Apparently, little Johnny isn’t getting to class on time … and that’s not a good thing. According to statistics released by the Natchez-Adams School District, excessive student tardies are an ongoing problem at all grade levels — even the youngest.

Some 130 students at Frazier Primary racked up more than 20 unexcused absences or tardies last school year.

That means, during the course of the nine-month school year, each of these students were late to school or simply missed school more than 20 times without the approval, or pardon, of the school administrator.

We’re not talking about absences because of sickness, tardies due to doctor’s appointments or similar issues.

We’re talking about children whose parents just don’t get them to school on time … or at all, some days.

And it’s unexcusable.

By failing to get students to school — or to school on time — the adults are teaching a dangerous lesson that school, and in turn the opportunity to learn and grow, simply isn’t a priority.

And if you teach that lesson to 5- and 6-year-olds, it becomes a core attitude by the time they are 15-year-olds or 16-year-olds. That is evidenced by the statistics from Natchez High, where more than 140 students crossed the more than 20 unexcused absences/tardies tally last year.

We have to wonder what the children are missing when they’re late to school, or simply sitting at home in front of the television enjoying &uot;a day off.&uot; And, we have to wonder what lessons they are learning about responsibility, work ethic and even self-discipline … not to mention the lessons in math, history, reading, English and life that they’re missing in school.

We need to stop this trend … before it’s too late.