A retired teacher recently stirred up a lot of conversation with a direct letter to parents. Many people are praising her words, especially the last sentence, which they feel really hits the mark. I think you should read it yourself and see if you agree!

Lisa Roberson, who used to teach, shared her strong opinions about the current state of public school classrooms. Here’s what she had to say:

“As a retired teacher, I’m tired of people who have no real experience in public schools or haven’t been in a classroom for years trying to tell us how to improve our education system.

The issue isn’t the teachers! The real issue lies with the parents! They aren’t teaching their kids basic manners, respect, or even how to interact with others properly.

Kids show up to school wearing shoes that cost more than what the teacher’s whole outfit is worth, yet they come without any pencils or paper. Guess who ends up buying those supplies? The teachers often have to pay for them out of their own pockets.”


When examining schools that are labeled as “failing,” it’s important to consider the role of parents and students. Are parents attending parent-teacher nights? Do they communicate with teachers on a regular basis? Are they ensuring their kids have the right supplies and are ready for school? Are they checking that their children complete their homework?

Do they have updated contact information? Are students taking notes during lessons? Are they keeping up with their assignments? Are they paying attention in class, or are they causing disruptions?

By looking at these aspects, it becomes clear that the issue isn’t with the schools but rather with the parents. Teachers can’t handle both their responsibilities and those of the parents. Until parents take an active role in their children’s education, improvements are unlikely to happen.

Do you think this former teacher’s views are valid?