No-Zero Grading Policy Trend

I absolutely disagree with a no-zero grading policy for students!!!!!!!!

I imagine that the people who support this ridiculous policy also support the idea that every kid on a sports team deserves a trophy - NO THEY DON'T!

We're supposed to teach our children/students how to be successful upon completion of their secondary education, but we can't teach them that if we are constantly lowering our standards.

I believe that if a student does not meet the deadline, that student has demonstrated disregard for the deadline, therefore that student needs to understand that their are consequences for not getting work turned in on time.

What do we think will happen when that student becomes an employee somewhere and they don't meet deadlines set by their employer?  Employers speak in the language of money, if they miss out on making money because an employee missed a deadline, that employee has lost their job. 

This is what a no-zero grading policy will create, a culture of students who become employees, who feel that the rules don't apply to them.

Students who feel that the rules don't apply to them can easily become criminals who feel that the rules don't apply to them.  Is this what we want?! NO!!!!!

This may be what the prisons and jails want, but as an educator, this is not what I want to teach or be taught to my students.

We must teach our youth to be on time, to read everything, to ask questions, to meet deadlines, and to accept the consequences of their actions with dignity and understanding.

The no-zero grading policy will teach them the opposite.

Are You Going Above And Beyond For Your Students?

I can remember as a student in grade school, having several teachers take the time to listen to me, get to know me, and provide me with insight about opportunities that would further my interests in life.  Teachers don't do this anymore and there is nor excuse for them not to.

In my profession, as an Academic Advisor/Admissions Counselor, within a higher education institution, I have many responsibilities that I must tend to without making any excuses for not being able to get them done.  My primary responsibility is to coordinate a dual enrollment program for the county I work in, which means overseeing the recruiting, application, and admission of well over 400 high school students.   Because I work at a small community college, I also handle admissions for traditional students, where I see anywhere from 15 to 20 students every single day.  I could complain, I could also make excuses for why I can't help them right now, but I don't because I understand that I have a wealth of knowledge to share with them and if I don't pass it to them they may not be able to get it from anywhere else.

So then why are some teachers not making themselves available to the student they serve?  Is it because they have families?  Is it because they've worked all day and they're tired?  Or is it because their job is to teach, not provide advice or counseling?

I have much respect for teachers, but I also care about the student, and if a student is reaching out to an educator for help, we should go above and beyond to help them.

As educators, we've accomplished so many things that our students are hoping to attempt: graduating high school, attending a college or university, creating and building their resume, applying for a job in their area of expertise and earning their own money.  We can help them visualize their dreams and we can help them try to reach those dreams, but we have to be willing to give a little more of ourselves and our time.

If you are an educator and you came into this field hoping to get rich, please do your students a favor and go find a different career field.  Students Matter!