School Absences Rise Due to Solar Eclipse Day in Bryan, College Station
A Significant Increase in School Absences Observed
Bryan, Texas – Local schooling districts have reported an unusual increase in student absences this week, a trend that seems to coincide with the remarkable natural event of the total solar eclipse. Both Bryan ISD and College Station ISD observed a significant rise in student absences on the day this celestial event took place.
While there were many schools across North America that organized viewing parties for the eclipse, a good number of families chose to experience the historic moment together.
Bryan Schools Report Nearly 3,000 Absences
The Bryan Independent School District disclosed the alarming number of 2,898.5 absences recorded on Monday, April 8, the day of the eclipse. The district counts a student attending half a day as 0.5 of an absence. To put it into perspective, the Friday preceding the eclipse saw only 954.5 absences. This translates to almost 2,000 more students missing school on the day of the solar eclipse compared to the preceding Friday.
Over 1,400 Additional Absences at College Station
Similarly, the College Station ISD recorded a drop in student attendance on April 8 as well. Out of 13,597 students who attended schools on the preceding Friday, April 5, only 12,137 showed up on the eclipse day. Meaning more than 1,400 students were absent on this day as compared to the prior Friday.
Next Total Solar Eclipse Expected in 2024
Notably, the next total solar eclipse, which is a rare natural phenomenon causing the sun to appear fully covered by the moon from Earth, will not be visible from Texas until April 8, 2024. This could potentially explain the urge of parents to share this infrequent event with their children outside the school premises.
This recent event and the subsequent academic absences have sparked conversations about the importance of experiential family time versus prioritizing school attendance, especially during such unique occurrences.
Unexpected Academic Challenges
While a day’s absence in light of such a rare event may not seem much, educators warn against the impacts of such absenteeism. A day off from school, they caution, could mean missed lessons, homework, and class work, potentially setting back a student acadically. It also puts additional pressure on educators who have to help these students catch up later.
Nevertheless, most people will agree the experience of witnessing a total solar eclipse is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that can serve as an incredible, real-world science lesson for children.