Teacher who gave zeroes offered new job

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EDMONTON, Alberta, Sept. 19 (UPI) -- A Canadian teacher suspended for breaking policy by giving zero-grades for uncompleted assignments has been hired by a private school in Edmonton, Alberta.

Lynden Dorval, who has been teaching for 35 years, was suspended by Ross Sheppard High School in May for handing out zero grades.

The policy was adopted a year and a half ago based on the premise uncompleted assignments and exams reflect behavior and not ability, the Edmonton Sun said.

Instead of a zero grade, teachers are supposed to write a remark instead and give grades on whatever work was completed, which Dorval said he couldn't follow.

On Sept. 14, he was fired for insubordination, which caught the eye of Peter Mitchell, headmaster of the private Tempo School.

He gave Dorval a tour of the school Tuesday and offered him a job, which Dorval immediately accepted.

"They give zeroes," he said.

Mitchell said the private school valued Dorval's experience and attitude.

"Our evaluation policy is generally left up to the teachers," Mitchell said. "I think students here wouldn't be surprised to get a zero if they didn't do their work."