As summer comes to a close, educators are busy prepping their classrooms while parents are celebrating the impending return to school. A Reddit thread sparked a wave of responses, prompting teachers to share the most ludicrous comments they’ve received from parents, racking up over 4,000 replies. Amidst lesson planning, grading assignments, and managing classroom dynamics, these teachers have encountered a range of bewildering requests and remarks from parents.
On Assessments
One teacher recounted a parent’s insistence that her daughter, who had barely attempted a test, should only be graded on the few questions she answered correctly. The mother believed this would justify a perfect score. Another teacher shared how a dad claimed his son was “pretending” to be slow during class, asserting that he was much smarter at home. One educator lamented the pressure to allow students to retake tests simply due to parental complaints about their children’s poor performance, even when no learning issues were present.
On Assignments
Parents can sometimes blur the lines when it comes to homework expectations. One teacher was told flatly, “It’s not your job to teach my son lessons.” Another parent argued about plagiarism, stating that “intellectual property is a gray area.” In a rather bizarre case, one parent requested that her child be excused from completing a project due to anxiety, demanding an A for the course regardless of the project’s completion—a threat to report the teacher to the administration was included.
On Behavioral Issues
During discussions about behavioral concerns, one parent bluntly remarked, “From 8-2, he’s your problem, not mine.” In an even more shocking incident, a father high-fived his son after he punched a girl in the face. A teacher shared that one parent blamed her son’s misbehavior on the fact that she had once scrunched up his paper airplane in second grade, claiming it was the root cause of his aggression.
On Health Concerns
In a concerning exchange, a teacher suggested a possible autism evaluation for a student, only to be met with resistance from the mother, who claimed that if her son had autism, it was the teacher’s fault. Another teacher listed a parent’s myriad demands, including objections to sunscreen use and a refusal to vaccinate. In a disturbing turn, one mother declared that she would never Google anything medical, despite discussing a possible autism diagnosis in the same breath.
On Unreasonable Expectations
Some demands simply defy logic. One parent insisted that, given their tax contributions, teachers should guarantee their child’s admission into any college they desired. Another parent proposed exempting her child from speaking in Spanish class, claiming it made her daughter uncomfortable. Even in youth sports, one coach recounted a dad trying to bribe him to prevent an opposing player from participating in a game involving six-year-olds.
Just Plain Absurd
One teacher reported being told she worked in special education because she “couldn’t get a job teaching normal children.” Another parent dismissed the importance of education for her daughter, stating, “Don’t worry about her; she’s thick. She only needs to cook and clean.” In another instance, a third grader’s parents presented a notarized list of demands, including a gluten-free classroom for their daughter—who didn’t have celiac disease—and special seating arrangements that defied classroom organization.
As we gear up for another school year, let’s aim to keep parent-teacher interactions constructive and respectful.
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In summary, the tales shared by teachers illustrate the sometimes outrageous expectations and comments they face from parents. As we embark on a new school year, fostering understanding and collaboration will be key.