These horrified teachers are finally opening up about some of the most shocking things their students have ever done. Some of these stories are so troubling that you should probably mentally prepare before reading them.
More info: Reddit
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I had a lot of wonderful students but some difficult ones. One was the worst — clearly bright but was always sleeping through class and acting up and never doing homework.
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Teaching has always been viewed as a valuable profession because of its impact on people’s lives. We’ve all had that one educator who treated us well and changed our attitudes about a certain subject. Since we spend nearly one-third of our day at school or college, a good teacher can seriously make all the difference in how we feel about our time there.
Educators can have such a big impact on students, and the reverse is true as well. Some kids stick out in their teachers’ minds because of their personality, skills, or actions. But these memories aren’t always positive. Just like you’ll see in this list, some students really traumatized their teachers by doing horrible things out of the blue.
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The scale of terrible things kids have done can range from gross to downright scary. To help you take a break from some of the more extreme stories on this list, Bored Panda interviewed a teacher (who wished to remain anonymous) to hear some of her stories about naughty or rude things kids did. She said that once, while “reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar to a group of kindergarten children when we came to the page about the caterpillar getting fat, one little boy screamed that the teacher was fat like the caterpillar.”
She shared a few other examples, like a kid who “screamed that she hated the teacher, as the teacher asked her not to push another child. As we now have cameras to check back and reconfirm, we also show the parents some [of] the footage so they can understand the situation as well. One little boy put Play-Doh in his ears and his friend's ears. When asked he said he didn’t know how it happened. [Another] little boy threw a tantrum as he wasn’t allowed to run outside the classroom and he bit the assistant teacher.”
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In many of these situations, students' actions put themselves, other kids, or the teachers at risk. Educators might be unable to discipline the child effectively because of school rules or out of fear of their parents retaliating. That’s why many teachers feel powerless, and some even fear for their safety.
A survey by EdWeek Research Center found that 41% of school educators feel less safe after the pandemic. They have observed that there are a lot more behavioral problems and mental health struggles among students ever since COVID. With an increase in violence among students and the problems that they are facing, it’s no wonder that teachers are worrying about being safe in schools.
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When kids get so out of hand and do things they aren’t supposed to, the teachers must find a way to step in. The educator we interviewed mentioned that in the case of “most behavioral issues, we speak to the child at the time of the incident. If it is severe or they have harmed someone the parents get called in, we have a meeting with parents and school management, then parents and the child with the teacher.”
“The school will call the parents in to speak to them about the challenging behavior. It is always immediate, we don’t usually wait until the next week unless the parents are very busy. As soon as the incident happens, the child is taken away from the situation and spoken to/calmed down. They are asked about what happened so we have a better idea of what triggered the behavior. Some may be given a time-out (they can choose to sit in a quiet corner or color/draw what is bothering them). They are allowed a few minutes before the teacher speaks to them about how their behavior is not appropriate, and they need to follow classroom expectations so we can all work together,” she added.
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With having to teach, discipline kids, and deal with parents, it’s no wonder that nearly 6 in 10 teachers experience job-related stress and burnout. A Pew Research Center survey found that 52% of educators would not advise a young person starting out today to become a teacher. It might seem shocking, but with so much pressure on their shoulders, it’s no wonder that people in this profession find it tough to manage. If these stories are any indicator, educators have way too much to handle.
That’s why parents need to step in. The teacher we interviewed said that if a kid is really out of control, the parents “may need to address certain issues with a therapist or counselor. We explain [that] the child may require additional support at home from the parents, and [that] the best way to build better relationships is to talk it through.”
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Don’t let all these student horror stories put you off being a teacher. It is one of the most rewarding professions, with some educators having a lifelong impact on the kids they teach. Although there may be hiccups or bumps in the road, the journey is beautiful, and you’ll probably come out on the other side with amazing stories to tell.
As a student or teacher, have you ever seen any kids really get out of hand?
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