Given what I’ve noticed in my own kids’ school regarding the curriculum being too hard for the age at which it is assigned, this Florida school’s policy of giving kids a full half credit for not turning anything in just seems crazy to me. In truth, it’s crazy regardless. How are we supposed to teach our kids responsibility and work ethic if they get 50% credit at school for not even doing a thing?
That’s something fired teacher Tirado is wondering as well.
“I’m so upset because we have a nation of kids that are expecting to get paid and live their life just for showing up and it’s not real,” she said.
The school district that fired Tirado responded to the WPTV’s questions by issuing a statement that contradicts the screenshot above of the school handbook and the “no zero” policy. It says:
“Diane Tirado was employed as a teacher for St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) from July 30, 2018 to September 14, 2018. She was contracted as a teacher on probationary status, and was terminated shortly after one month of classroom instruction.
SLPS values the importance of maintaining a high-quality teaching staff who support students’ individualized learning needs; who understand the value of forming appropriate and positive relationships with students, colleagues, and parents; and who provide accurate and productive feedback to students on assignments. Wavering on the expectations of quality is not an option.
There is no District or individual school policy prohibiting teachers from recording a grade of zero for work not turned in. The District’s Uniform Grading System utilizes letter grades A-F, numerical grades 100-0 and grade point averages from 4-0.”
When asked specifically about the wording of “no zeros” in the student and parent handbook screen shot above, the district spokesperson said:
“Some classroom teachers and school faculties have discussed the range of points for work submitted in each grading category.
This scale outlines a 10-point range for each letter grade:
A = 90 to 100
B = 80 to 89
C = 70-79
D = 60-69
F = 50=59
A zero is noted on the scale for work not attempted or work that is incomplete.”
So, was this teacher fired for violating a “no zeros” policy that doesn’t actually exist? We will probably never know, since she was still in her probationary period and the school did not have to give a cause for her dismissal. Perhaps there was another, more legitimate reason for Tirado’s firing. I truly don’t know the reason, but what I DO know is that any school having a “no zeros” policy is wrong, and only teaches our kids that their negative actions don’t have real consequences.
What do you think about a “no zeros” policy? Do you believe there’s more to the story here?
