A New York high school teacher has gone viral after sharing a video of her students getting upset over the zeros she entered into their gradebook. The teacher said she had pushed for extra classes to help the seniors prepare for exams they needed to pass before graduating in June. However, she became frustrated when some of them skipped classes, failed to complete their work, performed poorly on assessments, and refused to take their studies seriously.
Her decision to give them zeros has received mixed reactions online. Many viewers supported her, while others questioned how she handled the grading.
The woman shared two videos on TikTok, which have attracted more than a million views. In one of the clips, she appeared amused as students complained in the background about their grades dropping.
One student could be heard yelling, “Today I came in class and I did the work. So why do I have a 55?” Another complained, “I had an 85 yesterday. Now I got a 66.”
The teacher said she felt no sympathy for her students. According to her, she had advocated for the school to provide a test preparation class because she felt the students were not getting enough help. The school eventually agreed and assigned her to teach Algebra 1 and Algebra 2. However, she claimed the students did not appreciate the opportunity she had worked to secure for them.
“These kids don’t take nothing serious,” the teacher said. “I’m doing all this for y’all [and] y’all playing in my face. So today will be the day that you learn to never play with me again.”
The teacher believed the students were used to getting away with not doing their work and that they were shocked when they finally faced the consequences. She said some students’ grades had fallen as low as 47, 38, and 23. Despite their reactions, she maintained that they had earned those scores through their lack of effort.
Netizens React to New York Teacher’s Grading Decision
The New York teacher’s approach received considerable support from viewers, many of whom felt that students needed to be held responsible for their academic performance.
“No child left behind has ruined education,” one person commented. “Why have schools been allowing students to pass without doing any work in the first place?” another questioned. A third said, “They should’ve been held accountable way before senior year.”
“As an educator I absolutely agree with you… I teach middle school and I’m the same way… I’m tired of the shenanigans as well,” another commenter wrote. Someone else added, “I fully support u… The only way they learn is if they FEEL the consequences.”
A few others did not share the same stance. They questioned whether the teacher had entered the grades too late, leaving students unaware of how poorly they were performing until the end of the grading period.
“Why would you purposely put grades in late? How could people possible know they’re not doing well in your class if they previously had an 85?” one TikToker asked. Another agreed, writing, “U should put the grades in throughout the term… if that was me I’d lose it.”
The teacher said she still stood by her decision. She maintained that the students had ample time to put in the work but failed to do so. She also challenged anyone who disagreed with her methods to come and teach the students themselves and see what she had to deal with.
