A few months ago I wrote a post about Lynden Dorval, the Edmonton physics teacher who was suspended for giving zeroes on uncompleted assignments or exams in contravention of his school's (Ross Sheppard High School) 'no-zero' policy that was designed to avoid discouraging students.
The public outcry of support for this teacher who dared to say that the emperor has no clothes, a defiance that few career-driven school administrators would tolerate, has apparently not deterred the board from beginning proceedings for his termination:
...on Tuesday, the letter from the superintendent of Edmonton Public Schools informed him his principal, Ron Bradley, requested his termination for “his obvious neglect of duty as a professional teacher, his repeated insubordination and his continued refusal to obey lawful orders.”
As is often the case with politicians who masquerade as school principals, Ron Bradley is attempting to conceal his vendetta against a teacher with professional integrity by claiming other reasons for calling for Dorval's termination:
...the principal said Mr. Dorval was repeatedly absence in staff meetings — a claim Mr. Dorval says is untrue.
The veteran teacher also sent a staff-wide email condemning the no zero policy, Mr. Bradley said.
“I advised Mr. Dorval that I was not disputing his professional right to express his opinion but … I found his tone and method of communication insubordinate,” Mr. Bradley wrote.
Following the suspension, the principal reported that Mr. Dorval entered the school without requesting permission — part of the terms of his suspension — twice to return unmarked quizzes and assignments, and once to voice concerns about his replacement teacher, Mr. Bradley wrote.
While politics is a fundamental part of our society, it is truly regrettable that its seamier side cannot be kept out of education.
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