Do I let my class get a zero or give the patently obvious hint that will allow them to pass if they put the effort in?

I know it seems like a simple question. The kids should put in the effort, this is their own fail. <br><br>But I know the home situations of most of these kids. I know one is exhausted because her parents are so lazy that they are relying on this 13 year old to babysit her 2 younger siblings. I know that the patently obvious hint I’m thinking of will provide these kids the opportunity to not have the extra weight of a fail on their shoulders. I know that in return, I will have to see my principal and argue why I gave so many kids a hint. I know that I will probably get in some kind of trouble for it. <br><br>This assignment isn’t a simple one, so I’m not worried about the merits of them passing. In my opinion, they don’t deserve the hint I’m about to give them but I want to do it because I know this will make their life easier. In my opinion, I’m the patently obvious problem here.