Tag: education fads

Michael Zwaagstra: Marks and Grades Still Matter in School

Commentary For many teachers, marking assignments is the least enjoyable aspect of their job. Few things are more tiring and frustrating than reading and writing comments on a pile of essays only to have students throw their papers in the garbage seconds after getting them back. It certainly raises the question of why teachers bother…


Under Scrutiny, Education Fads Aren’t Making the Grade

Commentary Does the name Lynden Dorval sound familiar? It should. Lynden Dorval was the high school physics teacher who was fired ten years ago by the Edmonton Public School Board for defying his principal’s no-zeroes grading edict. Dorval thought it was ridiculous that teachers couldn’t penalize students who chose not to hand in assignments. He…