A Florida high-school teacher that was fired for giving students zero marks for not turning in homework has received support online after a message left to her class on a whiteboard went viral.
Teacher Diane Tirado says she was sacked for not following the "no-zero" policy at West Gate K-8 School in Port St Lucie.
The policy means the lowest grade a student can be given is 50 per cent, even if no work is completed.
The 52-year-old was sacked on September 14 news.com.au reports.
She left a message on the whiteboard to her class and posted a picture of it on Facebook.
"Mrs Tirado loves you and wishes you the best in life! I have been fired for refusing to give you a 50 per cent for not handing anything in. (Love) Mrs Tirado," the message read.
Since the post was made on September 16 it has received thousands of reactions and shares.
It also drew plenty of comments from people outraged at her firing.
"The people that will run our future (are) the people still getting credit for doing nothing," one Facebook user replied.
Mrs Tirado recently appeared on local station WLOS to give her side of the story.
"If there’s nothing to grade, how can I give somebody a 50 per cent?
"I’m arguing the fact that you don’t get something for nothing. I want the policy changed, and it's not just here," she said.
Yesterday, St Lucie Public Schools superintendent E. Wayne Gent defended the "no zero" policy on Fox News, saying it is still a failing grade.
"You want to make sure that the (grades) themselves are not punitive in nature.
"Students are required to meet certain standards. If you don’t meet it on the first shot then we’re going to give you other opportunities to meet it."
SHARE ME