don't blame the parents !!
school's success is not always determined by the instructors themselve or the methods they use but often how the students interact and deliver what they've learned.
the same way retention success is not always determined by the instructor and his practices but by how well the students really understand the consequences of noncompliance.
in short communication should be your best tool
As far as not blaming the parents goes, we have several students whose mom calls at least twice a week making excuses for their child. It isn't a matter of blaming the parent, but some parents need to let their child take responsibility for the school expectations. The student will NEVER gain the knowledge if parents are always there to bail them out.
I agree, sometimes students think that they can "play" the system and will sometimes find a person that they know will lend and ear and try to go around the attendance policy, however, if the instructor makes it crystal clear the first day that if material is missed that may not be able to made up and this is material that is needed for certification testing, etc...sometimes that is needed and if they are not informed of the importance of the material they need to catch vs just being in class...they wont come
