CHILLICOTHE, Ohio -- The Chillicothe school board is considering a proposal to change the grading scale so that no student would receive a zero. The lowest grade would be 50 percent.
Assistant Superintendent Jon Saxton proposed the idea of a no-zero policy to get students to do their school work.
Chillicothe Board of Education and administration say not all students are aiming high and they want to change that by removing what they consider a harmful practice.
"We look at the practice of giving students zeros for work that's not completed and it's punitive, as it, it's like an F to the sixth degree, because the grade that's given for a zero is six times greater than the work that's poorly done," Saxton said.
Incoming freshman Emily Gray said she thinks the no-zero policy is a good idea because it will help students to pass their classes.
"It might be better for some of the kids because they, kids who get zeroes, it might bring their grades down lower and they might not be able to pass grades," Emily Gray said.
Gray's father however, disagrees because he thinks students who don't do their work shouldn't receive the same grade as students who put forth more effort.
"But a zero is a zero and a 50 percent is a 50 percent and if you receive 50 percent for doing zero, I don't think it's a good way to teach a child," said Mark Gray.
Administrators said they're trying to prevent zeroes from piling up.
"As a result of that, students get frustrated. They miss school. They create disciplinary problems," Saxton said.
"The whole policy is about encouraging them to do their homework. We want it done in a timely manner to teachers' standards, but the bottom line is, we want them to do their work," said Randy Drewyor, Chillicothe Board of Education member.
Drewyor said the no-zero policy would be fair to all students, making an F just 10 points below a D.
He says it would provide equal intervals between each letter grade.
Supporters said they're not holding anyone's hand. They just don't want students to give up once they get a zero.
The vote was tabled until July 22.
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