No zeros at MMS
Students get a second chance to complete assignmentsBy Kate York, kyork@mariettatimes.com
Fact Box
MMS by the numbers
Students who have been assigned to the No Zero Zone: 387 (58 percent)
Number of students failing at least one class: 106 (16 percent)
Number of students on the honor roll: 252 (37.5 percent)
Number of students with a gpa of 3.0 or higher: 390 (58 percent)
It does require students to stay after school, but a new practice at Marietta Middle School isn't detention, say administrators, it's a second chance.
Grades have improved at the school since the implementation of the No Zero Zone, as well as some schedule changes and more opportunities provided for staff to work together.
From 2:12 to 2:55 each afternoon, students who have failed to complete an assignment in any class head to the No Zero Zone, where they can finish the assignment, get full credit and have help from teachers if they need it.
"It's not a punishment," said Marietta Middle School Principal Will Hampton. "This is help. We had too many kids that just weren't doing their work and there wasn't much to motivate them. This isn't optional. It's now a part of our school day."
The increased focus on academics, including implementation of the No Zero Zone modeled after a Dover Middle School program, has likely helped the school reduce by 25 percent the number of academically ineligible students in the last grading period, he said.
Typically between 160 and 170 seventh- and eighth-graders are academically ineligible for athletics and activities, meaning they aren't passing 75 percent of their classes each nine-week grading period. That number is now down to 48 students, said Hampton.
"These are early numbers, but I really believe we're making some headway with the kids," he said. "I'm really proud of how hard they've worked and how hard the staff is working."
Seventh-grade science teacher Kim DePue said students are benefiting from the No Zero Zone not just because they can get a grade instead of a zero but because they're learning from completing the assignment.
"Because they're doing those assignments, they're doing better on the tests and quizzes, too, and learning the material," she said.
More than half of the school's 672 students have already been assigned to the No Zero Zone at least once and there are usually at least 40 students there each day.
"Most of them have a pretty good attitude about it," said DePue. "They'd rather be cut loose at the end of the day... but they know this is a good thing."
Parents have told him that after the No Zero Zone experience, their children have become more responsible about doing their homework, Hampton said.
"They're more responsible and the teachers' grade books are more complete," he said. "We're doing a lot of different things here and I think all of it together is going to have a big impact."
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concernedpatriot
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12-03-08 2:02 PM
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Isn't "responsibility" more of a social problem? Uneducated people can be reponsible people and on the other hand, educated people can be irresponsible people. I think children need to be taught responsibility in school, because like so many other things, they may not be taught at home. Responsibility is much too important to leave to chance.
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Birdlover
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12-03-08 1:25 PM
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I totally agree with you, Parrothead (Love the name BTW!), but what if the child is being raised by two irresponsible parents? I agree our schools and teachers should not bear the burden of "parenting" as well as teaching, but some children just need extra help and if they cannot get it at home, where do they go? mttamom...I swear I am not picking on you, but maybe the teacher gave him NZZ as another chance to make his project stand out more and get a better grade?
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concernedpatriot
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12-03-08 12:40 PM
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Parrothead, AMEN!!!! RESPONSIBILITY!
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Parrothead
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12-03-08 12:15 PM
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What’s all the discussion about? Out here in the real world if I have a project that is due for a presentation to a client and I just don’t have time to get it finished, my employer has a room for me to use after work that day to finish it up. Then the clients can either return for another presentation or we do a web conference to finish up the deal. Isn’t school supposed to do more than just teach the mechanics of learning? Isn’t it also supposed to prepare the students for life in the REAL world? A world where you have deadlines and if you do not meet those deadlines there are severe and irreversible consequences. This is a practice that reached a lot further than the school house. We MUST start teaching our children RESPONSIBILITY! One look at Wall Street proves that this need is way past due!
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mttamomof2
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12-03-08 11:42 AM
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the assignment wsa to draw a picture of a scientist. Nothing was said about coloring it, until it was due.
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Birdlover
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12-03-08 10:41 AM
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I am rethinking my opinion on this one... My daughter was in AP classes during MS and HS and was expected to finish her work on time which she always did. Had something like this been in effect back then and kids received the same grade for turning it in late, I would have been upset! That said though, the problem with kids not getting the help from parents at home needs to be addressed! I am just not sure this is the proper way to go about it. mttamom...my daughter is in her 3rd year of college and still has to do reports with coloring involved! Personally I think it is silly but I'm sure there is a reason.
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concernedpatriot
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12-03-08 8:39 AM
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Megn22 and Orchardfarmer are absolutely right. I taught my kids they can do anything they want, anything..........as long as they were willing to pay the consequences. Both have grown up to be responsible aduts, one works in the medical industry, the other is an engineer for a defense contractor. By teaching them to weigh the consequences, it helps them to make good decisions. Something some of these kids don't learn at home. Are the number of kids in the NZZ declining from week to week?
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mttamomof2
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12-03-08 8:36 AM
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mtta4life don't tell me that I don't know what my kids hoework is.
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mttamomof2
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12-03-08 8:33 AM
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mtts4life the coloring had nothing to do with a color key.
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Orchardfarmer
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12-03-08 5:48 AM
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Realistically, to most kids, staying after school IS a punishment. Of course, the real question should be - are the average number of kids in the NZZ declining from week to week?
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Megn22
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12-02-08 11:49 PM
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I find it interesting that the comment was made that students don't have much to motivate them. I don't think we should have to dangle rewards in front of students for doing what they are expected to do, nor should we hold their hands throughout the process. I think a much better option, if there is concern about students not having enough help to complete their homework, is to have teachers use this time after school to offer study tables that are optional for students to attend. This will weed out the students that just don't care. No job in the real world would allow a worker a second chance if they missed an important deadline. In college you can't ask for a second chance to do your homework. What are we teaching kids in this situation? Motivation to do well won't get you any further than sitting around doing nothing. Children need to learn that there are consequences for not fulfilling your obligations, especially at this age as they begin to enter into young adulthood.
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mtta4life
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12-02-08 9:47 PM
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Sports eligibility was NEVER mentioned when NZZ was developed. And citizens need to understand the State Report Card...Kids report card grades have nothing to do with it. It is all about the April Ohio Achievement Tests so there is not more than meets the eye...it is what it is....good or bad...a chance for kids to do their assignment. As for making a judgment about what is important about an assignment, coloring, spelling correctly, showing work on math problems, unless you totally understand the assignment don't make excuses for your child. My children have had to color assignments in college even, especially in biology courses. I am betting the coloring had to do with a key...colors identifying different parts...hummm sounds legit....next time you make your car payment don't finish writing the check as per directions and see if you get to keep your car. Preparation for life..it is all relative.
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pioneernative
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12-02-08 5:12 PM
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A Lot of kids have parents who can't or won't help them with their homework, so for them, this is a great idea. There are a lot of talented athletes who can't make the grade on their own, so extra tutoring is needed. Sports really help keep the kids out of trouble and teaches them valuable time-management skills in the long run. I have two kids in high school and believe me, I absolutely can't help them with some of their assignments. Everyone complains about class size and the availability of one on one time with the teachers, this might be one thing to help that.
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Indian
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12-02-08 4:17 PM
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Don't blame NEA on this one, sounds like the Principal got it from Dover.
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Indian
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12-02-08 4:15 PM
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Listen to these comments...funny. Some parents here foster irresponsibility and defend their kids way to much. Teach them to accept consequneces like the rest of the world faces if mistakes are made. Last time I knew making mistakes is a way to learn.
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mttamomof2
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12-02-08 2:49 PM
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My son is a student at MMS. He is on the honor roll. He has gotten NZZ, but what he got it for was crazy. He did the homework, but did not color it. Are we talking middle school students or grade school kids? I agree with the concept but why kids get NZZ needs to be afressed.
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buckigirl70
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12-02-08 2:00 PM
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I agree with the no-zero zone. Thankfully my daughter is a principal's list student and it has never been an issue, but the NZZ is a great tool for students who manage to manipulate their parents, or sadly for those kids who are unlucky and have parent(s) who don't participate. I do not feel that the kids completed their homework timely should be rewarded their reward is leaving school on time! Great concept!! And I am proud to be raising my children in this district even though at times decisions by the board/school leaders don't always match my thoughts but overall - our kids are in a great learning environment!
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tattttms
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12-02-08 1:46 PM
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Pure Bull****
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tattttms
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12-02-08 1:45 PM
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Pure ********!!
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GettaGottaGood
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12-02-08 12:27 PM
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As a parent of a child who has received a NZZ... I think it is a GREAT thing. It lets the parent be aware that, "Hey, your kid didn't do his/her homework." Before I had to wait until progress reports or report card time. Now I know within hours. However, I agree that they should not be given full credit. My son does his homework on a regular basis. he should be rewarded for that. Reward=better grade! If he slips, he should be "punished" in some way. Punished=grade reduced. Many students have their parents do their homework for them anyway. Or, many students don't have parents at home to help them do their assignments. The math the 8th graders are doing, I did in 10th grade. I have a Master's degree too! And when I was in high school, I never did stem-and-leaf plots, box-and-whisker plots, etc. Let's hear it for No Child Left Behind. It should be...The only children left behind are ones who don't have the extra tutoring available to them.
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huffykids
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12-02-08 12:24 PM
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As a parent with a child at the MMS. I love this plan. Why punish a child who couldn't get all the homework done in one night or who accidentally threw away their homework. At least they are doing it, if they are not made to do it then do you think they ever would apparently they didn't want to do the 1st time and their parent didn't make them either. I can not say enough about how great the MMS teachers and faculty are. They do a great job and is only trying to help and encourage the students!!!!
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ladynoogs
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12-02-08 12:00 PM
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i'm not sure how i feel on this one... but it's pretty much the same thing as what i do at home.. i dont think its fair to give these kids full credit... because they can slack off and get full credit its not fair to the kids who did it on time and the right way the first time. give'em credit.. but not full credit.. but my kids dont go to Marietta schools. and it is teaching them the wrong lesson.. if you dnt do your job completly at work you dont get paid.... um.. whats going to happen when these kids get in teh work force?
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mttamom
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12-02-08 11:50 AM
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PARENTS are the ones who should be knowing and making thier kids do the work-not the schools, they aren't babysitters. I think it wonderful to offer this to the kids, but they and the parents should be the ones to enforce it, use it, take advantage of it to "help themselves". What's going to happend to these kids later-H.S., College, They need to be the ones to make the right choices in their lives-to be and do the responsible things. UM Doing this wouldn't have to do with the Schools (system) report card now would it? There more than meets the eye here.
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Birdlover
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12-02-08 11:39 AM
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I agree with "MommaKat" to some extent but sometimes you have to weigh out the good and the bad. With this particular practice, the good far outweighs the bad...and yes, sometimes in real life we are given a second chance to do better! Many parents do not pay attention to their children or make them do the homework/study for tests...sad, but true! This practice benefits those children and helps them learn to be more task-oriented in the future! And if it keeps them in sports, which build character and teammanship, that is also a good thing!
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MalcomZ
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12-02-08 10:19 AM
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NEA- that is the problem.
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