A Port St. Lucie, FL teacher was recently fired for giving out zeros to students who did not turn in her work. She claims the reason for her firing was due to her refusal to not give partial credit for her student’s work that was never handed in. She apparently wasn’t even able to see her kids upon the firing, so she left a little note on the whiteboard saying a proper ‘goodbye’.
“Bye kids, Mrs. Tirado loves you and wishes you the best in life! I have been fired for refusing to give you a 50% for not handing anything in. [heart] Mrs. Tirado,” the whiteboard note said.
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She snapped a photo of her message on the whiteboard and shared it on Facebook, prompting an uproar of love from her community and even her eighth-grade students. One of her students wrote, “You showed me to be responsible for my work and the things that I do. I hope you don’t forget me.”
Diane Tirado had been a teacher for more than 17 years. She had been recently working at West Gate K-8 School as an eighth grade Social Studies teacher.
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According to Tirado, she gave her students two weeks to complete an explorer’s notebook project, but even with the two-week deadline, some of her students did not hand it in. This is when she learned about the school’s no-zero grading policy, which is apparently written in red ink in the student’s handbook.
The handbook excerpt states, “NO ZERO’S – LOWEST POSSIBLE GRADE IS 50%.” Tirado says that she did not agree with this policy by asking the simple question, “If there’s nothing to grade, how can I give somebody a 50%?”
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She received a termination letter on September 14th, but the letter apparently does not cite a specific reason due to termination of Tirado’s position. The letter only stated that she was contracted as a teacher on a probation period, meaning she could be dismissed without proper cause.
Despite what the real reason may or may not be, after sharing her story on Facebook with her community, it’s been seen by countless people worldwide who have congratulated Tirado for standing her ground. She’s even been interviewed by big news networks on her story.
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Tirado is working tirelessly to inform other teachers and parents of children in school to be aware of this policy. “I’m arguing the fact that you don’t get something for nothing. I want the policy changed, and it’s not just here,” says Tirado.
To back up Tirado’s argument, she allegedly found some zeros found in the grading scale just above the ‘no zero policy’ in the handbook, which brings about some confusion for not only teachers but parents as well.
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“CALLING ALL PARENTS!!! Only you can make lasting change. Please organize, go to your school districts and speak out about against this grading policy. Your voices will be the ones to create policy change. This fight is too big for only one person. I need your help! Help me to bring back sanity to our schools. Our children will be better human beings for it,” Tirado says in a Facebook post.
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How are these children suppose to grow up and feel responsible for their actions? What does this teach them?? They need to learn these lessons now or they will have MUCH harder time as adults.
Another case where school administration doesn’t have a clue about what is needed in a classroom. This teacher was being fair. That she disobeyed a nonsensical rule emphasizes that fact. Her action should be copied by her fellow teachers and they should all stop pandering to lazy students. No work – no grade. It’s called self-responsibility which is sadly lacking in younger generations and hasn’t been ‘taught’ at home or in school for years. Brava, Ms Tirado, for doing the right thing.
Accountability and entitlement is a big part of what is wrong with our society today. Kids need to know that you don’t get credit in life when you haven’t earned it. No one is entitled to anything. If you want something, you work for it, you earn it. Work hard, get credit.
How about explaining to these students that their being lazy and refusing to do their part not only cost them a grade but also cost someone else their livelihood.
I was a teacher. Never knew what policy my school had, but if a student didn’t do homework or an assigned project they got zeroes. Can’t give credit if no work is done. Explained to my students how many hundreds they needed to get rid of a zero. Some worked on this to get rid of zeroes and others did not. That is the way I worked it.
The Texas state legislature and State board of education actually had to pass a law that did not allow school district to enforce the above policy.
I believe a good journalist and reputable organization would present a statement from the other side even if it was a “No Comment”
If she was on probation they don’t need a reason to fire her. I have a feeling that there is more to the story. However, her point about the 50% for doing nothing is valid.
That’s typical. Blame the kids who have no say in the policy or how it is meted out. How about holding the administration accountable? You know, the people that wrote that drek in the first place? The people that actually enforced it?
Probation for 17 years?
It seems to me that if you willfully violate the rules you shouldn’t be surprised if there are consequences – even if you think the rules are stupid.
Typical bureaucratic management technique – protect the guilty attack the innocent! Education today needs more teachers like Ms Tirado her approach is exactly like the children will face in the real world. My three best High School teachers demanded more from me than I originally planned to do – their attention made me a better student and better citizen! Boo Hiss on the PSL Educators desiring to handicap student learning!