I had heard some "talk" that parents had "complained" about it and perhaps influenced a decision to let off students. I cannot confirm this either.
Whether or not this happened is the issue, but how it is dealt with.
I see it this way.
In an assessment task, a student must demonstrate their own understanding of what they have learnt. That is present ideas in their own words and express their own thoughts and ideas. If they are using a concept, thought or idea that is not their own, they must acknowledge that person/s.
If they fail to acknowledge another person's concept, they are claiming ownership of something that is not theirs. It is like the theft of a physical object from another person.
We have to reward those who can independently express their own thoughts and ideas while giving credit to those who have shaped their thoughts and ideas and also have gone to the effort to locate, select and present their information.
We also have to send a message that passing off another person's work is harmful and does not reflect the persons true knowledge.
There will be some people (including some parents) who may not agree with the deduction of marks especially zero marks. But consider this - did the person who plagiarised their assessment task bother to spend the time to locate, select and communicate their information? In assessing students, we may be assessing knowledge, but also we assess the effort that is put in.
The effort a student puts into their learning says alot about the progress of a student. A student may lack the knowledge of a topic, but if they can present their own work communicating their own thoughts and ideas, the long term gains for the student will be better. The teacher will know how the student is progressing and can lead them in the right direction.
Pandering to parents because it might affect final grades is not the way to approach it. It sends the message that plagiarism is allowed but also discourage the students who have undertaken the effort to present their work from doing so.
