ADVERTISEMENT

Last year we wrote a post about Kyle Schwartz, a third grade teacher at Doull Elementary School in Denver, Colorado who gave her students one very simple task. She asked them to complete the sentence "I wish my teacher knew..." and the answers were as surprising as they were heartbreaking. One of her students didn't have pencils to do their homework with. Another had nobody to play with. One had a mom who got sick a lot and another had a mom who wasn't even around to sign their reading log.

Her findings were shared widely on the internet and the Twitter hashtag “#iwishmyteacherknew" went viral as other teachers followed suit and asked their students the same question before sharing the results with Kyle. Now Ms. Schwartz has published a book titled "I Wish My Teacher Knew: How One Question Can Change Everything For Our Kids," and you can find some examples of the notes that inspired her in the heartbreaking list below.

More info: Twitter | I Wish My Teacher Knew

#1

I Wish My Teacher Knew

Kyle Schwartz Report

jevais
Community Member
10 years ago

How sad. The country that wants to rule the world can't even have their children have pencils at home. Unbelievable! All the money goes to sending spaceships to find life on other planets or war in other countries.

View more comments
RELATED:
    #2

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    Kyle Schwartz Report

    Leah May
    Community Member
    10 years ago

    What the kids appear to really be saying is I wish my teacher knew I was a whole person with a backstory and to please treat me accordingly. Understand my lack of effort may be due to stress and heartache and lack of resources as oppose to naughtiness laziness etc.

    View more comments
    #3

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    Kyle Schwartz Report

    Luis Milian
    Community Member
    10 years ago

    just one friend can change this!

    View more comments
    #4

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    I Wish My Teacher Knew Report

    Cherie
    Community Member
    10 years ago

    How frightening for this little kid. Prayers.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #5

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    I Wish My Teacher Knew Report

    Teresa Stockroske
    Community Member
    10 years ago

    Onion ninja smacked me straight in the face on this one..... I lost too many family members to some firm of cancer.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #6

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    mrsnorsworthy Report

    Hans
    Community Member
    10 years ago

    Finally a positive one!

    View more comments
    #7

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    Kyle Schwartz Report

    Luis Milian
    Community Member
    10 years ago

    even if mom is not around cause of work, this one is a concern

    View more comments
    #8

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    mrsnorsworthy Report

    Luis Milian
    Community Member
    10 years ago

    life hits us on an early age

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #9

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    I Wish My Teacher Knew Report

    jevais
    Community Member
    10 years ago

    Life in the U.S.A. is not at all the Amercian dream. Why people cannot live on just one salary? How shocking. What is wrong with your economy? Why do the citizens have to hold down Serval jobs at a time? I feel so sad for the average person living in the States, I hope that one day things will change and that works will not have to work in several places to keep food on the table.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #10

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    LisaCurtin7 Report

    Steven Thomas Ganz
    Community Member
    10 years ago

    When I was that age I knew that my teachers knew that I was being bullied but they didn't do anything about it, it's just not fare that I did walk funny because I had to wear a leg brace due to polio. Although now I have no regrets.

    View more comments
    #11

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    segasior Report

    Kjorn
    Community Member
    10 years ago

    that one hit me. i can't imagine the teacher joy when he/she read that!

    View more comments
    #12

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    I Wish My Teacher Knew Report

    Roselientje
    Community Member
    10 years ago

    Aaawh

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #13

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    I Wish My Teacher Knew Report

    Hans
    Community Member
    10 years ago

    Future Bored Panda visitor!

    View more comments
    #14

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    MsReger Report

    Roselientje
    Community Member
    10 years ago

    Good, dont let it stop you!

    View more comments
    #15

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    I Wish My Teacher Knew Report

    Jonathan Eatsalot
    Community Member
    10 years ago

    the school should know this already

    View more comments

    Never miss a story that brings joy to the world. Add us on Google

    #16

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    I Wish My Teacher Knew Report

    Funda Çıtak
    Community Member
    10 years ago

    ;(

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #17

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    MeghannMajdi Report

    Pat Kellim
    Community Member
    10 years ago

    heartbreaking!!!!

    View more comments
    #18

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    I Wish My Teacher Knew Report

    Anya O
    Community Member
    10 years ago

    I wish my teacher knew that!And that I also become very focused when I draw stuff on the corners of my book

    View more comments
    #19

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    MeghannMajdi Report

    Tocolocato
    Community Member
    10 years ago

    This one broke my heart.

    #20

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    I Wish My Teacher Knew Report

    Casper Van Der Linden
    Community Member
    10 years ago

    It's hard to response on this one

    View more comments
    #21

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    N_Night_Ninja Report

    Pi...
    Community Member
    10 years ago

    This...is imposed on kids and people and makes us feel bad for not achieving our over-expectations

    View more comments
    #22

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    I Wish My Teacher Knew Report

    Pat Kellim
    Community Member
    10 years ago

    :(

    View more comments
    #23

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    mrsnorsworthy Report

    Daniel Mallory
    Community Member
    9 years ago

    im the opisite when stressed engh my body and mind shut it out causing well nt adention

    View more comments
    #24

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    ohhhstina Report

    #25

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    I Wish My Teacher Knew Report

    Kjorn
    Community Member
    10 years ago

    that's the kind of stuff the teacher MUST know. my kid has it and the teacher know it. It MUST know that for adapt his teaching

    View more comments
    #26

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    rembertwilliam Report

    Rhon
    Community Member
    10 years ago

    You will, sweet child. You have the motivation of love to help you. Don't forget that being great doesn't mean being famous, greatness can be behind the scenes. My love to you little one.

    View more comments
    #27

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    Kyle Schwartz Report

    Maniac_With_Nails
    Community Member
    9 years ago

    He/she is NOT a suck up. I, for one, really enjoy school. So it is perfectly normal for someone to say that they like school. There is nothing wrong with it. So stop criticizing this student. They are just expressing their opinion. If they like school, they like school. Most of my friends actually like school. So to Elena Popowitch and Cairis Adams, every child has the right to like school. So if you didn't like school, I'm sorry for your loss. I'm sorry you didn't have a decent childhood to make you decent people.

    View more comments
    #28

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    writingrebecca Report

    Hetal Vyas
    Community Member
    10 years ago

    Happens to everyone at some point x

    View more comments
    #29

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    Mohler_GT_NISD Report

    Haris Segetalo
    Community Member
    10 years ago

    Me too..

    #30

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    I Wish My Teacher Knew Report

    #31

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    LeslieDavenpor1 Report

    frederic eeckman
    Community Member
    10 years ago

    I never understood teachers who blame students for asking questions...

    View more comments
    #32

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    Kyle Schwartz Report

    #33

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    I Wish My Teacher Knew Report

    Nga Kieu
    Community Member
    9 years ago

    if you're not doing well in school, your teacher would see your parent all the time, like I see my sons teacher. 😁

    View more comments
    #34

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    MeghannMajdi Report

    Pi...
    Community Member
    10 years ago

    That broken heart...broke MY already aching heart.

    View more comments
    #35

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    EnochsDrama Report

    Tessa
    Community Member
    10 years ago

    wait, aren't these written by young children? that is very sad if such a young child knows so many people who want to kill themselves. I am one myself and know some others as well and I dont think young children should get involved in this too much, i dont think that is healthy

    View more comments
    #36

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    I Wish My Teacher Knew Report

    Pi...
    Community Member
    10 years ago

    I see a lot of empathy in these kids... I wonder why it fades when we grow older :,(

    View more comments
    #37

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    MsReger Report

    Rhon
    Community Member
    10 years ago

    You go and live your dream!

    View more comments
    #38

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    I Wish My Teacher Knew Report

    Mel Biago
    Community Member
    10 years ago

    Aww baby, I feel you. Middle child out of 7, 5 are brothers, my parents divorced when I was 7 years old. Chin up baby, it gets better ❤️

    View more comments
    #39

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    EnochsDrama Report

    Cherie
    Community Member
    10 years ago

    I'm not sure this belongs here, but it's a valid concern.

    View more comments
    #40

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    litcoachlou Report

    #41

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    EnochsDrama Report

    Hetal Vyas
    Community Member
    10 years ago

    It does sometimes and it will...eventually

    #42

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    Miss_Carpenter1 Report

    Silent Skeleton
    Community Member
    10 years ago

    awwh

    #43

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    I Wish My Teacher Knew Report

    Roselientje
    Community Member
    10 years ago

    Aawh that is so sweet :(. I am melting

    #44

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    writingrebecca Report

    Kjorn
    Community Member
    10 years ago

    it's sad to see that at this Young age kid already use the word Stress...

    #45

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    I Wish My Teacher Knew Report

    Rhon
    Community Member
    10 years ago

    Cute!

    View more comments
    #46

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    MsZarovska Report

    Anne Rouffignac
    Community Member
    9 years ago

    Sweet kid, and I love the little annotation by the teacher. Get well soon Grandma!

    #47

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    I Wish My Teacher Knew Report

    Cherie
    Community Member
    10 years ago

    Me too! More is not always better.

    View more comments
    #48

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    writingrebecca Report

    #49

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    doodlinmunkyboy Report

    Goz Maculele
    Community Member
    10 years ago

    cheeky

    #50

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    EnochsDrama Report

    Megan Spainhour
    Community Member
    10 years ago

    Yes cast, it's probably a theater group or theater class

    View more comments
    #51

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    BonnySDieterich Report

    #52

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    I Wish My Teacher Knew Report

    Nga Kieu
    Community Member
    9 years ago

    teachers supposed to celebrate birthdays with their kids. maybe this kid just write this cause he/she didn't think of anything else.

    View more comments
    #53

    I Wish My Teacher Knew

    MeghannMajdi Report