Following a CBC report into grading standards adopted by three Saskatchewan school divisions, where late assignments and 'academic dishonesty' including plagiarism (the act of copying another's work while taking credit for being the originator of the work in question) would not be reflected in the grading for the school work, public outcry hit such a mark that the provincial government is now moving to address the issue.
The CBC report, which initially looked at a change in reporting standards being used in the Saskatoon school division, was first aired in late September of this year.
Offering that the change was in an effort to separate the behavioural and academic reporting on students, the move was immediately denounced by educational experts and parents alike for creating an uneven playing field for students.
The furor continued, and has led to a decision to create a new, province-wide policy on grading to be issued from the Ministry of Education.
"We are looking for a consistent approach to be used in the province when it comes to whether behaviour is included in the grading process," said Saskatchewan Education Minister Donna Harpauer. "But this would be to align how grading is done and behaviour is worked into the grading scheme."
"It won't be a standardized, province-wide report card."
Public concern about the Saskatoon school division's plan focused mainly on the perception of an advantage for students who came from a school without a grad-docking system would have when it came to university of scholarship applications, where grades are part of the deciding factors.
"There needs to be consequences for behaviour issues that reflect in the grading scheme," Minister Harpauer said. "When these students enter either post-secondary education or the workforce, they will find there are consequences for work being late, or for cheating and plagiarising."
"We will take into the consultations teachers and school division representatives while we develop the policy," Harpauer said. "We are looking to develop a policy that will be pretty much universal and consistent in how grading and deductions will be applied."
While this policy is being developed, the minister has asked for divisions that have instituted rules that don't dock marks for late assignments or for other behavioural infractions to reverse their policies for the time being.
