Teachers cite widespread struggles with family support, especially in circumstances where student behavior is a concern.

  • “Some of these parents could do better. Consequences. Follow through. The understanding that a call home meant there was a problem, not an opportunity to argue with the teacher or blame the school. Now I keep hearing ‘I’ve tried everything,’ when what that really means is a weak conversation, a briefly confiscated phone, and then giving up because it was inconvenient. Kids act out because they can. Because they’ve learned nothing meaningful is coming. And somehow teachers are expected to undo years of permissive parenting with a calm voice, a seating chart, and vibes, etc. That’s not how reality works. Stop acting helpless. You’re the adult. Act like it.” —Secondary Teacher in Virginia
    • “I’m a parent and a teacher. I’m in online parenting groups and parents are scared of their children. Ridiculous. ‘I don’t know how to get my 6 year old to bed by 8pm. She’s always watching shows on YouTube. We fight till 1am.’ No one suggested take away the YouTube. Everyone suggested ‘trauma informed/gentle parenting methods.’ —Anonymous Teacher
    • “One big problem is that parents don’t really fully grasp the depth of the child’s depravity. When their kids are at home many are melting their brains with technology and, pacified as they are, they aren’t displaying the behaviors we see in schools. Deep down I think that many parents are struggling to believe what schools may be telling them about their children. They are too emotionally engaged in their own illusions…you know, all the lies they post on Facebook about how their family is storybook wonderful. Social media is poison. I blame it for everything…” —Anonymous Teacher
    • “Not even a behavioral issue, but I let a student know she would be receiving a zero for use of AI (which is the schoolwide plagiarism policy), and the mom was in the school within 40 minutes to defend her daughter. Luckily, the AP had my back, but he had no idea what the issue was because I hadn’t even had time to write the disciplinary report. Parents are something else.” —High School Teacher in the United States
    • “My favourite is when parents tell me their kids spend too much time on their tablets and phones and they never want to do any studying and they can’t get them to do anything at home. Of course, they’re 7. Who gave them the tablet in the first place? Who’s the parent here? Take it away!” —Elementary Teacher in Canada
    • “One thing that I’ve heard a couple of times now that just blows my mind is the parent tells me ‘I already took away all of their electronics, so I don’t know what else I can do!’ Like…. What? I just saw your kid on his phone in my class today. He can play games, surf the net, social media, etc., on there anytime he wants. Even if the phone is taken away, they just go over to their friend’s house. Like, do parents not just straight up ground kids anymore?” —High School Teacher in Florida