No zero policy won’t teach kids
Darcy Ropchan
Opinion Editor
Jun 11, 2012
It’s hard to believe so many people would be cheering on a teacher for giving a zero. But suspended high school physics teacher Lynden Dorval has become a local hero for refusing to adhere to the Edmonton Public School’s no-zero policy and giving failing grades to students with incomplete work.
The problem with a no zero policy is that it teaches students that they don’t need to be responsible for themselves or their actions. Although there can be legitimate reasons that a student might be unable to complete work, most teachers are more than willing to accommodate students with special circumstances that require extensions or rescheduled test dates.
Refusing to give zeros does more harm than good to students. They need to be taught that there are real consequences for not completing assigned work. It’s no shock to any student that even one zero can drastically change your term mark. If young students know they are responsible for their own academic well-being, it will ensure that they’re ready to meet the challenges of real life after grade school — you won’t get paid if you don’t show up for work.
The claims that failing a student for incomplete work does not accurately represent that student’s knowledge are baseless. While it is true that there are many ways to test someone’s knowledge in a given field, and each student may have their own challenges, it’s hardly too much to ask that students hand in their assignments on time. If students hope to make a life for themselves in post-secondary, they’re going to need to know how to meet strict deadlines. That’s part of the test. You might be the best cook who ever lived, but you don’t get any credit until you prepare meals that prove it.
The reasoning behind the policy is that if a student can’t complete work, there must be an underlying reason like a behavioural issue. And teachers must do all they can to find out why a student hasn’t completed their work. However, a public school teacher shouldn’t have to bend over backwards to accommodate all students. A teacher is responsible for teaching the course material and marking work. They shouldn’t have to play detective in order to find out why someone didn’t do their homework. There is support for students who genuinely struggle with school or have trouble at home, but withholding zeros in all cases encourages laziness in those who do not have such issues.
This policy may have been designed with good intentions, but it’s actually doing a disservice to these kids. If students are pushed through the school system regardless of whether or not they complete assignments, it’s only setting them up for failure further down the road. If educators truly care about the children they teach, it’s only fair that they show them what happens when work is not completed.
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I am not sure why they would even implement a No-Zero policy rule in the school because the students will not learn from it. I am sorry. This makes me sad to be one of the future teachers if I have to teach in a school with this policy. If the students do not do their work, they deserve that zero and fail that assignment. Life can have even more harsh consequences for not doing your work, like losing a job. This is even setting the students up to fail in life AND if they want to pursue post-secondary. It is already a big step from high school to university concerning the work load, but to add to what the students learned with a No-Zero policy will make the students fail. You HAVE to do your work at university. Even just missing one assignment and failing it can hurt your mark. Professors don’t care if you do or do not to your work or come to class. We essentially have already paid them when we pay our tuition. They are not going to hound you to do the work.
To add, the No-Zero policy rewards students for doing nothing and makes the students think that deserve a good mark even when they did not do the work. How does this help them for their future?
I am happy the teacher gave the marks he did and stood up for what he believed in. We need more teachers like him!
Posted by Erin Weinzierl on Jun 11, 2012
Editor: You’re right a teacher - teaches. They also assess student’s abilities to learn, retain, use and re-frame information taught in classrooms through interactions, meetings, tests and assignments.
However, I disagree with your opinion about the “zero” for work not completed and/or handed in.
When you consider our job as students is to be fully present, to learn, follow rules, be tested on our knowledge, who better to hold us accountable in that environment than our teachers?
My teachers were dedicated mentors, demonstrating the value in learning and holding us accountable for our participation (or lack thereof) in school at all levels (lessons, sports, extracurricular, community). Teachers played a huge role in my life - important to my personal growth and stability, as my family was not “available”.
I am an enthusiastic learner, accomplished musician, and student who studied, researched, handed in assignments and achieved excellent marks. For this, I have my teachers to thank. They held us accountable. They also accommodated “life happens” events that prevented people from submitting work in a timely manner (as does Mr. Dorval). Late submissions should not receive full marks – a penalty is appropriate.
Why would we want to reward people who choose to not participate in their own learning, or refuse to be personally accountable for any/all work assigned to them to receive dishonest marks?
Would you want to hire that person who has learned to “get by”, slack off, and only contribute when and what they feel like and still expect the world to bend over for them? I sure wouldn’t because I expect to give 100% and more to my work - my name and reputation in the community are on the line!
Some say a “zero” grade will offend or hurt “little Debbie’s” fragile sense of self. I say holding people to a higher standard helps them rise to that, often achieving significantly more than they (sometimes) believed was possible for themselves.
Posted by Elizabeth on Jul 01, 2012
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