This "no-zero policy" is common in individual schools and school districts across Canada, and my colleagues and I have definitely seen some of the unfortunate repercussions. I've had discussions about "no zero" with frustrated friends who teach in my local public school system and have come to the conclusion that this is where a lot of problems originate for our students in post-secondary: they're used to being able to hand in their assignments or take tests after the due date/test date, and are genuinely shocked to find out that college and university classes don't work that way.
The Edmonton Journal posted letters for and against the "no-zero policy." They make for interesting reading. The latest word is that one of the Edmonton school board trustees wants a review of the "no zero" policy. Probably not the worst idea.
There are schools that don't give zeroes? That's real? That's an actual thing? Is this some kind of prank? Is it April 1st and I didn't realize it?
ReplyDeleteSeriously? That's a stupid policy. I'd go to the first class, take the first quiz and ace it, and never do any other work. Yes, I was that much of a shit as a student...
ReplyDeleteThe thing is, though, you don't even have to be a shit. Your strategy is the perfectly logical outcome of the system that they've put in place. I wouldn't blame a student for taking advantage of it. It's the fault of the administration for instituting the policy in the first place.
DeleteI was a good student in the sixth grade, and I had a teacher who did that. Even then, it pissed me off. It made me think, "If he's not going to count the zeros, why should I bother trying to do well?"
ReplyDeleteI scanned the letters in support of the policy to see if I could figure them out. They mostly seemed to speak of making the student finish the assignment instead of giving up and 'taking the zero'. What they didn't articulate was how they were going to make the student finish.
ReplyDeleteFairy dust would be my guess.
"...find alternate ways...to show they know the material"?????
ReplyDeleteLike what? Intepretive dance? An all-ages rap show? Fingerpainting?
Omigod, that is asinine. Can you imagine saying to a boss, "I didn't do the presentation, but I promise to let the client know about our product by the end of the year in some alternate way?"
And here I thought Canadians were sane.
They should just re-label the grades and say that no work = 50%, poor work = 60%, average = 70% etc. That way, nobody gets a zero, but not doing the work still takes the average grade down, albeit not as much as before. We profs can lawyer the system just as well as the students.
ReplyDelete(I long considered moving to a scale like that, but starting at 0%. 0-20% = F, 20-40% = D, 40-60% = C, 60-80%= B, 80-100% = A. But the students would howl in protest. Now my school has imposed a set scale anyway, so I'm no longer free to try.)
That doesn't work either. Here at Tuk U, at the 1st year level I've seen students who turn in an assignment that consists solely of a cover page with their name on it, and then they howl when they get a zero. "but I turned in SOMETHING! that gets me a 50%! that's how it was in high school!"
DeleteMy policy for homework is that it's due at the beginning of class or it's a zero. Alas, we have a new principal who doesn't like to deal with aggressive, complaining parents. As a result we're now supposed to go to DEFCON 1 alert status every time a kid gets a zero on any assignment. The idea is that we swoop in and help the poor dear understand the importance of submitting homework so that his grades are never ever disappointing.
ReplyDeleteIt's not quite the Canadian policy, but things here at Hamstertown Collegiate School have taken a definite turn in that direction, and it's starting to feel sleazy.
This policy seems like it can be contravened. Just give the little shitlings a 1 instead of a 0 to show just how stupid the policy is, both as written and as an idea in general.
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DeleteLook on the bright side! This will keep the Borg from assimilating us.
ReplyDeleteI have one child in a high school where the 0% mark is given. If homework is not completed then the student must stay after school and complete it. If this happens too often, then the parent must attend a meeting as the student may be removed. You may have guessed, but this is a pricey school that was created for students who could pass the regular public system due to a variety of problems.
ReplyDeleteAlmost all grads from that school go on to some form of post-secondary ranging from beauty school to university. These are the kids in your class that have the accommodations and work their asses off for a good grade.
Let's all raise our glasses, or mugs, or joints for the public high school teachers with the guts to give a zero when that's what a shithead earned.
Hear, hear!
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