoolers surveyed find school less interesting than they did just last year, and only about half believe they’re being challenged ‘in a good way.’
Now the leading question is: what is causing the overwhelming majority of students to feel disengaged in school?
Sometimes, students comparing themselves to others’ success may feel degrading. Some feel the disparity in always working harder to achieve the same as someone else.
School should not feel like a competitive environment, it should feel like a place where students can show off their best skills and feel good about themselves.
To help combat this, students should remember not to focus on everyone else’s definition of success but instead focus on their own. Joining activities and taking classes that allow students to feel like they are showing off their best self at school, may let them to be the most successful in school.
There are situations outside of school that don’t allow for students to be as engaged in school. For example, students affected negatively by their home life may struggle to focus in school. Sometimes there are certain things at home that other students face that overwhelm the importance of school.
The most important thing to remember is to be kind to other students because it’s impossible to know what someone else is experiencing. This feeling of kindness can allow others to feel more comfortable at school.
On the other hand, being involved in school is not the same as being engaged in school. Many students throw themselves into many sports, clubs, and vigorous academics because they feel motivated—Often not because they are interested in that activity. They may do it for the feeling of accomplishment or to add more things to their resume. Which can be a good motivation. However, the issue occurs when students get too involved in school to the point of putting unnecessary stress on themselves. This prevents students from feeling engaged in school.
Overall, there are many students both involved and uninvolved in school who are facing disengagement. However, fostering a school culture that celebrates diverse forms of achievement, beyond just academic grades, could help students feel more valued and connected to their educational experience. Additionally, participating in passion-driven activities and spending time with others who make students feel welcome can allow students to feel more engaged in school. When students find their sense of belonging it will allow them to thrive in school.
