There was a fascinating debate on CBC's the Sunday Edition last Sunday on no-zero policies. The idea behind the policy is that students should not be allowed to fail and should be given further opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge.
Here's some text from the show's program log explaining the piece:
If at first you don't succeed, try, try, again. Not long ago , that was a pretty good approach to life. But for today's kids, the expression may be meaningless. Now it seems failing is not possible any more. At least not in a lot of Canadian classrooms.
Strategies aimed at decreasing drop-out rates and increasing positive school experiences have led to what some critics say is a softening of standards. They believe a lot of kids are coming out of high school ill prepared for university or the job market because the system has made it impossible for them to fail, no matter how poor their performance.
In an environment where everyone succeeds all the time, its possible that we are robbing our kids of the very real satisfaction and pride that people used to take in a job well done. What can success really mean if no one ever fails?
You can find the audio for the May 10th Sunday Edition here. The piece on not failing is first up in the podcast.
On Monday, the Journal published the article "'No-zero' policy gives students a do-over" on the same subject. Here is an excerpt from that piece:
Zero is becoming the toughest mark for students to earn in a growing number of Edmonton-area schools.
Many schools have adopted a "no-zero" policy when it comes to assignments and tests, giving students multiple opportunities to hand in work past deadline or to redo failing assignments or tests.
It is part of a national trend proponents say will help ensure more students make it through the school system, learn course material and succeed. Critics argue it fails to prepare students for the real world.
In the Edmonton Public school district, many schools, particularly junior and senior highs, have operated under no-zero policies for several years.
While the no-zero approach is not an official district-wide policy, Edmonton Public's director of teaching and learning support services said it is a topic principals and teachers talk about regularly.
"It's a philosophy about not giving up on kids," Corrie Ziegler said. "We will do everything we can before we give any child a zero. We want to give them every opportunity."
The Soundoff section for the article on edmontonjournal.com generated lots of feedback on the issue.
So, what do you think? Should schools, school divisions or provinces as a whole adopt policies against failing students?
Leave your comments below.
