'I embarrassed his child and labeled her a thief': Parents reprimand teacher for catching their daughter trying to steal a tablet

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Emmy Pratt • Senior Editor
Feb 20, 2024 6:00 PM EST

Teaching kids how to be good humans is a collaborative effort between their parents, teachers, and all other adults in their lives. It truly does take a village, and if the adults closest to a kid aren't on the same page regarding standards of behavior, it's much more challenging to make them into good adults. 

Even if we don't agree on all the nitty-gritty details, some core values should be instilled in every child: don't lie, steal, or be violent. These are pretty basic things that make up most frameworks of basic morality. If a kid is caught doing one of these things, it's not like he should be tarred and feathered down the high street. But this behavior shouldn't go unacknowledged either, and anyone who thinks it should is not doing a great job of raising good citizens. One teacher caught her young student trying to steal a tablet, and her parent's reactions were somehow more disappointing than the attempted thievery. 

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  • 01
    r/Teachers u/lhatss98 16h Well... this next generation is doomed... parents have lost their minds! Humor
    via u/lhatss98
  • 02
    On Monday, a student in my lower elementary class was trying to steal a classroom tablet. (That I purchased with my own money) The student had it hidden under their shirt and tried to stuff it in their backpack. Another student saw this and shouted, "Hey! Blank's name, what are you doing?" That's when the tablet fell out from their shirt.
    via u/lhatss98
  • 03
    I called the student over and had a very serious, but gentle chat about what had happened. Student admitted that there were trying to take the tablet. We end our conversation with discussing that stealing is wrong and to move clip down for not being respectful. Student is of course upset and cries at the front of the room. Other students give hugs and I give a hug too. Remind student that sometimes we make mistakes. Student stops crying less than 10 minutes later.
    via u/lhatss98
  • 04
    End of the day rolls around and I write in the planner about the incident. After school, I had a face to face meeting with mom already scheduled and share exactly what happened.
    via u/lhatss98
  • 05
    After hearing what happened, Mom asks why child was crying. I reiterate that the student was caught stealing the tablet. Mom asks again and again. I keep saying back they tried to steal a tablet. She asks again. Finally, I say, "I guess she was embarrassed for getting in trouble?" Like I didn't know what to say? They were stealing and got caught. Tears were an appropriate reaction. It showed remorse.
    via u/lhatss98
  • 06
    Mom also asked if it happened in front of the class. I again reiterate, that it happened during center time, and that the entire class was present, but that the conversation was private. We move on without much issue. Apparently, this was wrong.
    via u/lhatss98
  • 07
    The next day, the father calls and yells at the principal, saying that I embarrassed his child and labeled them a thief. He also said the child was just trying to "borrow" the tablet. He also said I shouldn't have written what happened in the planner (I told parents at the beginning of the year that I use the planner to communicate any behavior problems, good or bad to them) and that I should have called him (he and mom are married and live together)
    via u/lhatss98
  • 08
    My principal, of course, contacts me about this whole issue. I explain what happened. I was basically told next time just to call the parents. I guess talking IN PERSON wasn't enough?
    via u/lhatss98
  • 09
    But this is where I'm worried about this upcoming generation. What should've been a discussion about stealing and that it's wrong, instead became a witch hunt for the teacher????? What are we teaching our children? That's stealing is fine???? That if we make a mistake, it's someone else's fault? I'm beside myself on this!!! Like what?!?!
    via u/lhatss98
  • 10
    Also, don't worry the page where I wrote the note was torn out ... so their precious cherub didn't need to be reminded that they literally tried to steal a classroom tablet.
    via u/lhatss98
  • 11
    boboddy42069 - 16h Teaching them that stealing is fine just call mommy and daddy Reply 1.1k
    via u/boboddy42069
  • 12
    capresesalad1985 - 13h Hopefully mommy and daddy have bail money for when the call comes from jail ... G 368
    via u/capresesalad1985
  • 13
    we_gon_ride 15h I live and teach in a small town that publishes the daily arrest records. So many times it's full of former students whose parents believed they could do no wrong. Fred whose dad wanted to wait and hear his side of the story Paula whose self esteem I ruined after she stole a candy bar from my desk. Malcolm who wasn't talking, wasn't cheating, didn't call me a , didn't skip my class, turned in his work which I lost etc etc Some day most of the kids like the one who tried to steal
    via u/we_gon_ride
  • 14
    IDKHow2UseThisApp. 14h I teach college English, mostly freshmen, so it's the first time mom and dad have no real say. These are the kids who drop out or flunk out within a couple of semesters. Edit: "freshman" to "freshmen" because I teach English ffs ... 236
    via u/IDKHow2UseThisApp
  • 15
    Hihieveryoneitsme . 15h As a former teacher and now a mom, I also seriously worry about the next generation. I've seen parents blaming others in TODDLER playgroups. We are definitely doomed. 4398 ... Reply
    via u/Hihieveryoneitsme
  • 16
    Ihatss98 OP. 15h Truth! I have a toddler. We set up a play date with a child in our neighborhood. The parents absolutely refused to say no, or enforce consequences. Their children were crazy and dangerous. 4213 ...
    via u/lhatss98
  • 17
    SuggestionSea8057 - 12h I was teaching English in a private Christian preschool/ kindergarten in Japan for one year. I was surprised that it seems like so many kids came to school aged 3 and never seemed to hear" No" from their parents and caregivers. Many children thought if they only asked over and over again we would eventually say yes, because at home that's what happened... we literally had to teach them what the word No means. Anytime they asked for candy, they got it. That's why so many k
    via u/SuggestionSea8057
  • 18
    CatsEatGrass • 15h You gave the parents way more attention and time than they deserved. "I caught your kid trying to steal my personal property. She cried when she got caught." Reply ↑ 349 +
    via u/CatsEatGrass
  • 19
    Fragrant-Hedgehog524 14h And she almost broke it when it fell out of her shirt. ... 125
    via u/Fragrant-Hedgehog524
  • 20
    Swimming-Mom. There's absolutely no question where gaslighting comes from when the parents do it too. What a shame that they didn't nip this in the bud when it was easy. 15h Reply 136
    via u/Swimming-Mom
  • 21
    Ihatss98 OP • 15h You're right... this is actually a perfect example of gaslighting! Like ummm.... I'm not the one who tried to steal????? ... 82
    via u/lhatss98

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steal stealing kids crazy things parents say teachers tablet awesome teacher teacher parenting kids these days Parenting Fail parents children Parenting FAILS
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