EDMONTON -- An Edmonton teacher whose suspension stirred a national debate over whether students should be given zeros when they don't do their schoolwork now says he may lose his job permanently.

Lynden Dorval says he has received a letter from the principal of Ross Sheppard High School recommending his dismissal.

The 61-year-old says he'll fight the dismissal recommendation and continue to fight the no-zero policy.

Proponents of the policy say zeros are counterproductive because they don't reflect what a student knows about a subject.

But Dorval says that grading zeros helps prepare students for the real world.

The Edmonton public board has said it plans to revisit the no-zero issue in the fall.

"That's why I'm still doing this," Dorval said Wednesday.

"Otherwise I would just let the termination go through. But I think to keep it in the public mind and eye is the most important thing that needs to be talked about because a lot of parents, even some of the trustees I'm sure, didn't know these kinds of policies are in place."

Supt. Edgar Schmidt of the Edmonton board has said students who don't do the work are expected to make it up to pass a course.

Dorval has said teachers don't have the time to track down wayward students, and when they do, few ever complete the makeup assignment.