Nobody likes getting a bad grade, ever. In fact, most people don’t like to see a grade below an A or B on an assignment. A teacher in Florida recently gave a student a zero on an assignment they failed to complete. The school has a policy on the lowest grade that can be put into the grade-book – a fifty. The teacher refused to enter the grade as a fifty and was fired. This seems silly because it is. Here’s why teachers should give students zeros.

We have had all those times when we are sick, out of town, or have another event going on during school. Look, I understand life happens. However, assignments at school don’t become unassigned because we are not there. In most cases, teachers will try to inform you of an assignment you missed and give you the opportunity to make-up that assignment. I have missed multiple days in a row before, and every time the teachers I had have informed me of the assignment I missed, when it will be due, and how I go about completing the assignment. Completing the assignment is called responsibility. To make sure you, the reader, and I are on the same page I Googled the definition of responsibility. This is what Uncle Google had to say, “the state or fact of having a duty to deal with something or of having control over someone.” You as a student have the duty to complete assignments. In fact, nobody is forcing you to complete an assignment. At the end of the day, your grade only affects your fate. If you fail to do the work you are assigned, you will receive a zero. That is called accountability. Once again, to make sure you, the reader, and I the writer are on the same page I asked Google what accountability is. This is what was said “the fact or condition of being accountable; responsibility.” Notice the word at the end: responsibility. You should be responsible for your actions. If you fail to do the work given to you, you must be accountable and accept the fact that you failed to complete your responsibility. I spoke with students to get their thoughts and opinions on the article. I wanted to specifically see the response students would have to two specific questions, so I asked different students the exact same two questions.

I first spoke with Bradley Sclafani, a Freshman.

Q: Have you ever received a zero on an assignment you never completed?

A: Yes, I have received zeros on assignments I never completed many times.

Q: Do you think teachers should be allowed to give zeros on assignments you do not complete?

A: Yes, teachers should be allowed to give you a zero if you turn nothing in. However, I believe you should be able to rid of that zero if you turn something in. In other words, if you never turn it in, it should stay a zero, but you should have the opportunity to fix it.

I next spoke with Erin O’Hara, a Senior.

Q: Have you ever received a zero on an assignment you never completed?

A: Yeah, I have received zeros on homework assignments I forgot to do.

Q: Do you think teachers should be allowed to give zeros on assignments you do not complete?

A: I think that teachers should give you zeros on assignments you never complete. If you do not do the work, you do not deserve a grade.

I spoke next with Emma Sampson, a Sophomore.

Q: Have you ever received a zero on an assignment you never completed?

A: Yes, I have received a zero on something I never completed.

Q: Do you think teachers should be allowed to give zeros on assignments you do not complete?

A: Teachers should be allowed to give students zeros but to a certain extent. If a student is absent for some reason or is not able to complete the assignment, then they should not receive a zero. Instead, they should get ample time to make it up. When a student does not turn an assignment in and has been given enough time to complete the assignment, I think the teacher should deduct points from the assignment for each day it is not completed. I think if a teacher does that and when enough points have been deducted to become a zero, that is okay.

I spoke lastly to Hayes Frieling, a Senior.

Q: Have you ever received a zero on an assignment you never completed?

A: I have never gotten a zero before – I complete my assignments.

Q: Do you think teachers should be allowed to give zeros on assignments you do not complete?

A: Yes – If you do not do an assignment, you should get a zero. You turned in zero percent of the work, so you get an equivalent grade. Unless you have a serious reason that caused you to not be able to make up that assignment, you get a zero.

Most students agree – If you don’t do your work, you should get a zero. Do you think the teacher should have been fired in Florida, and do you think teachers should be allowed to give zeros? Let us know below!