The Edmonton teacher fired on Friday for violating his school’s “no zero” policy says retirement is one of the options he is considering for his future.
Teacher Lynden Dorval received a letter dated Friday saying that his contract at Ross Sheppard High School will be terminated on Oct. 15.
In the letter local school board superintendent Edgar Schmidt said Dorval’s actions were “repeatedly insubordinate, unprofessional and in disregard of lawful orders made by the principal.”
Dorval, a physics teacher for 35 years, was suspended in May for handing out marks of zero to students who did not complete their assignments.
The school’s policy, introduced two years ago, requires teachers to assign “behavioural codes” -- such as “MPA” for “missed performance” -- for incomplete work, rather than handing out zeros.
Principal Ron Bradley hassaid the practice of handing out behavioural codes instead of zeros was helping students learn.
But Dorval argued that his approach prepared students for the real world. He also said the school did not consult teachers before introducing the policy.
Dorval on Saturday told CTV News Channel that he is eligible to cash in his pension in 30 days, but he was aware that doing so would be an irreversible move.
“In the next few days I’m going to have to take a real hard look at my future,” he said.
In an interview with CTV Edmonton Friday, Dorval said Schmidt’s termination letter was unnecessarily harsh.
“Why does he have to take shots at me like that? I don’t think it’s fair at all,” Dorval said.
The school board declined comment when contacted by CTV Edmonton.
