Contrary to what one might think, teachers do not have all the rights when it comes to grading a student.
Who has never feared, when they were a student, receiving a zero from their teacher? This fear is still palpable today in most schools. And for good reason, this number, the ultimate symbol of academic failure, can weigh heavily on the minds of young schoolchildren, generating anxiety and stress. For many, a zero is not limited to a simple grade: it represents a judgment on their abilities, even a sign of personal devaluation. So much so that it pushes some schoolchildren to avoid participating in class or to give up trying exercises for fear of failure.
But then, do teachers have the right to give a zero on a copy? Yes, if the work requested is not submitted on time, if the copy returned is blank, if it is riddled with wrong answers or if the student cheated. In principle, and this seems quite logical, a grade is used above all to assess the level of understanding and skills of a student on a given exercise. It allows to measure the progress made, to highlight the strengths and areas for improvement. Under no circumstances should a grade be given as a punishment or a sanction.
Consequently, a teacher does not have the right to give a zero to a schoolchild to punish a behavioral problem. Circular No. 2011-111 of August 1, 2011 reminds us of this very well, “a zero mark given to a student for exclusively disciplinary reasons is prohibited.” “School punishments (…) are taken into consideration the student’s behavior independently of academic results”, also specifies the text.
Another reason that is not acceptable: giving a zero for unjustified absences. According to the teachers’ union-UNSA, “when an unjustified absence is aggravated by the fact that the student knowingly wanted to miss an assessment in order to ‘preserve’ his average, the student’s behavior merits ‘punishment, or even a sanction’ from the school administration”, can be read on their website. For his part, the teacher can also find “the appropriate educational response so that the student’s average reflects their true level”. For example, assess him at another time by giving him a “surprise” assignment to do in class.
This is valid in the context of courses, but not during an official exam such as the brevet or the baccalaureate. Indeed, as explained in the decree of July 16, 2018 relating to the organizational arrangements for the general and technological baccalaureate, “when the absence is not duly justified, it is penalized by a zero mark in the course concerned.” Students now know when they can receive a zero mark!