VENT: Long Parents in need of some parenting classes

So I teach 3rd grade and on Friday I caught one of my kids cheating on his math test. He had written his 8's times table on his hand. When I asked him about it he said they were soccer scores....really come up with a better lie buddy. Typically when a kid cheats I will contact their mother but this kid has already cheated in another teacher's math class this year. This particular child is not labeled GT but is taking some GT classes b/c he tested into them. So I had to send the kid to the principal, he told her that his mother told him that if he doens't do well in math, he will be kicked out of the GT class and be forever bored in school. What is wrong with this woman....way too much pressure for a 8 year old. So the principal tells me she feels bad and to contact his parents. I call home and unfortunately his parents are on a romanatic vacation. Fast foward to this morning. I get an email from his mom telling me she knows what has happened and wishes to talk to me after school. She closes the email with PS you will notice part of his punishment when you see him. So the kid walks in this morning, again he is not in my homeroom but has me for math, and hands me a letter. Then he comes to me for math and I notice a hood he is wearing. Turns out the mom shaved his head as a punishment. I have a meeting with this nutty woman tomorrow. I am so mortified for the kid....I let him wear the hood today b/c I felt so bad for him. This punishment did not fit the crime!!!! I am not a parent but never in my life would I expect this. I don't even know what to say to these parents tomorrow. I want to tell them that they need to stop the pressure and that the letter to me was enough and there was no reason to shave the boy's head. GRRRRRR I don't get paid enough for this

I have had some really interesting conferences with parents lately. I am dreading tomorrow. In Friday I was asked if I could help the parents out b/c the kid runs the roost and tells the parents to suck my ........ and f you bi^^^. Oh my god I didn't even know what to say. I wanted to say be a parent and I'll be the teacher.

---

Posted by hyphenbride

That is INSANE. I used to coach, and whenever I thought a kid was nutty I met their parents and figured it out pretty quick...

---

It's so true. Apples don't fall far from their trees.

What is wrong with his mother? So inappropriate! Maybe she should help her child with his math instead of shaving his head!

---

Posted by michellecarin

I have had some really interesting conferences with parents lately. I am dreading tomorrow. In Friday I was asked if I could help the parents out b/c the kid runs the roost and tells the parents to suck my ........ and f you bi^^^. Oh my god I didn't even know what to say. I wanted to say be a parent and I'll be the teacher.

---

If that was my kid, he or she would have no teeth left in their head! not really but you know what I mean

What's wrong with parents these days??? When did it become okay to treat your kids like equals, and not teach them the word 'no'???? I swear to god If I said anything remotely along those lines to my parents, I bet you I could still taste the soap in my mouth!

WOW.

i would be checking for any signs of physical abuse.... she sounds like shes NOT okay and i dont put abuse past people like that!

good luck! please let us know how it goes!!

Whoa a little harsh for an 8 yr old. But if I was him I would NEVER want to cheat on a test again. that is some repercussion for his actions. Well he is learning a hard lesson early on. Oh boy.

I would emphasize instead that you would want him to instead feel as he can approach you & others for assistance before the fact with studying. That his cheating could instead be a sign of difficulty with the math & he may need encouragement & help. Keep it positive & give them some markers that they can work toward with their child rather than punishment minded.

within the schools you see alot. And you have to take into account social & cultural background in regards to parenting & their attitudes toward discipline. Some we may not agree with but we can only offer some good advice & alternative if they are not abusing their children. Though to be on the safe side run this past the social worker or psychologist on staff at the school. Just in case there is some history there.

Well Good luck.

I am a guidance counselor my friend, I feel your pain I say all day to myself...and think 'Please Liz remeber this when you have children, do not ever be wierd mom'

That is crazy...just when you think you have heard everything
Sorry you have to deal with this off-her-rocker parent!!!! I have the opposite problem...I have parents who send their kids to school dirty(filthy!!), or smelling like cat urine so badly that the enitre classroom smells like a litter box
I really think most parents have no clue that their true colors come out through their kids!!

Are you kidding me...This is horrible to hear. I feel so badly for this child. The pressure that some parents put on children is ridiculous. You even see it when these kids are at potty training ages. Very scary. Seriously though you have to wonder what else she does to this poor child

---

Posted by TommysWife08

WOW.

i would be checking for any signs of physical abuse.... she sounds like shes NOT okay and i dont put abuse past people like that!

good luck! please let us know how it goes!!

---

First thing i thought of.

I give teachers a LOT of credit. It amazes me that parents are letting their children be so agressive in their language and actions.
I am sorry that you are dealing with the nutty mom also.

WOW!!! That's a rough situation to be in.

Teachers may have off all summer and holidays in between BUT you certainly don't get paid enough for all the crackpot parents you have to deal with.

Are you allowed to talk with the parents and actually tell them that they are @$$holes????

I feel so bad for this child. I mean, yeah cheating is not the right thing, but to punish him like that for cheating. They could've just sat down with him and asked him why he did it, and then found out that they were pressuring him to do well that he had to cheat so he didn't get in trouble. I mean, I feel so bad, and if you are able to tell the parents how you really feel I would tell them.
I don't know if b/c you are a teacher you aren't allowed to say anything, I don't know the 'Rules' or w/e. I just hope something can be said to show them that the form of punishment they issued was wrong! so sorry.

omg the stuff you guys are posting is scary!