An Edmonton high school teacher says he has been suspended for giving students zeros on uncompleted assignments or exams.
Lynden Dorval, a physics teacher at Ross Sheppard High School, has been giving the mark for work that wasn't handed in or tests not taken even though it goes against the school's "no-zero" policy.
The thinking behind the policy is that failing to complete assignments is a behavioural issue and marks should reflect ability, not behaviour.
Dorval said he couldn't in good conscience comply with the rule.
"I just didn't have a choice," he said. "I just couldn't not do it. I tried to talk myself out of it many times, but it was just something so important to me, I just had to go through with it."
The policy was adopted by the school 1½ years ago, Dorval said.
Teachers were told to no longer give zeros. Instead an uncompleted test or assignment would be marked with a comment.
The student's mark would then be based on whatever work is done.
"It's what they call social promotion," Dorval said "It's a way of pushing kids through even though they're not actually doing the work. It's a way of getting them through, getting their credits and of course making the staff look very good."
Teachers were instructed to use their "informed professional judgement" at the end of the year when handing out marks, he said.
"Some would, in fact, lower the mark on what wasn't done," Dorval said. "Other teachers would just let the mark go, so there was a real inconsistency on how (the policy) was being applied."
Dorval believes the policy leaves students with the impression they don't need to be accountable for their actions, he said.
Edmonton teacher suspended for giving 0s - Yahoo! News Canada
This is definitely in the WTF category. Most of you know what I think of todays teachers, and here we have a teacher that is willing to teach and be honest about a students marks and he get's suspended.
Yes, I read what the school board is saying, I call bullshyte on that.
Lynden Dorval, a physics teacher at Ross Sheppard High School, has been giving the mark for work that wasn't handed in or tests not taken even though it goes against the school's "no-zero" policy.
The thinking behind the policy is that failing to complete assignments is a behavioural issue and marks should reflect ability, not behaviour.
Dorval said he couldn't in good conscience comply with the rule.
"I just didn't have a choice," he said. "I just couldn't not do it. I tried to talk myself out of it many times, but it was just something so important to me, I just had to go through with it."
The policy was adopted by the school 1½ years ago, Dorval said.
Teachers were told to no longer give zeros. Instead an uncompleted test or assignment would be marked with a comment.
The student's mark would then be based on whatever work is done.
"It's what they call social promotion," Dorval said "It's a way of pushing kids through even though they're not actually doing the work. It's a way of getting them through, getting their credits and of course making the staff look very good."
Teachers were instructed to use their "informed professional judgement" at the end of the year when handing out marks, he said.
"Some would, in fact, lower the mark on what wasn't done," Dorval said. "Other teachers would just let the mark go, so there was a real inconsistency on how (the policy) was being applied."
Dorval believes the policy leaves students with the impression they don't need to be accountable for their actions, he said.
Edmonton teacher suspended for giving 0s - Yahoo! News Canada
This is definitely in the WTF category. Most of you know what I think of todays teachers, and here we have a teacher that is willing to teach and be honest about a students marks and he get's suspended.
Yes, I read what the school board is saying, I call bullshyte on that.
