Teachers have to deal with a lot of stuff. And yet they’re usually still quite patient. But every now and then, a parent does something that shocks even the most experienced teachers. We spoke to a few of them & they told us some things they secretly judge parents for. Here are 12 of them. See anything familiar?
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Sending in a vacation request during state testing week
One thing that teachers can count on is one of their students visiting Florida or the mountains when standardized testing starts. Somehow, their parent’s surprised that it’s a problem. The teachers will nod along while the parent tells them about their holiday dates. But secretly, they’re feeling exhausted. That’s literally the one week they told parents not to pick.
Telling kids to always defend themselves
Some kids think it’s okay to hit other students. Why? Because their parents told them it’s okay to hit back. Teachers already know where this is going. School rules don’t work like street rules, and now there’s paperwork & a suspension to deal with. There are also parents who say, “I told him to.” Great. Thanks for that.
Giving your child sugar before class
Lots of parents don’t realize the effects sugary drinks have on their kids. It’s worse when they drink them first thing. All that sugar gives them the energy to interrupt the lesson multiple times. They’ll also ask to go to the bathroom again & again.
Trying to bargain grades
School isn’t a flea market. But sometimes it feels like it. Every teacher has dealt with a parent who asks if there’s anything they can do to raise their kid’s grade. And sure, that’s possible now and again. But when the work’s already overdue & they haven’t shown up for tutoring? Good luck. No amount of bribes will raise that D.
Saying a kid’s “high energy” when they’re disruptive
After hearing their kid keeps interrupting or tapping their pencil non-stop, some parents will say it’s because they’re “high energy.” That’s not always right. Yes, some kids do have a lot of energy, but it’s not an excuse. The behavior isn’t even the issue. Instead, it’s the fact that the parent acts like it’s completely normal. It’s not.
Sending party invitations to half the class
This one happens more than it should. One kid will walk into school with a stack of birthday invites & start handing them out. That’s okay. But what’s not okay is when half the class doesn’t get one. It forces the teacher to deal with the awkward fallout. They’d much rather parents be discreet about it, and judge the parents who aren’t.
Bragging that you never help with homework
There are those parents who flex about the wrong thing. They’ll say they don’t check any of their kid’s work as if it’s something to be proud of. It’s not. Of course, you don’t have to do your kid’s assignments. Yet proudly staying out of it? That just tells the teacher you don’t care about your child’s education. You can imagine how educators feel about that.
Blaming the teacher for your kid’s social problems
Some kids keep getting left out or getting into drama, so the teacher brings it up gently. Unfortunately, not all parents will ask questions. They’ll simply accuse the teacher & they’ll say things like, “You should’ve seen that coming.” How is that fair? Teachers aren’t mind readers. They’re not social coordinators, either. So don’t blame teachers for everything.
Acting shocked when your kid gets in trouble
That one student’s name has come up a dozen times already. Teachers sent emails & arranged meetings, maybe even created incident reports. It’s all there. But the parent’s still furious that their kid was removed from a field trip or suspended. In fact, they’ll claim that no one warned them. Teachers don’t argue with that, and instead, they just stop expecting accountability.
Bragging that grades don’t matter
Unfortunately, some parents go out of their way to say they’re not grade people. It’s usually when the teacher mentions missing work or low test scores. Then, the parent says they’ve told their kid not to worry about grades yet. Ouch. That tells the teacher everything. Sure, everybody knows high pressure isn’t helpful. But having zero expectations? That’s just as harmful.
Saying your child is “just like you” about hating school
One kid refuses to read & won’t try in math. They complain about everything. But instead of trying to understand them, their parent says that they themselves hated school too. Big mistake. Teachers don’t see it as bonding or relatable. Nope. They just understand that learning isn’t valued at home, either. Why is that okay?
Dismissing serious peer conflict
Tension with other kids happens all the time. Sometimes, the students involved may say they feel targeted. But their parent responds in the worst way. They claim that the kid “always says stuff like that” & that they’re “dramatic.” Teachers hate that. They didn’t expect panic, but they did expect some belief. They now know who’s not going to listen when things get worse.
Like our content? Be sure to follow us.
