We’ve all heard about the mischief kids get into in school—from doodling on walls to pulling harmless pranks, they always seem to have something up their sleeve. But if you ask teachers, the stories they share are often on a whole different level of surprising.
When educators on Reddit were asked about the most disturbing things students have ever said, the answers ranged from bizarre and creepy to downright jaw-dropping. Keep scrolling to discover some of the wildest, most unforgettable things kids have actually said in the classroom; it’s definitely not for the faint of heart!
#21
One of my students threatened to k**l my dog while I was out walking her. This was after he had cussed me out, ripped up his work, and disturbed the class. It was his second day in class.
16points
Teachers are facing an increasingly difficult environment, and many are leaving, changing roles, or quitting altogether because of the rise in student aggression. Researchers now recommend systemic approaches to tackle this problem from multiple angles, including school-wide policies, mental health support, conflict resolution training, and interventions aimed at students exhibiting aggressive behaviors. Addressing this issue requires collaboration between administrators, parents, teachers, and policymakers to create an environment that prioritizes safety, respect, and positive student-teacher interactions.
#22
Not from a student, and not from me but from a teacher friend.
Parent: "Oh, you can just hit her. I hit her all the time, it's fine. Just hit her.".
Parent: "Oh, you can just hit her. I hit her all the time, it's fine. Just hit her.".
16points
#23
I heard a student say to another teacher who was pregnant at the time- “I hope your baby dies.” And the really sad part? She had a miscarriage a few weeks later. It was horrifying.
Edit: wow this really blew up! So the teacher is ok. She ended up getting pregnant again and having a beautiful baby. As for the student, he (obviously) has some pretty severe behavior problems related to trauma. After several long term suspensions, the district decided our school wasn’t a good fit for him and sent him to a special school for kids with behavioral disabilities.
Edit: wow this really blew up! So the teacher is ok. She ended up getting pregnant again and having a beautiful baby. As for the student, he (obviously) has some pretty severe behavior problems related to trauma. After several long term suspensions, the district decided our school wasn’t a good fit for him and sent him to a special school for kids with behavioral disabilities.
15points
#24
I had a student who had just moved to our school, third grader. His first day he had this huge gash over his nose. I don’t know why but I just didn’t think much of it. A couple days later I asked him what had happened and he said that his moms boyfriends dad, pinned him against a wall and whipped him with his belt. Then showed me marks on his back as well. He kind of laughed it off and said, yeah, he’s mean. It took every ounce of me not to cry right then and there. I immediately went next door to get an adult to take over my class and ran to the principal. She called the police and they had some kind of excuse why they wouldn’t be able to come right away. She demanded they be there today because she was NOT sending that boy home. They did show up, they walked him home, and they watched as the boyfriends dad packed up and left. The boy was in third grade, had the dirtiest mouth, and was probably one of the funniest and sweetest kids I’d ever met. He did tell me that the man moved back to Samoa later that year (mom stayed with boyfriend so knew stuff about the man). He moved schools the next year though, so I don’t know how he’s doing now.
15points
Ultimately, teachers deserve respect, support, and safe working conditions to thrive in their classrooms. That’s why experts advocate for a comprehensive, whole-school approach to building positive and safe learning environments. Initiatives might include conflict resolution programs, clear policies against aggression, mental health resources for students and staff, and professional development for teachers to handle challenging situations. When schools foster a culture of safety, respect, and empathy, teachers can focus on what they do best: educating, inspiring, and nurturing the next generation of learners.
#25
I have a student who is constantly accusing the adults in the room of hurting him and insulting him and swearing at him... And he isn't joking. He fully believes these things are happening, despite none of these things happening. And if you tell him that no one is hurting him or swearing at him, he will glare at them with absolute vitriol and tell, "YES YOU DID. YOU PUSHED ME AND SAID THE F WORD". There is no convincing him otherwise. This student is 4 years old.
Edit: okay, I did not expect this to blow up this much and I'm not able to respond to everyone. I'll answer the most common questions here:
1. Schizophrenia? Could be. We don't think it is. But we aren't qualified to make a diagnosis and nothing is off the table.
2. Has he gotten help? As if right now, no. That's what we're working on. It's also difficult because the family has no transportation and specialists aren't entering schools due to covid. An appointment was made that they missed, but they asked to reschedule. So that's where we are now.
3. Delusions? Hallucinations? We don't know. All we really know it's how he acts when overwhelmed and the very likely causes of these reactions.
Edit: okay, I did not expect this to blow up this much and I'm not able to respond to everyone. I'll answer the most common questions here:
1. Schizophrenia? Could be. We don't think it is. But we aren't qualified to make a diagnosis and nothing is off the table.
2. Has he gotten help? As if right now, no. That's what we're working on. It's also difficult because the family has no transportation and specialists aren't entering schools due to covid. An appointment was made that they missed, but they asked to reschedule. So that's where we are now.
3. Delusions? Hallucinations? We don't know. All we really know it's how he acts when overwhelmed and the very likely causes of these reactions.
14points
#26
I had a student (under ten) tell me he wanted to cut my head off and watch me bleed. (I had the audacity to tell him that he needed to put his crayons up before he could get his play dough out.).
14points
#27
I had two students approach me after school. I was outside monitoring the kids leaving the building to walk home, and these two boys walked up and started telling me how cute I was as a baby. Being middle schoolers, I didn’t take it super seriously at first, but asked what they were talking about. One of them showed me one of my baby pictures on his phone and proceeded to tell me my address and (at the time) fiancé’s name. The assistant principal was near by, so I called him over and had them repeat what they’d said. The information they had was not readily available with a quick Google search and I still don’t know how they got it. One of the boys’ father was a known higher up in a local g**g, so I was totally freaked out. The school took the stance of “kids will be curious” and “it isn’t a big deal.” I talked to the police officer posted at the school and he told me I was well within my rights to press charges, but within 30 minutes of the conversation, the assistant superintendent was at my classroom door, informing me of how “bad” it would look on my evaluation and for potential future jobs if I pursued anything. I no longer work there, but I have never been more disturbed or scared.
14points
These posts show that being a teacher isn’t just about lessons and homework; sometimes it means listening to and processing some truly disturbing things that students say. It’s a side of the job that most people don’t see, but it can have a big emotional impact. Teachers often have to stay calm, professional, and collected, even when faced with shocking or unsettling comments. What do you think about this side of teaching? Have you ever witnessed or experienced something similar? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
#28
Had a young girl (grade 5) that asked if she could come home with me for Christmas because she didn't want to be at home for the break. (We knew her home life was rough because parents were in a g**g).
I tried my best to assure her that everything would be okay and that we loved her. I also tried to add that her family loved her in their own way too.
She replied, "if they love me, why do they hit me."
Thankfully, we got her removed from the situation not long after and every Christmas I think of her and hope she is doing alright.
I shudder to think what would have happened to her if she had not been removed as the stories about what was really happening were horrific.
I tried my best to assure her that everything would be okay and that we loved her. I also tried to add that her family loved her in their own way too.
She replied, "if they love me, why do they hit me."
Thankfully, we got her removed from the situation not long after and every Christmas I think of her and hope she is doing alright.
I shudder to think what would have happened to her if she had not been removed as the stories about what was really happening were horrific.
14points
#29
Coached elementary PE. Had a 9-year-old student call me an “infested tampon s****r”.
More surprised than angry. At the time I was 23 and never heard an insult like that.
More surprised than angry. At the time I was 23 and never heard an insult like that.
13points
#30
When I was student teaching elementary art, I was on crutches from a recent knee surgery. We were doing clay and I was staying close to a particularly violent kid. They were using rolling pins to roll out slabs and this kid was hitting other kids. I kept shielding the kids trying to get the thing out of his hand, when he finally tried to throw it. Pretty cool honestly, I snatched it out of mid air and was trying to put distance between us and scolding the kid. Kid turns to me and yells
"I'll break your other leg!" and kicks me in my bad leg. Kid was 7 years old.
"I'll break your other leg!" and kicks me in my bad leg. Kid was 7 years old.
13points
#31
A child stomped on a frog. After talking with them, they told me before k*****g the frog, they told it to say hi to their dad who lived in heaven.
Spoke to mom about the incident- said dad lives in Florida but told the kid they were dead.
Ma’am oh ma’am.
Spoke to mom about the incident- said dad lives in Florida but told the kid they were dead.
Ma’am oh ma’am.
Report
13points
#32
There was a pond near our classroom.When I was in 6th grade my classmate pushed my teacher's son who's about 3 years younger than us into pond, then said classmate jumped into the pond and kept holding the kid's head underwater. The janitor jumped in and help the kid, and called our teacher. My classmate straight up said to our teacher that he just wanted to check if dead bodies really float.
The pond was covered within that week and the teacher's kid went to another school the next year, idk if the reason is related to the incident.
I don't know what punishment my classmate got but he continued being my classmate until graduation.
Kinda shocking tbh, since he was nice to everyone.
The pond was covered within that week and the teacher's kid went to another school the next year, idk if the reason is related to the incident.
I don't know what punishment my classmate got but he continued being my classmate until graduation.
Kinda shocking tbh, since he was nice to everyone.
Report
13points
#33
I had a student who was incredibly bright, loved history and loved to read about all kinds of things. He was absent for a week. When he came back I was helping get him caught up and asked him what was up. He told me, “Our washer was broken.” He couldn’t clean his uniform, his parents couldn’t get it fixed right away and couldn’t afford a laundromat so he just... didn’t come to school for a week. Messed up if you ask me.
12points
#34
I was student teaching so I was not actually a direct part of the proceedings, my mentor teacher handled the primary incident. Amy mentor had to call child services because of a concerning comment one of our little girls made regarding her living situation. At the time, she was living with mom, grandma, and a little brother. Mom was somewhat recently back in the picture after some issue (possibly she was in jail) during the previous school year; grandma had custody of the children. I had met the mother at a support services meeting during the beginning of my placement and things seemed typical then.
Well, they ended up in family court, either directly resulting from that call my mentor made or not, I don’t know. The next day the little girl was in school, I overheard her telling one of her desk mates that “Mommy said it’s my fault she can’t stay with us no more.”
I don’t know what the circumstances were and I didn’t catch the first half of that girl’s story. But d**n, it broke my heart to think that her mother must have had her visitations taken away and instead of owning up to whatever her own problems were, she told her 7-year-old daughter that she was the cause of their troubles.
Well, they ended up in family court, either directly resulting from that call my mentor made or not, I don’t know. The next day the little girl was in school, I overheard her telling one of her desk mates that “Mommy said it’s my fault she can’t stay with us no more.”
I don’t know what the circumstances were and I didn’t catch the first half of that girl’s story. But d**n, it broke my heart to think that her mother must have had her visitations taken away and instead of owning up to whatever her own problems were, she told her 7-year-old daughter that she was the cause of their troubles.
Report
12points
#35
Not a teacher, but my sister had a student punch her stomach when she was pregnant and said “I’m gonna end your baby” (she works with special needs children).
Report
12points
#36
Not a teacher, obligatory, I am a mandatory reporter.
I had a 6 year old kid, the sweetest could be, say “My daddy said he drinks because I cry.”
I tried to get more out of him to file a report, but purely admitting just drinking doesn’t do anything, so there was nothing I could do.
I had a 6 year old kid, the sweetest could be, say “My daddy said he drinks because I cry.”
I tried to get more out of him to file a report, but purely admitting just drinking doesn’t do anything, so there was nothing I could do.
Report
12points
#37
Paraprofessional in an elementary school. A kid looked at me and casually said "my mom died Sunday. Her funeral is next week," and shrugged.
11points
#38
My parent is a teacher. Last week a student told her that his puppy died. Another student overheard and went over to his house and dug up the dead puppy. These are 8 year olds.
Report
11points
#39
A 4 y/o came in with a Barbie whose hair had been cut off. I asked what happened. “She has cancer.” I assumed there was a family member or friend and this was a lesson she was processing...
Report
9points
#40
I intern at a therapeutic high school and I hear things every single day that disturb me so much. One of the things that’s always stuck with me was this one girl who grew up in the middle of a war zone in a middle eastern country. She saw people executed in front of her by gangs and was then living with an adopted family I can’t even imagine everything she went through.
Report
8points
