By Erik Brito

Ditching. It can be the last minute decision to take a second lunch period or the carefully constructed plan to skip a whole day of school.

“While I think ditching is wrong,” said Sean Demagiba, Div. 271. “I think that sometimes we do it because we have to.”

Demagiba goes on to explain about times where a person’s body and mind need a break or two “be free.”

Tomek Tutka, Div. 555, warns not to “do it excessively,” since getting an education is important. But for him there are days where he wants to “forget everything, and just chill.”

While teachers understand this sentiment, few advocate taking time for yourself during a school day.

“Everyone should take part in self care,” said Mr. Hoof, a guidance counselor. “But there is definitely a way to do that without taking a day of from school.”

He went on to explain the value of alternative methods for relaxing, such as reading a book, working out, going shopping, or just sitting down and enjoying a tv show.

“It’s not always easy, but [you can] find the time in the hours outside of eight to three,” he said.

Still, even Hoof admits staying home from school occasionally when he was in high school.

“I would be like, Hey ma, I don’t feel great. I could go to school today, but I want to stay home,” he said.

Hoof was quick to point out, however, he was never in danger of failing any classes and he always worked hard to catch up in his school work after missing a day.

Unlike Mr. Hoof, when Dr. LoBosco attended high school she made sure she was in school every day. She even claims to have become angry with her mother for letting her sleep in.

“I would ask her, ‘Why didn’t you wake me?” said Dr. LoBosco. “She would say ‘Well you look so tired, I though I’d let you sleep.’ I loved school, and, let’s face it, what would you do when you stay home?”

Assistant Principal Ms. Rice is also on the idea that students should never ditch.

“Kids need to be here everyday, in order to learn,” Rice said. “When I was a teacher if a kid ever cut my class it was an insult to me.”

Rice said students should follow their teachers’ example. Teachers do not have the option of ditching a period. If the teacher is there then so should the student.

“I don’t believe that a student choosing to cut is the teachers fault,” she said. “ I don’t believe that’s a reflection on the teacher, that’s a choice that a kid makes.”

“I think those kids don’t really care about school in general and that their parents never really enforced education as something important in life.” said an anonymous source.

“Sometimes I think that teachers and administration make too much of a big deal and do not give us the freedom a ‘college prep’ school should,” said Iaona Cornea, Div. 252.

Jupiter Angulo, Div. 263 says that he does not have a need for skipping classes or school days. His parents encourage him to attend school unless of a severe illness.

This year he is taking six AP classes and even so he finds no reason to ditch.

“I guess I’m overwhelmed but I’m not going to take a day,” said Angulo. His reason: for 11 years of his academic life Angulo has not miss a day of school.

“It does mean a lot to me after all this time,” said Angulo.

“I mean every once in a while [you can ditch],” said Alex Rodriguez, Div. 257. “But I think if you ditch for no reason than you are not smart.”