Teacher Shares What Entitled Parents They Get To Deal With And The Screenshots Go Viral
Being a teacher is not for the faint-hearted. The amount of patience, devotion, and time you have to give to kids without ever expecting to get something back is hard to imagine. Add the whole responsibility to carry on one’s shoulders, and you realize the superpowers you need to become one.
And as if that alone wasn’t enough, the pandemic-induced chaos, virtual learning implementation, and pressure to meet the new guidelines have made teaching all the more challenging. Sadly, not everyone seems to be aware of that.
These text messages between an anonymous parent and a teacher have been surfing around the internet and causing a great stir among people. The series of screenshots reveals how insensible a parent can be when mutual understanding is something we need the most in these challenging times. “Do as I ask and we won’t have any issues,” reads the aggressive text, and one can only imagine what insane stuff teachers have to go through every day.
These text messages circulating around the internet show exactly what teachers have to go through on a daily basis
The global pandemic has changed the ways we live, work, and spend our leisure time beyond recognition. Primary and high schools, as well as universities, are no exception, and many institutions were forced to step up and get creative in developing alternative teaching solutions.
A recent study on distance learning from Bellwether Education Partners and Teach For America showed that there’s no single and right way to “perform distance teaching, but the remote learning processes of many districts and charters are similar to in-class instruction.”
The study also showed that there has been more effort from teaching staff to find a connection with families and students, and there’s been much more of a focus on health and safety compared to spring.
However, for many teachers, going online and navigating remote instruction have became quite a challenge. For example, Erin Pinsky of Joel Barlow High School in Redding, Connecticut told The New York Times that moving online was challenging because “not all students were comfortable having their video on during live learning opportunities.”
As a result, the teacher explained, “that reduced lively discussion and made it harder for me as a teacher to read the facial expressions and body language that provide me feedback about how students are progressing in the lesson objectives outside of their academic work.”
But as the second wave of coronavirus is nowhere near the end, teachers may have little choice but to adapt to this rapidly changing instruction environment.
And this is what people had to comment
This problem exists in all countries. Parents expect the teachers not only to teach, but also to educate and co-parent their kids. But when teachers discipline a kid for being rude or disruptive, the parents report them to the principal for being unreasonable and biased towards their little angels.
I think probably most parents are reasonable, but there's always going to be at least one problem parent just because people are people.
My both parents are (retired) teachers and, while there are many good parents out there, which is also reflected on the child themselves (regardless of grades), there's also too many parents who are so unaware of the real world and subsequently end up kind of neglecting their kid, who then ends up being problematic, behaviour wise, and by that I mean bothering other children, to the point of serious danger sometimes. Me, on the other hand, when I was in school, if I were told by teachers that their job was also to educate us (in a parental meaning, it doesn't translate well in English), my reaction would be "I already have my parents for that, thanks". It might sound rude, but it was usually the most authoritative ones who insisted they "love us" as their own children.
Daria B love
Hijacking top comment to ask: was there an update floating around the internet on this? How did meeting with principal go?
Parent got detention.
I know that this comment is either get Super down-voted or Super up-voted so it's kinda a risk to say this but I don't really think the world would be any worse without this person on it
No it doesn't. I have taught inn the Australian NSW system and never encountered any such rude parents.
It is obvious that’s a broken family. Teachers are not therapists or family counselors. The teacher was way too accommodating and should have escalated the issue to the Principal much earlier in the process.
Principals leave it to the teachers to deal with the nutcases. "It's your student and I do not have the time to deal with all the crazy parents."
Not true. Teachers may have 53 in a class to deal with but Principals have hundreds or thousands in the school to deal with. Teachers are the first level of contact.
I agree with barclaycale, what do you mean? Who's the "Not true" aimed at? At Podunkus it'd make sense, but it looks like you're answering Wil.
Red Hair Blue Soul ?
This mother is incapable of seeing her role or admitting fault. She is raising special little brats who will grow up to not only be just like her, but hate her for it.
Wow, you hit that nail squarely on the head!!! Sounds exactly like my niece and her mother.
Wow, nice teacher. If I was in that spot, the only thing that would stop me from nuking the parent would be my job rules.
I was in equal parts: impressed by the teacher's calm and reasonable responses and angered by the mother's self-righteous, high-handed demands. If she wants someone to cater to to her wants, get a private teacher. And pay them accordingly.
I'll give good odds that that Karent (great word!) has voted against every tax increase that might up the school budget or cover increased pay for teachers.
You are making an assumption that probably isn't true... you are assuming that she actually VOTED the last time there was an opportunity. This parent seems like the type of person who can't be bothered to show up and vote, but will complain about all the changes that happen in her community without her input.
EXACTLY. get a tutor you snob!
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Viviane -
I might’ve lost my job, because there’s just no way. No way.
This problem exists in all countries. Parents expect the teachers not only to teach, but also to educate and co-parent their kids. But when teachers discipline a kid for being rude or disruptive, the parents report them to the principal for being unreasonable and biased towards their little angels.
I think probably most parents are reasonable, but there's always going to be at least one problem parent just because people are people.
My both parents are (retired) teachers and, while there are many good parents out there, which is also reflected on the child themselves (regardless of grades), there's also too many parents who are so unaware of the real world and subsequently end up kind of neglecting their kid, who then ends up being problematic, behaviour wise, and by that I mean bothering other children, to the point of serious danger sometimes. Me, on the other hand, when I was in school, if I were told by teachers that their job was also to educate us (in a parental meaning, it doesn't translate well in English), my reaction would be "I already have my parents for that, thanks". It might sound rude, but it was usually the most authoritative ones who insisted they "love us" as their own children.
Daria B love
Hijacking top comment to ask: was there an update floating around the internet on this? How did meeting with principal go?
Parent got detention.
I know that this comment is either get Super down-voted or Super up-voted so it's kinda a risk to say this but I don't really think the world would be any worse without this person on it
No it doesn't. I have taught inn the Australian NSW system and never encountered any such rude parents.
It is obvious that’s a broken family. Teachers are not therapists or family counselors. The teacher was way too accommodating and should have escalated the issue to the Principal much earlier in the process.
Principals leave it to the teachers to deal with the nutcases. "It's your student and I do not have the time to deal with all the crazy parents."
Not true. Teachers may have 53 in a class to deal with but Principals have hundreds or thousands in the school to deal with. Teachers are the first level of contact.
I agree with barclaycale, what do you mean? Who's the "Not true" aimed at? At Podunkus it'd make sense, but it looks like you're answering Wil.
Red Hair Blue Soul ?
This mother is incapable of seeing her role or admitting fault. She is raising special little brats who will grow up to not only be just like her, but hate her for it.
Wow, you hit that nail squarely on the head!!! Sounds exactly like my niece and her mother.
Wow, nice teacher. If I was in that spot, the only thing that would stop me from nuking the parent would be my job rules.
I was in equal parts: impressed by the teacher's calm and reasonable responses and angered by the mother's self-righteous, high-handed demands. If she wants someone to cater to to her wants, get a private teacher. And pay them accordingly.
I'll give good odds that that Karent (great word!) has voted against every tax increase that might up the school budget or cover increased pay for teachers.
You are making an assumption that probably isn't true... you are assuming that she actually VOTED the last time there was an opportunity. This parent seems like the type of person who can't be bothered to show up and vote, but will complain about all the changes that happen in her community without her input.
EXACTLY. get a tutor you snob!
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Viviane -
I might’ve lost my job, because there’s just no way. No way.