As the summer break comes to a close, teachers are busy setting up their classrooms while parents are likely doing a little happy dance. A recent Reddit thread invited educators to share the most ridiculous things they’ve heard from parents, and the responses were nothing short of astonishing—over 4,000 comments poured in! Amidst preparing engaging lesson plans, coping with endless grading, and mediating student conflicts, teachers have shown remarkable resilience, even when faced with some of the most outrageous complaints and requests from parents.
On Testing
One teacher recounted a situation where a student, who didn’t study and skipped most of a test, had her mother come in to argue for a better grade. The mother insisted that her daughter should only be graded on the questions she answered, claiming that since those were correct, she deserved a perfect score. Another educator shared, “A parent told me his child was just pretending to struggle in class to make me look bad, but he is actually a genius at home.” Meanwhile, a teacher’s mom often has to allow students to retake tests simply because their parents complain that their kids, who are “genius,” shouldn’t fail.
Regarding Homework
“I don’t want you teaching my son anything,” one parent stated bluntly. Another claimed that intellectual property laws were murky when it came to blatant copying. In yet another instance, a parent suggested that her daughter wouldn’t be writing anymore and would instead just verbalize answers. “My child has anxiety and won’t complete her final project, so you’ll give her an A or I’ll report you,” was another chilling demand.
On Behavioral Issues
When discussing a child’s behavioral problems, one parent declared, “From 8 to 2, he’s your responsibility, not mine.” In a shocking turn of events, a father high-fived his son after the child punched a girl in the face. Another parent tried to shift blame for their child’s disruptive behavior, claiming, “You took his paper airplane in 2nd grade, so this is really your fault.” One teacher even faced a threat from a student, who claimed her aggression was affected by lunar phases.
Concerning Medical Issues
A teacher suspected a student might be autistic and suggested an evaluation. The mother refused, arguing that if her son had autism, it was the teacher’s fault. “Why isn’t my child writing their name yet? I don’t want him wearing sunscreen. My child is free-range, and we don’t vaccinate,” was a list of demands from a kindergarten parent. In another conference, a mother dismissed concerns about a possible autism diagnosis, stating, “I don’t want to know anything medical,” despite mentioning that one potential father figure had “something called Asperger’s.”
Unreasonable Demands
One parent expected that, considering the taxes they pay, teachers should ensure their child gets into any college they desire. Another asked for an exemption from speaking in Spanish class because it made her daughter uncomfortable. “As a youth sports coach, I was once offered $50 by a dad to keep a specific kid from playing in a game,” one coach recalled, noting the absurdity of the request regarding 6-year-olds.
Simply Ridiculous
“I was told that the only reason I work in special education is that I can’t teach ‘normal’ kids,” reported one teacher. Another parent insisted, “Don’t worry about my daughter; she’s thick and only needs to learn to cook and clean.” A third-grader’s parents arrived with a notarized list of demands that included bans on gluten in class and requests for their child to choose her own seating arrangements.
As we gear up for the new school year, let’s hope that parent-teacher meetings can be free of tantrums and unreasonable demands. If you want to read more on related topics, check out our other blog post here, where we delve into various facets of parenting and education.
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In summary, the anecdotes shared by teachers serve as a reminder of the unique challenges they face, often compounded by the bewildering demands of some parents. As we step into a new academic year, let’s strive for more understanding and cooperation in the parent-teacher relationship.
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