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Young 4-H members and parents tell committee Massachusetts should excuse students who miss school for 4-H events
Summary
Students, parents and 4-H alumni testified in support of H'713/S'420, a bill to grant excused absences for students who participate in 4-H events that occur during the school day, arguing the programming delivers leadership, STEM and agricultural skills comparable to other sanctioned extracurriculars.
Students and alumni of Massachusetts 4'H told the Joint Committee on Education that the Legislature should ensure school attendance policies excuse absences for sanctioned 4'H programming, arguing that 4'H delivers leadership development and career-oriented learning comparable to DECA, band and interscholastic sports.
Margaret Turpel, who said she had to miss three days of high school to attend a national 4'H conference and had those absences marked unexcused, urged the committee to give 4'H the same recognition other sanctioned activities receive. "As a recent graduate of the Massachusetts public school system, I believe it is essential that our policies recognize the value of 4'H," she told the panel.
Nut graf: Witnesses described 4'H activities ranging from agricultural competitions to national leadership conferences and service projects. They said excused-absence status would prevent students from choosing between school obligations and unique learning experiences, and would help level the playing field for students from rural and agricultural backgrounds.
Several witnesses said 4'H participation led to scholarship offers, leadership roles and college majors, and that a state policy aligning 4'H with other sanctioned activities would protect students from attendance penalties that can affect grades and selective-admissions decisions.
Ending: Committee members took testimony and noted the measure's bipartisan support in previous sessions. No vote occurred at the hearing; supporters filed written testimony and asked for a favorable report to keep 4'H on par with other extracurriculars.
