Union disagrees with Toronto Catholic District School Board’s 35 per cent mark policy

TORONTO — To pass or not to pass? That’s one question students in the Toronto Catholic District School Board won’t have to be concerned with, at least when it comes to their midterm marks.

In August, the TCDSB adopted a 35 per cent policy for midterm grades.

The policy is based on a recommendation from a Ministry of Education report that looked at lowering failing limits in schools.

The TCDSB said the purpose of adopting the policy is to help encourage students to do better.

“The 35 per cent level gives students a chance to improve on their mark. We don’t want to use marks to punish students. Marks should be used to encourage them so that they can reach their full potential,” John Yan, from the TCDSB said.

“Students who are at risk will have already had discussions with their parents and the strategies will have been put in place where the teachers are getting the best out of the student.”

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But the Ontario English Catholic Teacher’s Association disagrees with the 35 per cent policy.

Toronto Secondary Unit President Dave Sollosy said the 35 per cent midterm mark is misleading and represents a false grade to both the student and parents.

“If you are reporting an incorrect, inaccurate number it’s not conveying the information to the parents or to the students that they really need,” he said.

“If a student is struggling for whatever reason, that being for attendance reasons, or struggling with the material or whatever background is interfering with their learning progress, you won’t be able to signal that to the parents and the family early enough in the semester so that the teacher can work together with the student and the family to address those needs.”

Sollosy also said the board made a unilateral decision to adopt the policy without the input of teachers.

He said as a result, teachers that are required to give a student a 35 per cent midterm mark are in fact putting their skills and integrity as a teacher into question.

“It does violate the Ontario College of Teachers ethical standards which requires integrity and honesty on all reporting”, Sollosy said.

But Yan said the discussions over the 35 per cent policy were open to all parties for discussion.

He added the midterm mark does not reflect what the student’s overall mark will be, rather it is meant to be an indicator of the student’s level midway through the term.

“We are only talking about the midterm mark,” he said. “The policy actually states the final mark will consist of work completed, so any incomplete work will actually translate into zero.”

Annie Kidder with People for Education said the situation is a tricky one, adding that it does put teachers in a difficult situation, but the bottom line is what is in the best interests of the student.

“If it were a letter grade or a note or something else then you would be able to communicate there might be a problem and student and parents need to come in and have a conversation,” she said.

“A number seems like it is based on some kind of particular work. So I can see the concern about it being a number but on the other hand it really is important, particularly with kids in Grades 9 and 10 that they be given a lot of encouragement rather than discouragement..”

In addition to the Catholic School Board, the Toronto District School Board is using the 35 per cent midterm policy as a guideline, but it has not officially adopted the practice.

Peel and York Region District School Boards have not implemented the 35 per cent midterm mark policy into their curriculum.