Why Ontario change it in the first place is beyond me, when human nature will be incline not to do things, when there is no consequences to not doing it in the first place. Handing out zeroes can and is a motivating factor, for students to hand in their assignments on time, and to be there for tests, and exams. A number of zeroes can have a devastating on final grades and averages. I had to point this out to my child, who always seem to choose the zero grade, rather than opting to write the test, on days when she was absent for medical/dental appointments.

Once it was pointed out, she no longer chooses the zero grade. She rather do the test, because any grade above zero, will produce a better final average, than a number of zeroes,  throughout the year.  It is why, I even showed up for all tests and handed in assignments, when I was in high school.  Ignoring the law of averages, students pay dearly in terms of final grades. And it is here, I question why the province removed the zero grade in the first place, considering the law of averages, will play havoc with students grades and achievement.

Under the previous, not too popular system, the implication was, apparently, that students could not be awarded a “zero” grade for “zero” work; they had to receive, what? some sort of “non-zero” mark? So how does the teacher compute a non-zero mark on the basis of “zero” work? Is there some sort of baseline mark ‘cos you’re enrolled in school?

Ah well, it’s all in a day’s work for the geniuses at the Ministry of Education.

And great training for future gangsters on how to start a protection racket.