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Teacher Fails Students Who Won't Do Work and Her School District Fired Her

  
Via:  Texan1211  •  10 months ago  •  73 comments

By:   Mustafa Gatollari (Distractify)

Teacher Fails Students Who Won't Do Work and Her School District Fired Her
Diane Tirado was told she had to give students at least a 50% grade, even if they handed in zero work. She didn't and now she's lost her job.

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Diane Tirado was told she had to give students at least a 50% grade, even if they handed in zero work. She didn't and now she's lost her job.

By Mustafa Gatollari

May 27 2023, Updated 6:44 p.m. ET

It seems like there's an age-old conflict when it comes to school educators, one that Florida teacher Diane Tirado recently learned firsthand.

Some people don't understand why teachers are always complaining about their salaries (or lack thereof) because "they have it easy." Others think that educators deserve a ton of more respect, and compensation, than they currently receive for all of the work they're expected to do for the sake of our children. I mean they are shaping the future generations of humanity, after all.

Regardless of what you think of educators and the United States education system, there are some statistics that can't be denied: like the fact that, year-by-year, other developed countries are kicking our butts when it comes to getting their learning on.

I'm no expert, but I'd like to think that the reason for a dip in education rankings might be directly attributed to a dip in the quality of education itself. There are tons of reasons for the quality of education to fly below par, but there are a number of people who believe that one of the contributing factors is how much "easier" school is nowadays.

Diane Tirado believed giving students 50% credit when they make zero effort to turn in an assignment was coddling and served no benefit to their overall education. So she decided to ignore her school's "No Zero" policy.

Diane opted to grade her students based on the actual work they put into during their time at West Gate K-8 School in Port St. Lucie. The first assignment she gave her 8th graders for the semester was something I personally found kinda cool: keep a journal for two weeks, as if you were a 15th-century explorer.

They were expected to note important historical events and draw maps in their notebook.

But there were many parents who felt the history teacher of 17 years was piling too much homework on their children. Soon, Diane was getting called into the principal's office after groups of parents began calling the school to complain."I got called down to the principal's office because parents were not happy with me. It was ruining my life for weeks," she told the NY Post.

During her talks with the principal, Diane learned of the school's "no zero" policy and that the lowest grade a student could receive, even if they did no work whatsoever, was a 50. While still a failing grade, if a student decided to turn their grades around, they'd have a much better shot than they would with a bunch of zeroes in the grade book.

Despite knowing the school's policy, when a group in her class failed to even attempt completing the assignment, Diane decided she would give them no credit. "I'm used to kids not handing in work… but then chasing them until the report cards are in to make sure they make it up. But I don't give a grade for nothing."

On September 14th, 2018, Diane was fired from the school — she worked there for less than two months. When questioned, the principal said she was let go because she was still technically under the school's probationary period.

For Diane, the reason for her pink slip was clear: she refused to give students credit for nothing.

"I loudly bucked the system. I refused to do their policy. I guess you would call that defiance."

Diane left a message for students on her classroom's whiteboard on her last day at the school. It read, "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."

She posted the farewell message on her Facebook account, where it was shared over 3,000 times and amassed over 2.4k reactions with tons of people commenting on the post. Diane further explained why she shared the post and thinks that lenient grading systems are making "monsters" out of our children.

"It's absurd to give someone something for nothing and to do that is creating a future that is pretty darn bleak. We're creating monsters out of our children," she added. "We give them too much.. people that experience that kind of childhood then that's what you want, you're entitled for the rest of your life."

In an interview with WPTV, the St. Lucie school said that their institution doesn't implement a "no zero" grading policy. "There is no district or individual school policy prohibiting teachers from recording a grade of zero for work not turned in."

However, Diane pointed out to The Post that in bold, big, and bright read capital letters in the West Gate and Parent Handbook it says, "NO ZERO'S - LOWEST POSSIBLE GRADE IS 50%."

I guess that's whoopsie daisy on the school's part.

Diane's story began picking up steam not just online, but on local news outlets as well. She issued statements doubling down on her belief that lax public school policies are ruining students by allowing them to easily pass through the system.

And there were tons of teachers who, after seeing the story on Reddit, relayed some of their own thoughts and personal experiences with the "no grade below" 50 policy. Many of them echoed Diane's own belief

On the one hand, I understand concessions need to be made and advantages provided for those who have been at a historic disadvantage, be it due to their country of origin, socioeconomic status, ability, or the color of their skin.

On the other hand, I only need to look how far the US education system has fallen behind other industrialized nations to see we are probably doing something wrong. Maybe these "coddling" policies aren't really that effective?

What do you think?


Article is LOCKED by author/seeder
 

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Texan1211
Professor Principal
1  seeder  Texan1211    10 months ago

Going to be hard to convince me that administrators that issue such policies have the best interests of the children in mind.

The "everybody gets a trophy" mentality doesn't help our kids.

 
 
 
Ed-NavDoc
Professor Quiet
1.1  Ed-NavDoc  replied to  Texan1211 @1    10 months ago

Here in SE Arizona on the border my 12 year old granddaughter just finished 6th grade with 3.9 GPA. She finished every single assignment given to her and made the A Honor Roll and the Principal's Special Honor Roll. She is fully aware that nobody gave that to her. She earned it on her own. She is highly motivated and her mother and I are very proud of her. She hopes to be inducted into the National Junior Honor Society next year. In my neck of the desert we don't have that 50% freebie BS system other schools in other states have. Our teachers are treated with the respect they deserve.

 
 
 
Drinker of the Wry
Junior Expert
1.1.1  Drinker of the Wry  replied to  Ed-NavDoc @1.1    10 months ago

Congratulations and best wishes for your granddaughter.  She represents the best of our future.

 
 
 
Ed-NavDoc
Professor Quiet
1.1.2  Ed-NavDoc  replied to  Drinker of the Wry @1.1.1    10 months ago

Thank you. She is already talking about her PhD choices and hopes. I love it. Kind of scary but I love it.

 
 
 
Drinker of the Wry
Junior Expert
1.1.3  Drinker of the Wry  replied to  Ed-NavDoc @1.1.2    10 months ago

Love her focus and drive, I’m still trying to decide what I want to be when I grow up.

 
 
 
Perrie Halpern R.A.
Professor Principal
1.1.4  Perrie Halpern R.A.  replied to  Ed-NavDoc @1.1    10 months ago

Congrats Ed!

 
 
 
Gsquared
Professor Principal
1.1.5  Gsquared  replied to  Drinker of the Wry @1.1.3    10 months ago
I’m still trying to decide what I want to be when I grow up.

[Deleted]

 
 
 
Ed-NavDoc
Professor Quiet
1.1.6  Ed-NavDoc  replied to  Perrie Halpern R.A. @1.1.4    10 months ago

Can you guess who's the apple of grandpa's eye?

 
 
 
Perrie Halpern R.A.
Professor Principal
1.1.7  Perrie Halpern R.A.  replied to  Ed-NavDoc @1.1.6    10 months ago

Of course! 

And it sounds like she should be!

 
 
 
cjcold
Professor Quiet
1.2  cjcold  replied to  Texan1211 @1    10 months ago

This is why Florida has such a high rate of graduation. Sure looks good on paper.

Back in my day, in my state, graduation was an honor, not a right.

This is why many Florida teens are not accepted to out-of-state colleges.

Didn't we just see a seed here recently about this?

 
 
 
Perrie Halpern R.A.
Professor Principal
1.3  Perrie Halpern R.A.  replied to  Texan1211 @1    10 months ago
Going to be hard to convince me that administrators that issue such policies have the best interests of the children in mind.

It is the parents and the school boards that are voted in by parents that dictate to administrators what policy will be. If there is blame to be had here, it belongs to the parents. 

 
 
 
Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
1.3.1  Vic Eldred  replied to  Perrie Halpern R.A. @1.3    10 months ago

Three points on school board elections:

1) I have never voted on one, nor do I know any who have.

2) I have never heard a candidate campaign for school board. In other words, it is rare to know the views of those running.

3) Having woke activists on school boards is a recent phenomenon.

It is as if the left quietly took over all positions of power and only after the 2020 election that they have boldly flexed their muscles.

 
 
 
Sparty On
Professor Principal
1.3.2  Sparty On  replied to  Vic Eldred @1.3.1    10 months ago
Three points on school board elections:

1) I have never voted on one, nor do I know any who have.

I do.    Not every election but often when new people are running for those positions.

2) I have never heard a candidate campaign for school board. In other words, it is rare to know the views of those running.

True, they don’t campaign like other political positions like Rep or Governor but if you are engaged, you can find out.    Check it out this election.    Call your city, county, township and they will give you info or where to get it.


3) Having woke activists on school boards is a recent phenomenon.

Yep, it really accelerated with the Resist movement.    Thx Sea Hag!  (Hillary)

 
 
 
Perrie Halpern R.A.
Professor Principal
1.3.3  Perrie Halpern R.A.  replied to  Vic Eldred @1.3.1    10 months ago

Vic,

I have voted in every school board election. Most do have a question and answer time that you can now stream, but even before streaming, you could attend these (which are usually done in high schools). And as for activist candidates, I think that depends on where you live.

It is as if the left quietly took over all positions of power and only after the 2020 election that they have boldly flexed their muscles.

Really? Because at our school board elections, it looked and sounded pretty much the other way around. Again, I think it depends on where you live.

 
 
 
sandy-2021492
Professor Expert
2  sandy-2021492    10 months ago

The "no grade below 50%" has been the policy in our school system for years now.  I vehemently disagree with it.

 
 
 
Gordy327
Professor Expert
2.1  Gordy327  replied to  sandy-2021492 @2    10 months ago

Florida is actively promoting stupid and doubling down on it. 

 
 
 
Texan1211
Professor Principal
2.1.1  seeder  Texan1211  replied to  Gordy327 @2.1    10 months ago

things like this is what makes people question those in charge of education.

 
 
 
Drinker of the Wry
Junior Expert
2.1.2  Drinker of the Wry  replied to  Gordy327 @2.1    10 months ago

Is this a state policy or a district one?

 
 
 
sandy-2021492
Professor Expert
2.1.3  sandy-2021492  replied to  Gordy327 @2.1    10 months ago

So is my county.

 
 
 
Sean Treacy
Professor Principal
2.1.4  Sean Treacy  replied to  Gordy327 @2.1    10 months ago

This happens everywhere.

More than one teacher  has told me their Job is to graduate students, not educate them.  Administrations only care students are passed, failing a student invites trouble.

 
 
 
Gordy327
Professor Expert
2.1.5  Gordy327  replied to  Sean Treacy @2.1.4    10 months ago

Florida simply  raised stupid to an art form. 

 
 
 
Gordy327
Professor Expert
2.1.6  Gordy327  replied to  Drinker of the Wry @2.1.2    10 months ago

As far as I can tell from the article, it seems to be a school or district one.

 
 
 
Gordy327
Professor Expert
2.1.7  Gordy327  replied to  Texan1211 @2.1.1    10 months ago

I suspect it's more bureaucrats or bureaucracy rather than actual educators that's the problem. 

 
 
 
Drinker of the Wry
Junior Expert
2.1.8  Drinker of the Wry  replied to  Gordy327 @2.1.6    10 months ago

So not the state “actively promoting stupid and doubling down on it”.

 
 
 
Texan1211
Professor Principal
2.1.9  seeder  Texan1211  replied to  Gordy327 @2.1.7    10 months ago

gee.

if only I had said something about administrators!

 
 
 
Gordy327
Professor Expert
2.1.10  Gordy327  replied to  Drinker of the Wry @2.1.8    10 months ago

The state seems OK with it. And given the states position in, shall we say, certain school curriculums, my initial statement stands.

 
 
 
Gordy327
Professor Expert
2.1.11  Gordy327  replied to  Texan1211 @2.1.9    10 months ago

Maybe you'll get the chance next time.

 
 
 
Texan1211
Professor Principal
2.1.12  seeder  Texan1211  replied to  Gordy327 @2.1.11    10 months ago

Or maybe you can read the very first post.

 
 
 
Gordy327
Professor Expert
2.1.13  Gordy327  replied to  Texan1211 @2.1.12    10 months ago

I did and it doesn't change what I said. 

 
 
 
Sparty On
Professor Principal
2.1.14  Sparty On  replied to  Gordy327 @2.1.5    10 months ago
Florida simply  raised stupid to an art form. 

An especially hateful, sweeping generalization.

 
 
 
Texan1211
Professor Principal
2.1.15  seeder  Texan1211  replied to  Gordy327 @2.1.13    10 months ago
I did and it doesn't change what I said.

yeah, things written prior are very hard pressed to change anything which came later.

 
 
 
Texan1211
Professor Principal
2.1.16  seeder  Texan1211  replied to  Gordy327 @2.1.7    10 months ago
I suspect it's more bureaucrats or bureaucracy rather than actual educators that's the problem. 

Going to be hard to convince me that administrators that issue such policies have the best interests of the children in mind.

The "everybody gets a trophy" mentality doesn't help our kids.

 
 
 
Gordy327
Professor Expert
2.1.17  Gordy327  replied to  Texan1211 @2.1.16    10 months ago

I never thought they had the best interests of kids on their minds. And I agree the trophy mentality is detrimental. 

 
 
 
Gordy327
Professor Expert
2.1.18  Gordy327  replied to  Texan1211 @2.1.15    10 months ago

Nothing posted since mine affects what I said.

 
 
 
Gordy327
Professor Expert
2.1.19  Gordy327  replied to  Sparty On @2.1.14    10 months ago

Given recent trends in Florida, I'd say not. More of a reflection of reality.

 
 
 
Texan1211
Professor Principal
2.1.20  seeder  Texan1211  replied to  Gordy327 @2.1.18    10 months ago
Nothing posted since mine affects what I said.

And that is why I reposted the very first post on here--one you apparently missed or maybe you had a different reason for posting 2.1.7 to me.

 
 
 
Texan1211
Professor Principal
2.1.21  seeder  Texan1211  replied to  Sparty On @2.1.14    10 months ago
An especially hateful, sweeping generalization.

Florida gets the same treatment from liberals that Texas does.

Right up until they think they really have a chance at winning a statewide election, then it is totally different story.

Like magic, all the rednecks become wise Democratic voters until the liberals lose again, then it is back to ragging on red states.

 
 
 
Ed-NavDoc
Professor Quiet
2.1.22  Ed-NavDoc  replied to  Texan1211 @2.1.12    10 months ago

I have always had a problem with slackers being rewarded. This 50% BS by schools in Florida and elsewhere is a perfect example!

 
 
 
Texan1211
Professor Principal
2.1.23  seeder  Texan1211  replied to  Ed-NavDoc @2.1.22    10 months ago

And some folks wonder why others are upset with education in this country.

 
 
 
Gordy327
Professor Expert
2.1.24  Gordy327  replied to  Texan1211 @2.1.20    10 months ago

Then my response to your repost is the same. 

 
 
 
Sparty On
Professor Principal
2.1.25  Sparty On  replied to  Gordy327 @2.1.19    10 months ago

Nah, it’s just a sweeping generalization and as such is just plain wrong.

No question about it.

 
 
 
Texan1211
Professor Principal
2.1.26  seeder  Texan1211  replied to  Gordy327 @2.1.24    10 months ago
Then my response to your repost is the same. 

So basically you are just agreeing with me without actually typing the words.

Cool!

 
 
 
cjcold
Professor Quiet
2.1.27  cjcold  replied to  Texan1211 @2.1.1    10 months ago
things like this is what

things like this are what

 
 
 
Sparty On
Professor Principal
2.1.28  Sparty On  replied to  cjcold @2.1.27    10 months ago

Lob a stone.    
Then fail to capitalize the first word in a sentence.
Classic!

 
 
 
Texan1211
Professor Principal
2.1.29  seeder  Texan1211  replied to  cjcold @2.1.27    10 months ago
things like this are what

Thanks for illustrating you understood my post.

 
 
 
Texan1211
Professor Principal
3  seeder  Texan1211    10 months ago

But parents aren't supposed to question teachers, schools and administrators, right?

Seems like a parent should be concerned if their child isn't getting an education.

 
 
 
George
Sophomore Expert
3.1  George  replied to  Texan1211 @3    10 months ago

Parents blame the teacher for students not turning in their work, my Mom would have beaten my ass.

 
 
 
Texan1211
Professor Principal
3.1.1  seeder  Texan1211  replied to  George @3.1    10 months ago

Definitely a two-way street.

Parents need to be involved and teachers need to be allowed to do their job without stupid policies like this.

 
 
 
cjcold
Professor Quiet
3.1.2  cjcold  replied to  George @3.1    10 months ago

My mother taught me how to read at a high level before kindergarten.

As a math major in college, she also taught me how to work with numbers.

Thanks to mom, I graduated high school and college with honors.

Went to mom's grave a couple of weeks ago and put flowers on it.

 
 
 
George
Sophomore Expert
3.1.3  George  replied to  cjcold @3.1.2    10 months ago

There is absolutely no substitute for a strong caring parent.

My dad was a design engineer with multiple patents, everything from aircraft design to paintball guns, funny thing was, Mom was the smart one, and the hammer of the family.

 
 
 
SteevieGee
Professor Silent
4  SteevieGee    10 months ago

Seems to me 50% is still an F.

 
 
 
Texan1211
Professor Principal
4.1  seeder  Texan1211  replied to  SteevieGee @4    10 months ago

Do you think any student deserves any grade for doing absolutely nothing?

If so, why?

 
 
 
Drinker of the Wry
Junior Expert
4.1.1  Drinker of the Wry  replied to  Texan1211 @4.1    10 months ago

Attendance?

 
 
 
SteevieGee
Professor Silent
4.1.2  SteevieGee  replied to  Texan1211 @4.1    10 months ago
Do you think any student deserves any grade for doing absolutely nothing?

No and I don't think she should have been fired either but, as far as a national news story?  Meh.

 
 
 
Texan1211
Professor Principal
4.1.3  seeder  Texan1211  replied to  SteevieGee @4.1.2    10 months ago

feel free to seed any article you consider more newsworthy.

 
 
 
Sparty On
Professor Principal
4.2  Sparty On  replied to  SteevieGee @4    10 months ago

Not necessarily.    Not if it’s graded on a curve.    Or if final grade is scored on an average of all grades.     If they are making a point of giving it a 50%, i doubtful this is straight A,B,C,D and F scoring.

 
 
 
Texan1211
Professor Principal
4.2.1  seeder  Texan1211  replied to  Sparty On @4.2    10 months ago

The idea of giving a student any credit for work they didn't do is insanity.

 
 
 
Sparty On
Professor Principal
4.2.2  Sparty On  replied to  Texan1211 @4.2.1    10 months ago

Yep, an extension of victims mentality and the dumbification of our kids.

 
 
 
cjcold
Professor Quiet
4.2.3  cjcold  replied to  Sparty On @4.2    10 months ago
[deleted]
 
 
 
Ed-NavDoc
Professor Quiet
4.2.4  Ed-NavDoc  replied to  cjcold @4.2.3    10 months ago

Spell check police today?

 
 
 
Texan1211
Professor Principal
4.2.5  seeder  Texan1211  replied to  Ed-NavDoc @4.2.4    10 months ago
Spell check police today?

Everyone needs a purpose in life.

 
 
 
Jasper2529
Professor Quiet
4.3  Jasper2529  replied to  SteevieGee @4    10 months ago
Seems to me 50% is still an F.

Yes, sometimes 50% is an F. Feel free to play around with this grading calculator:

However, a zero grade is zero,  which also takes into account promptness in turning in the assignment. But, if a student doesn't turn in an assignment, s/he should receive a zero, not 50%/F. No one should receive credit for not doing the work.

Teachers also might convert number grades to letter grades. In the US, we use the A - F system. 

 
 
 
Sparty On
Professor Principal
5  Sparty On    10 months ago

0% effort deserves exactly 0% score.

End of story.

 
 
 
TᵢG
Professor Principal
6  TᵢG    10 months ago

If the facts of this story are true, they illustrate a failure of expectations on the part of the school district.

Kids are not motivated to excel in life by allowing them to cruise through grade levels without putting forth effort.

 
 
 
Thrawn 31
Professor Guide
6.1  Thrawn 31  replied to  TᵢG @6    10 months ago

Or they can not put in the effort and fail? How is that the school's or teacher's fault?

 There is all this bullshit about parental rights, bow about parental repsonsibilities? If parents want more say about what goes on in the classroom then they get more responsibility for the results. 

 
 
 
TᵢG
Professor Principal
6.1.1  TᵢG  replied to  Thrawn 31 @6.1    10 months ago
Or they can not put in the effort and fail? How is that the school's or teacher's fault?

It is not.   The fault, per this story, is a district that lowers expectations and demands that students be moved along even if they do not put forth the effort.

If parents want more say about what goes on in the classroom then they get more responsibility for the results. 

This story is about a teacher who refused to give a passing grade to students who refused to do any of the work.

The teacher was correct (and responsible) while her district is incorrect and irresponsible.

 
 
 
cjcold
Professor Quiet
6.2  cjcold  replied to  TᵢG @6    10 months ago

There were several kids in my class growing up that were left behind a grade.

Always felt kind of weird about that. Doubt that they ever caught up.

 
 
 
sandy-2021492
Professor Expert
6.2.1  sandy-2021492  replied to  cjcold @6.2    10 months ago

My dad had to repeat the 2nd grade.  After Grandpa made it clear this was unacceptable, he buckled down, did the work, and earned an appointment to West Point, which he declined.  He regrets declining it now.

 
 
 
Texan1211
Professor Principal
7  seeder  Texan1211    10 months ago

Parents should strenuously object to this type of "grading".

 
 
 
Freefaller
Professor Quiet
8  Freefaller    10 months ago

Times are changing, way back in grade 7 I put forth no effort for the entire year and guess what.... I failed and had to repeat

 
 
 
Buzz of the Orient
Professor Expert
9  Buzz of the Orient    10 months ago

I've told this story before, and after reading the seed it's even more relevant and justified.

When I was in my young teens, around 70 years ago, we kids from the Niagara Peninsula area of Ontario, Canada, would mix with the kids from western New York State, Buffalo in particular, during summer vacations at Crystal Beach, located on the north shore of Lake Erie just west of the Niagara River border.  There was a terrific sandy beach, a great amusement park with a famous roller-coaster, and the fantastic Loganberry juice drink.  Of course we talked about school and we Canadians were dumbfounded to hear the Buffalo kids bitch about their final marks if they were as LOW as 97% when all their friends were getting perfect 100% scores.  We Canadians had to bust our asses to achieve an honours score of 75% and if anyone got into even the mid 90s they were considered Mensa geniuses, and NOBODY ever got 100%.  50% was a bare minimum pass and nobody ever got it as an undeserved gift.  It really made us wonder about the American education system back then.

Of course those days were WAY before the invention of CHATgpt and its clones which will be a real boon for any lazy or ignorant kid to get nice high scores on their essays whether they're in the USA or Canada.

 
 
 
Thrawn 31
Professor Guide
10  Thrawn 31    10 months ago

Good for her. 

I do recall a class I should have failed, AP English, my senior year, literally the last class I had to pass to graduate for the last 2 years. 

Our grade was more or less based on 4 essays, I didn't write 2 of them and didn't show up for at least 35% of the classes.  In my mind I was already done with high school since my sophmore year, these were just formalities. The third was clearly a doing it the morning of bullshit essay, but was still apparently not bad. 

Then the final. It was an essay about the Grapes of Wrath, and that book bored the hell out of me. I only read about 2/3 of it. My teacher called me in for a meeting and told me "you have failed this class, but you should never have been here to begin with. Your final essay was one of the best I have ever read and so I am going to give you a C so you pass." 

I was fully expecting her to tell me that I failed and would have to do some summer school shit, and I would have been okay with that. I know that I didn't do the work and essentially blew that class, and my senior year off.

Point being, I trust a teacher's discretion lol.

 
 
 
cjcold
Professor Quiet
11  cjcold    10 months ago
[deleted]
 
 

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