I was reading a story today about how a number of schools are requiring that a student get a 50 percent grade even if they don’t turn an assignment in. Teachers hate it.

I can see why.

When I tried my hand at college teaching there would always be students who just didn’t get the assignment done to turn in, often in my case on a writing paper.

I told them. Turn in something. What your plan was if had actually done the paper, what the topic was,

anything you could scrap together to turn in.

I then gave them a 59, a failing grade, but precious points that were lost if they simply did nothing.

Not only did it work, but I found students appreciated the effort on my part, and often turned the effort on their part into better work the next time.

.

I would think that even in lower grades, having them turn something in about the blown assignment is better than a free pass. And if they don’t care enough to turn in anything, give them a damn zero.