A day here or there is no big deal, and the kid can make it up.  I did, and so have endless numbers of others.

High school curriculum is not so demanding that a missed day or a missed class translates into academic disaster.  Lets not pretend otherwise.

Particularly when you consider that most school districts will do almost anything to ensure that a student does not fail, the "threat and danger" of this activity is pretty minimal.

Actually, my skipping school had less to do with wanting to look "cool" than with being thoroughly bored with it. Stupid, but true...

Yea, it's pretty stupid. I considered the occasional "day off", but never actually attempted to do it. I value(d) my education and wouldn't do anything to risk going somewhere with my life.

While all your classmates are going to college, you'll be stuck studying for your G.E.D.