Nutana Collegiate's Shirley Figley likely wouldn't agree with me.  The Saskatoon high school principal is thinking about kicking off 2009 by no longer giving students failing grades.  Figley says that "failing marks do not encourage students...the (failing grade) could be accomplished with a term like 'incomplete' or 'no mark'.  We don't need to degrade the student by giving them a number."

Nutana is essentially 'the place to go' for at-risk-kids: those under court orders or probation requirements to attend school, who have failed out of other programs or who may just not fit in at 'mainstream' high schools.  The school implements a quarterly semester system - meaning if you are a nursing student who needs a better Grade 12 biology grade to get into University, you can get it in about two months - making Nutana a popular choice for upgrading or returning students.

I'll let you in on a little secret - I graduated from Nutana.  I sailed through elementary school but for many reasons high school didn't really...er, agree with me.  Trust me, I gave more than a few schools a try - whether or not by choice.  Finally a guidance counsellor suggested Nutana, and I went - immediately starting the same sh*t I had pulled at every other high school - skipping school, not handing in assignments, getting stoned and being a jackass.

Something very different happened at Nutana.  Almost immediately the principal at the time (not Figley but I can't remember his name, argh) hauled me into his office and ripped into me like I had never been ripped into before.  He told me he had called my mom, who cried and told him that she didn't know what my problem was.  Then he told me under no uncertain terms that I had a week to get my ass back to school - everyday - get caught up on my assignments and pull up my grades, or I was out the door.  We went over my marks and I learned - without any glossy sugar-coating - just how badly I was failing.  Yes, to the very last degrading number.

You know where this is going.  I smartened up, started attending - it's amazing how when you do that, you also start handing in your assignments! - and graduated without any further major issues. 

I know it's not this simple for every student.  Nor am I suggesting it could be or should be.  But I was 'that kid', and I needed to hear that I was accountable.  Once I started putting in the effort, there were more than enough resources available to assist me in getting back on track, and keep me there.  I promise you though - if the school had allowed me not only to continue to fail, but then glossed it over so it didn't feel as bad - I would probably STILL be there. 

Anyway, I hope Shirley Figley makes the right decision, whatever it is.  To the Nutana Collegiate Principal circa 1996 - thank you, thank you, thank you.

Tammy Robert is the Executive Producer of 'The John Gormley Live Show' - listen live every weekday morning from 8.30am - 12.30pm on NewsTalk 650 or NewsTalk 980.