Some people treat schools like day cares to avoid parenting their kids. It goes without saying that schools are for learning, and parents still need to step up and help their kids if they’re struggling academically. Destinee (@kingdesee), a school teacher in Florida, showed TikTok that not all parents care enough about their kids.
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Destinee said a parent demanded a phone call through email after receiving notification that her child failed. The teacher recalled the parent saying that she was “confused” that her child failed.
She explained, “Well, his final grade is a 30. So, all four quarters averaged up from January—it’s a 30%.” If this is the case for the student, he may have also been missing classes.
The parent replied, “I don’t understand that. How could it possibly be a 30%?”
Destinee said that the child “doesn’t do much” in class. It also seems that he has no interest in learning, as he sleeps in class and has to be told to put his phone away. Granted, it isn’t unusual for kids to be reminded of class rules.
Most kids would sneak their phones during discussions, but not all would start flunking their classes just because they’re using gadgets during class. As Destinee explained, the student she’s pertaining to even has to be told to leave the class because he isn’t listening.
Taking no accountability
Overall, it seems like he has a disciplinary problem that proper parenting can resolve.
But the parent defended her child, saying, “But that’s just ridiculous. I’ve never heard this before! This is the first time I’m being told about any of this.”
Except it wasn’t true. Destinee claims that she’s been trying to contact the parent for sometime regarding the child. She said, “I’ve emailed you twice, and I told you that his grade was below a 64. That’s what he needs to pass.”
Instead of acknowledging that she missed the email, the mother instead deflected the blame on to Destinee.
She replied, “Well, I work. I don’t have time to check an email—I have other children… That’s not something people with jobs can do.” Everyone’s circumstances are different. But every parent is responsible for their child regardless, because parenting is a choice.
Nevertheless, the parent continued to insist that she should have been called about the matter instead. Destinee had tried that as well, and she pulled up the call log to show her that she had not been remiss in her duties as a teacher.
By now, a functional parent would acknowledge their failure. Instead, Destinee said that the mother started cussing her out.
Destinee tried to be professional and said that the woman’s son didn’t even take the final exam. If she had any doubts on why her son was failing, it’s evident that her son had been neglectful of his studies. As his mother, she was supposed to be there to set him straight.
A parenting fail
TikTok commenters were appalled by the situation. One comment reads, “What adult doesn’t check their emails?” Let alone a parent who is solely responsible for their children? A quick read would have steered the child away from receiving a failing mark.
Another wrote, “People raising their kids like a dog tied up in the yard.”
It’s grim, but some people treat children like pets they want for Christmas. When it becomes inconvenient to care for them, they tie the dog to the yard without giving it much of a second thought. Just like adopting pets, not enough people think hard enough about having children and parenting.
(featured images: Andy Barbour, kingdesee)
