Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
then open in external browser
and click "Open in External Browser" 
A good teacher can do so much more than explain math or grammar; they spark curiosity, cheer you on, and sometimes change your life without even realizing it. They’re the reason some students look forward to school every day.
But let’s be real, not every teacher fits that bill. Some make school feel more like a horror movie than a place to learn. Curious, someone on Reddit asked, “What’s the worst thing a teacher has done or said to you or someone else?” And wow, the replies did not disappoint. Bored Panda rounded up some of the most jaw-dropping responses. Get ready to cringe, gasp, and maybe remember a story or two of your own.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
My glasses broke in fourth grade. It was manageable bc I sat pretty close to the front. My teacher asked me several times when I was getting new ones and all I could say was idk. One day, she moved me to the back of the room. Couldn’t see the board from back there. She stopped saying what to do out loud and told us the problems we needed to do were on the board. Told the girl next to me she better not tell me what the board said, if I wanted to know my parents needed to get me new glasses.
I’d try and sharpen my pencil or get a tissue or something so I could sneak a look. The girl next to me would write down what it said in the board and slip it to me, that way I know what math problems to do or what pages to read.
I was ten. I couldn’t force my parents to get me new glasses. Money was tight. She was an awful teacher.
Once time a girl slammed my fingers in a desk, on purpose. She saw it and ignored it. I was a good kid. I never got in trouble and was always well behaved. Idk why she had it out for me.
RELATED:
#2
3rd grade. Everyone had to spend the day with their faces on the desk, your forehead and nose had to literally touch the desk unless she was speaking directly to you or you were doing a worksheet.
F**k you Mrs.Knight. Your husband died just to get away from you.
Edda Kamphues 1 month ago
I (teacher) sincerely apologise for all the absolutely horrific teachers I read about here. Some people are just not meant to be in that profession.
#3
I got in trouble for saying Chad was a country.
As kids, many of us spent most of our weekdays in school, more than we probably realized at the time. According to The Science Survey, the average student spends about 1,260 hours a year with their teachers. That’s almost 8 full weeks, side by side, every single year. It’s clear that teachers don’t just assign homework, they play a major role in shaping lives. Their presence, good or bad, can leave a lasting impression far beyond the classroom.
To understand this better, Bored Panda spoke with Sanjog Patil, an Assistant Professor in Mumbai who teaches at Thakur College of Engineering and Technology. With years of experience behind him, Patil shared his thoughts on what makes a teacher truly great and what doesn’t. From classroom attitudes to lasting influence, he explained it all with insight and heart. Because sometimes, it's not the subject that sticks with us, it’s the person who taught it. And small moments with teachers often grow into lifelong memories.
#4
One of my teachers gave us a writing assignment on what it means to be Australian. I wasn't born here so I asked "What if we're not Australian?". Her response? "Well, maybe you should go back to where you came from". Then went on a pretty racist rant about immigrants.
I mentioned this during dinner that night. My Dad called the principal to told him he's going to be at the school at 8:30am and to have my teacher in his office for a meeting. I got called into that meeting to give my side of the story, it was super awkward. My Dad pretty much put my teacher in her place, she was f*****g squirming. This teacher hated me from the get go but all of a sudden was asking all nice. I'm sure she was doing it out of interest and not because the principal was right in front of her.
Emilu 1 month ago (edited)
I had a customer that told me "I should go back to where I came from" when I worked in retail. He had a distinctive Russian accent. I grew up in Australia, so I have an Australian accent (surprise!), and proceeded to tell him where to go; I think my response was "go back to Russia and don't come back here. How long have you been here? I've lived here all my life." (For the record, I'm adopted from South Korea. So obviously I don't *look* traditionally Aussie. But when I open my mouth, yeah, I'm as Aussie bogan as they come.) His wife apologised to me for her racist husband. I forgave, but I don't forget. People that use the “you should go back to where you came from" deserve a special place in hell as far as I'm concerned.
#5
Middle school history class. My family was homeless, and moved around a lot while my parents tried their damnedest to find a solid spot to land. Basically made homework and studying really f*****g hard, especially having no light in a tent etc. One time I was in a position to crush it and bring my grades back up. I had a history exam coming up and went HARD studying. On the day of the test my mom surprised me at school with McDonald's for lunch (this was a huge expense) and a good luck hug. I felt like I breezed through it, knew all the answers, f****n nailed it.
When the test came back, every single question was marked wrong, just a sea of red. I thought no way I got every single thing wrong, took it to the teacher's assistant and asked him to double check, he found I mostly aced it and told the teacher. She said "that little s**t isn't going anywhere in life anyway, I'm not changing his grade."
I have no idea why she even called me a little s**t. I was a quiet kid, never caused trouble, and tried hard when I had the means. She was just used to seeing my lower grades and decided I wasn't worth any effort.
BrownEyedGrrl 1 month ago
My son's kindergarten teacher sent him home with notes saying how ill behaved he was. We moved & changed schools. A few weeks later, I told his new teacher what his old teacher said. She was shocked & said he was the most well behaved child in her class. My son had red hair. New teacher said some teachers just pick on a kid for something they can't help.
#6
My 3rd grade teacher, (in the early 80’s) cut my alligator shoe laces, apparently even though they were tied.. the ends were too long, and gave me detention. I cried.
My dad, who had just left, to live with his girlfriend, gave me those.. and my mom was super depressed and hadn’t gotten out of bed for 6 months. I (a 3rd grader) had to feed my sister (in kindergarten) and figure out how to take care of the daily tasks.
But! Oh no, my laces were too long. God forbid you ask why I was filthy and starving.
F**k you Mrs. Johnson you back country s**t teacher.
Patil explains, “A good teacher shares knowledge with patience, energy, and care. They don’t lose their temper when students ask questions, they encourage curiosity instead. They welcome discussion, and that's how students grow confidence in themselves. Their passion becomes infectious, and their support feels steady and strong. It’s not about knowing all the answers, but helping students find their own. That’s what sets a truly inspiring teacher apart from the rest.”
#7
Worst thing a teacher did to me was smash my dreams.
I was in 4th grade, maybe, drawing. And my art teacher saw me and said "well I know the one thing you'll never be is an architect!" Guess what my dream job was at the time. Like, why the f**k would say that to a child?
#8
My math teacher senior year was talking s**t about my friend and how dumb she was to the other students in my class who didn't like the girl and were always picking on her.
I stopped the teacher in the middle of the conversation and told her I was going to fight her on my last day of school, even if it meant I couldn't walk at graduation.
She got pregnant right at the end of the year, so I obviously couldn't.
Years later the teachers mother in law came into my place of work, she gave me her last name and I asked if she knew the teacher and her face went sour, I told her I hated her and we bonded over how awful she was.
Also a history teacher choked a kid out in the hallway in that same highschool.
HardBoiledBlonde 1 month ago
In Junior High, US, the shop teacher got into a knock down drag out with one of my male school friends. It spilled out onto the outside school grounds with kids surrounding them while they fought. It was traumatic.
#9
In my highschool there was a teacher that told a newly diagnosed diabetic girl she couldn't check her blood sugar in class.
Edda Kamphues 1 month ago
We (teachers) have a duty of care, so this is pure negligence and said teacher should be fired.
Every class has its mix: some students love note-taking, others think visually. Some grasp lessons through stories, others by trial and error. A great teacher knows when to switch gears and rethink their approach.
“They adjust their methods to meet each student where they are,” Patil adds. That adaptability helps every learner feel like they belong. Because the goal isn't just to teach, it’s to help every student understand.
#10
Told me i was stupid, arrogant, and the worst student she has ever had. She told me I would never become a doctor and should quit. I’m blessed to say she was not right and I’m in my 3rd year of medical school😁.
BeesEelsAndPups 1 month ago
In my first year of school in the US my teacher told my mother she thought I was r*tarded (her words not mine), because I never spoke in class. Beyond the fact that I was still uncomfortable with the language, I was just a shy kid. At least she didn't tell me that though. I only learned about that conversation years later from my mother.
#11
My school was really violent.
I got slapped in the face in first grade by the teacher for "mouthing off". I sure did afterward. Called her a b***h. Got sent to the principal's office.
We had one teacher who had a paddle with screw tips that stuck out about a ¼ inch. Same teacher would also make you put your head up against a concrete wall if you refused the screw tip paddle, so the regular paddle would hit you, then you'd smash the top of your head into the wall. Your choice.
One teacher slammed a student kidney first into the eraser shelf on the chalkboard.
A principal (who was 6'7") picked a friend of mine (who was about 5'6" and 140 pounds) by the collar of his shirt and smashed his head repeatedly (5 or 6 times) into the concrete wall above the door jam.
Lots of fighting in class, a stabbing or two, the occasional gun.
Fun times in rural late 80's Ohio.
#12
My dad died at the beginning of my junior year of high school, but he was in a coma for 2 weeks before he finally died. He lived a few hours away, so we were planning on driving down there & staying for a little while to try to convince his family's to pull the plug (he was never going to survive). My mom typed a letter explaining everything for me to take to school & give to my teachers so I could keep up with my work. Every teacher told me to just not worry about work right now & we'd figure it out later but my b***h of a math teacher. She read the note & sighed then looked at me super annoyed & said "you kids really need to figure this stuff out sooner & give us a heads up because I can't just come up with work."
Okay well next time my dad decides to die I'll make sure he gives me a weeks notice first 🙄
Maybe not the worst but it really stuck with me.
Michael Largey 1 month ago (edited)
When I had a student out for a protracted time, I always told them the same thing when they got back. "You can't hurry math, so let's not try. Focus on all that other school work you have hanging over your head until you have some free time to focus and work together with me. In the meanwhile, when you're in class pay no attention to what I'm discussing because you won't be ready for it. Start reading the text from where we were when you left, and after my lecture we'll start some one-on-one on that material. Same thing when the students are taking tests. Relax. Everything will be fine. It's my job to make it fine." Decades of teaching told me that this was simply the most practical and efficient way to handle the situation.
But it’s not only about the content, Patil stresses, it’s about connection too. The kind of teacher who learns your name, asks how your day is going. The one who smiles at your progress or encourages you after a mistake.
That safe classroom space makes a world of difference for growing minds. It turns school from something you "have" to do into something you look forward to. And those connections often last long after the final bell rings.
#13
“If you don’t go outside and play with the other children, when you grow up, you’ll be a c*****e in a wheelchair”. Said to me when I was 5 (school starts young where I’m from) because I had bad asthma so I was reading in the library instead of running around. F****d up on so many levels.
#14
In kindergarten, my teacher held a coloring competition. I took so much time using crayons to color within the lines. She looked at mine and called it "scribble Scrabble".
I still resent that b***h 30 years later.
#15
Not me, but a friend. A music teacher once told him "Music isn't supposed to be fun"
My guy would go on to play in well respected metal and indie bands in the 2000's. Nothing huge, but locally recognized and did some international touring. He's a very talented guitar player, and had LOTS of fun playing music. F**k you Ms. James.
Not all classrooms feel like that, though. “A bad teacher,” Patil says, “might lack passion. They stick to one way of teaching even if it doesn’t help every student. They may not offer feedback or engage with questions openly. That can make a student feel overlooked or discouraged in the long run. Instead of inspiring growth, it puts a stop to curiosity and exploration. And it leaves students feeling like they don’t belong in the room.”
#16
"You did this too fast. You must've cheated." I had to beg my mom not to go to the school to complain. Looking back, I should've let her go raise hell. That teacher was a b***h.
Kiss Army 1 month ago
My 3rd grade teacher told my mom that I should be in special ed because I couldn't read. My mom laughed at her and told her I could read before I even started school and I always had my head stuck in a book. She insisted that the teacher test my reading aptitude and the teacher didn't want to so they got the principal involved and tested me... teacher ended up having to apologize to my mom because I tested at a high school reading level. (The teacher taught pretty much all reading lessons by reading aloud as a class and I was a shy, introverted kid whose worst nightmare was having to read out loud in class so I stumbled over words and such out of embarrassment not an inability to read.)
#17
I was a 'troubled teen' and I'd been in juvie and I went back to my regular school where I had this teacher who hated me the whole time I was at the school, he'd already told me I was just going to end up in prison. But I was in his class and he asked me a question and I gave him some answer which I suppose was wrong because then he said in this s****y tone "is that what they teach in juvie school!??"
So then I got up and walked out and went to the principal and I was like "hey, juvenile proceedings are super confidential and he's not actually legally allowed to say that".
The principal was like "fuuuuuuuuck why do you know this stuff". lol D**n teachers causing him d**n problems.
(in case you're wondering, it wasn't just "general talk is illegal", it was because the teacher had this information officially disclosed to him and he can not then disclose what he learned from that information)
So yeah, a****t thing to say *and* illegal. My schedule got rearranged that same day. And then the teacher continued to glare at me until I left the school.
OzzyTheMano (They/He) 1 month ago
I hope OP's teacher's pillow is warm on both sides every knight, and that his jeans shall always get caught on the doorknob on the way out
#18
I was a senior in 2001. I was sitting in English class watching the planes hit the towers then it switched to a plane hitting the Pentagon. She just laughed and turned off the TV. My aunt was in that building. I thought I was watching her die. She got out safely thankfully but I'll never forget that laugh. F**k you Ms. Cooney you b***h.
OzzyTheMano (They/He) 1 month ago
I hope Ms Cooney gets pelted with paper airplanes every day for the rest of her life
He believes a bad teacher might not provide the constructive feedback necessary for a child to improve, or it could also create a negative or unproductive classroom atmosphere. When teachers fail to connect with their students or adapt their methods, it can stifle growth and curiosity.
Patil elaborates on the various ways teachers can influence their students by saying, "Teachers act as role models, and their actions can shape students' attitudes, values, and behaviors. It’s important to show traits like respect, perseverance, and curiosity. Teachers can inspire these qualities in their students."
#19
We had a pop quiz, which was an in class essay. Teacher wrote a sentence on the board and said write an essay. I did, and he gave me 0. I asked why and he said "it's too good for you, you couldn't have written this." I asked how I could have cheated if I didn't know there was a test and I wrote the essay in front of him...he said "I don't know but you definitely did". This teacher also called me by my friend's name and my friend by my name.
I hope he got hit by a bus. F*****g p***k. All my other teachers were great so it didn't poison me with all teachers.
Fun fact: another teacher in the English department wrote a play that I attended and that teacher was the main villain. Another teacher's husband wrote a short film and the story was about a professor who sleeps with his student - had the same name as my teacher. Everybody hated this a*****e.
#20
Middle school English teacher first day of vlass: "You are too young to have formed any worthwhile opinions. Therefore you will keep your opinion to yourself."
The persuasive writing unit was a sadistic psych-ops aimed at destroying any iota of adolescent self-esteem. .
#21
I was in 8th grade and putting on lip gloss while checking my compact mirror during dismissal. My teacher was in front of me and said "Whats the point? It's not helping. " Not the worst thing ever, but it hurt my feelings, and lowered my self esteem alot.
Mel in Georgia 1 month ago
Middle school is terrible anyway for most kids - teachers should do everything they can to boost their self-esteem. This wasn't it.
A strong teacher-student relationship can make a significant difference. When students feel that their teacher genuinely cares and supports them, they are more likely to be motivated and engaged.
Patil strongly believes in giving honest feedback to his students. "Constructive feedback helps them recognize their strengths and areas for improvement. This guidance is essential for both academic and personal growth," he adds.
#22
Well there was the time in third grade I asked to go to the office because I felt sick and got told to sit down and be quiet. This happened several times and at some point I fell asleep. When school was over i blacked out while walking to the car. My temperature was 106.4. So almost killing me probably rates pretty high on worst thing.
Then there was the time a single teacher decided to single me out as a "troubled kid" and found reasons to have me sent to the office or suspended over and over. Throughout my time in school I was never suspended, removed from class, or sent to the office by another teacher. This one was responsible for me being suspended 50+ days that year.
Bonus bit: Her husband was later m******d in a d**g deal in which he was selling m**h. Turns out my friends dad knew him in college and dude had always been a d**g dealer. But me the kid with longer hair and a tendency to wear black was somehow a problem to her. God it's been ages and I still hate that woman.
#23
My golf instructor called me a pervert in front of the whole class. I got up to use the bathroom but the men's room was locked, so I knocked and then went and used an empty women's room. I was 9 years old and probably would have had an accident if I didn't go right away. But when I walked out of that women's bathroom, the teacher was right there outside the door to scream at me. He had security with him and made a big scene out of it. When we both went back to the group, he told the rest of the golf class that I was a pervert and liked to use "the ladies' room" so I could watch girls pee. Of course everybody laughed.
I was so embarrassed I told my parents I wasn't going back and to tell my grandfather I was sorry that I wasn't going to use the clubs or the lessons he bought me. I never told them why until my wife brought it up over a birthday dinner at their house a couple years ago. I'm over it now, but as a kid it bothered me for years.
#24
When I was in the fourth grade, I lost a paper and searched for it inside my desk. My teacher got really mad, picked up my desk and hurled it across the room. She made me miss lunch and pick up all my things. I was so afraid to go home and tell my parents because I felt like I’d done something bad. Eventually, they found out because other kids had gone home and told their parents what had happened.
Lastly, he encourages students to adopt a problem-solving mindset. "Challenging students to think critically and solve problems helps develop their intellectual skills, preparing them for real-life challenges beyond the classroom."
#25
My teacher asked me if I was jealous of my older brother since he is such a great guy and so smart.
It may seem small, but the tone of her voice was important. I had never realized people admired my brother in any way more than me.
That was 30 years ago this year. I still think about it sometimes. It really hurt to hear someone describe me as the lesser sibling.
Marnie 1 month ago (edited)
I can completely relate. In high school, my sister was a grade ahead of me. I was sitting with her friend (sort of my friend, too and someone I looked up to). We were sitting in the theater watching my sister rehearse for a play. She was always the lead in the musicals. I watched every thing she was in. I loved to hear her sing. Well, this friend says something like, "Doesn't she just make you feel like a nothing?" thinking I would feel the same. I felt bad that the friend felt this way, but she was basically saying I was a nothing. I had never compared myself to my sister before then.
#26
Teacher told me I was going to end up in prison. I’m in college on my way to become a lawyer now.
Brian Droste 1 month ago
I hope that teacher gets in trouble with the law and you are the prosecutor in his trial.
#27
"I've seen a thousand students cry crocodile tears like those before and I'll see a thousand more. You're a very talented actress, Ms. Operarose."
No b***h, I have undiagnosed ADHD and severe dyscalculia. F**k you, Mrs. Name Not Even Worth Remembering. I came to you for help and left in tears. Maybe you should have chosen a different career.
Having a good teacher surely leaves a lasting impact, often shaping a student's academic path and personal growth in profound ways. On the flip side, a bad teacher can seriously hinder a student's progress and enthusiasm for learning. What’s your take on this? Share your thoughts on how the quality of teaching has influenced your own experiences or those of someone you know.
#28
My 4th grade teacher said "well we all know Lindsey has problems" about me talking to my parents.
She was a huge b***h
Edit: I was like 9 and had an alcoholic mom and was sad alot.
Michael Largey 1 month ago (edited)
Children with an alcoholic mother do have problems. As do ones with a soulless teacher.
#29
That I would grow up to be a useless burden on society...
Michael Largey 1 month ago (edited)
"At least I'm going to grow up, which will put me one up on you, teach."
#30
I was having a hard time in high school through my parents divorce and was a bit of a rabel rouser. This was a private school so band shirts weren't allowed, but nobody there knew who 'Tool' was so I got away with wearing their shirt.
My history teacher asked me, in front of the class, "hippie.... does your shirt say 'Tool' because,in fact, you are just a tool...?"
F**k you Ms. Price.
What do you think ?
The Darkest Timeline 1 month ago
Didn’t read all of these but if even half of them are true, as an educator, what should really happen is they should lose their license for malpractice. I know we have a teacher shortage but people like this do more harm than good.
Forrest Hobbs 1 month ago
Many of the stories - if true - should have resulted in the teachers being charged and tried for a crime.
Load More Replies...
Rick Murray 1 month ago
Twice. Here's the first. I was a difficult child, when introduced to a new subject I wanted to know *everything* about it, and typically at a much faster pace than the lesson (five minutes in I'd probably already finished the little book). Rather than saying "you can ask me questions at the end" or something, this teacher (when I was about eight) told me to sit at the back, facing away, and be silent and not participate in the lesson. After a few days of this I'd turn up for register and then wander a half mile down the road to the local library. The library staff had my side of the story. Things finally came to a head when my mother came to collect me early for some reason, nobody at the school knew where I was. Police got called, they found me, library said I was always there and they looked after me (they did) and that's when social services got involved. Never went back to that teacher.
Rick Murray 1 month ago
Second story. Same school. We made those folded paper fortune teller things. I was maybe seven or so, my mother was American (and me British) and I'd recently spent a year in the US. Anyway, mine was yellow and the big new thing that year was Pac-Man. So I called mine "paccy". The teacher d**n near exploded. Chucked everybody else out and screamed at me for a good teen minutes. After my reply was "are you okay miss? would you like to sit down now?" it started to occur to her that I had no idea what she was on about. Well, it turns out that "pàki" is a horrible racial slur in the UK and in order to demonstrate what she meant, she basically introduced me to the concept of racism (and indirectly, white supremacy). You know what they say the road to hell is paved with, right? 🤦🏻♀️
Load More Replies...
nm 1 month ago
In my country, back in 50s-60s, it was normal to punish the students of primary school (7-12 yo) beating their hand palms with a ruler. Each class had a teacher for all the lessons. However the school master, a theologian, had took upon himself to teach orthodox christianity to the last 3 classes . He beat the s**t out of me by spanking me with all his force all over my back, because I had not managed to learn the church service from start to end. I sh-it on your grave you fanatic b@stard. For me it was the first nail on the casket of deism/religion.
The Darkest Timeline 1 month ago
Didn’t read all of these but if even half of them are true, as an educator, what should really happen is they should lose their license for malpractice. I know we have a teacher shortage but people like this do more harm than good.
Forrest Hobbs 1 month ago
Many of the stories - if true - should have resulted in the teachers being charged and tried for a crime.
Load More Replies... Rick Murray 1 month ago
Twice. Here's the first. I was a difficult child, when introduced to a new subject I wanted to know *everything* about it, and typically at a much faster pace than the lesson (five minutes in I'd probably already finished the little book). Rather than saying "you can ask me questions at the end" or something, this teacher (when I was about eight) told me to sit at the back, facing away, and be silent and not participate in the lesson. After a few days of this I'd turn up for register and then wander a half mile down the road to the local library. The library staff had my side of the story. Things finally came to a head when my mother came to collect me early for some reason, nobody at the school knew where I was. Police got called, they found me, library said I was always there and they looked after me (they did) and that's when social services got involved. Never went back to that teacher.
Rick Murray 1 month ago
Second story. Same school. We made those folded paper fortune teller things. I was maybe seven or so, my mother was American (and me British) and I'd recently spent a year in the US. Anyway, mine was yellow and the big new thing that year was Pac-Man. So I called mine "paccy". The teacher d**n near exploded. Chucked everybody else out and screamed at me for a good teen minutes. After my reply was "are you okay miss? would you like to sit down now?" it started to occur to her that I had no idea what she was on about. Well, it turns out that "pàki" is a horrible racial slur in the UK and in order to demonstrate what she meant, she basically introduced me to the concept of racism (and indirectly, white supremacy). You know what they say the road to hell is paved with, right? 🤦🏻♀️
Load More Replies... nm 1 month ago
In my country, back in 50s-60s, it was normal to punish the students of primary school (7-12 yo) beating their hand palms with a ruler. Each class had a teacher for all the lessons. However the school master, a theologian, had took upon himself to teach orthodox christianity to the last 3 classes . He beat the s**t out of me by spanking me with all his force all over my back, because I had not managed to learn the church service from start to end. I sh-it on your grave you fanatic b@stard. For me it was the first nail on the casket of deism/religion.
You May Like “Could Probably Get Me Fired If Anyone Found Out”: 30 Teachers Spill Secrets Online 50 People Share The Most Unhinged Drama That Happened At Their High School “Middle Class Is Over”: 45 People Share Things Young Gen Zers Aren’t Ready To Hear
Rugile Baltrunaite
Mindaugas Balčiauskas
Indrė Lukošiūtė
Related on Bored Panda
