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May 29, 1961, was the worst day of my life.

It was the day I graduated from high school. Had I known better, I would have flunked a few of my classes and stayed an extra year.

I loved going to school, and I never wanted it to end. Deep down, I think this is why I became a teacher and after 60 years, I still can’t resign myself to let it go to sit on the couch and watch the golf channel.

My love for school was evident in my attendance. I missed one high school day in six years (grades 7-12) and no more than five elementary days due to measles and chicken pox.

I just finished a manuscript titled "Waging War On The Graduation Rate" (if you wish to have a copy, let me know). I should have written a manuscript on "Waging War On ÍáÍáÂþ»­ Attendance" due to recent coverage of this topic in regional and local news. However, graduation and attendance are obviously related and have similar solutions.

According to the Minnesota Department of Education, in the 2022–2023 school year, about 70% of students in Minnesota attended school at least 90% of the time. Nationally, the best estimates are that 26% of students are chronically absent, missing at least one month of school.

Why do students stay home and choose not to attend? Here are some obvious reasons:

One, they don’t like school. Two, they aren’t successful in school. Three, many don’t feel anyone really cares about them. Four, parents don’t do their job of getting them to school. Five, schools just aren’t that interesting for them.

Six, they failed to find a niche in school. Seven, students feel stress in school and they don’t want this feeling. Eight, they don’t have the mindset to graduate. Nine, some transportation and family issues get in the way. Ten, they don’t like school. That has to be mentioned twice.

The focus of Project Graduate and 100% is having students focus on the outcome, graduation. It’s kind of like taking a trip. You first decide where you are going and then you decide how you will get there.

If our goal is to graduate, and good attendance is a critical way to achieve it, how do we ensure that students have good attendance? Here are nine no-cost ways to do it.

1. Ensure that learning is fun and meaningful.

2. Ensure that all students feel welcome and wanted.

3. Students with poor attendance must be tracked by caring teachers who serve as mentors beginning in middle school.

4. The community has to adopt a 100% graduation goal and a 100% attendance goal and then shout it from the rooftops.

5. Find a niche for all students who have poor attendance. It could be a club, sport, music, or art-related activity. The important thing is to help students find other reasons for being in school other than attending classes.

6. Constant contact with parents is crucial, even to the point of inviting them to ongoing parenting-sharing sessions.

7. We currently have a drop-out prevention hotline (218) 444-STAY. It needs to be promoted more. ÍáÍáÂþ»­s can help.

8. Specifically, teach kids the value of education and how to go to school beginning in fourth grade. Be relentless about this.

9. When students realize that someone truly cares about them, students are more likely to care about attending school. Relationships are not only just one thing; it’s everything for students who reluctantly attend school.

"Education is a human right," reads the front of a sweatshirt recently worn by former Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. We want to ensure that all our youth have the opportunity to have that right.

Can we have 100% attendance? Teachers are the most creative people on earth. When we set our minds to something, we can accomplish anything. That’s why the United States is a great country. We can do this. We don’t have to work harder; we just have to work smarter.

I had the pleasure of attending Trinity Lutheran Church in Bemidji on March 9. As a former Missouri Synod Lutheran member, I enjoyed singing some of the songs that I grew up with. I also enjoyed reading their church TLC Grapevine newsletter. Someone did a lot of work on it.

People were friendly and invited me to fellowship and to return. Sitting in the pew of Trinity brought back many memories. Thanks for your hospitality and for making me feel welcome. TLC could also stand for: Tender Loving Care.

Riddle: There is only one word in the dictionary that is spelled "wrong." What is it? (Answer: the word "wrong.") Sometimes, the solution to a problem is right in front of us, yet we fail to see it. I feel that way about attendance.

I'd like to thank the Red Lake Community Center coordinators for allowing me to have parent gatherings.

John R. Eggers of Bemidji is a former university professor and area principal. He also is a writer and public speaker.