17-year-old student steals his teacher's wedding ring, admin refuses to punish him because he has an Individualized Education Plan: 'He passed my class with a 12%. I bumped it up to 60%'

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Emmy Pratt • Writer and Editor
Aug 16, 2025 8:00 AM EDT

There are some cases where a student needs an individualized curriculum because they have moderate to severe challenges. When a public school student has an illness that stops them from being able to follow a standard curriculum, they may be given an Individualized Education Plan. These plans can vary in their severity. If a student has mild ADHD, the plan might outline that they can turn in their work a couple of days late without their grade being penalized. Students with more severe challenges might not be expected to be tuned into the regular curriculum at all, setting behavioral goals instead of academic ones. 

While IEPs can be extremely helpful for some students, some delinquent students can easily take advantage of them. All it takes is an IEP, and suddenly, they can't get punished for anything because their bad behavior must have everything to do with their intellectual challenges. It's a tough situation, because once an IEP is in place, a teacher can't do anything about it, even if they suspect that the student does not need the accommodations that they so claim they need. 

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  • C8)=M+1)
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • The teacher in this story is now retired, but 10 years ago, he had a nightmare student. This student stole his wedding band in class, and was foolish enough to get caught with it the next day. The teacher couldn't do anything to punish him because the student had an IEP. The moment when he discovered his wedding band at his student's desk was unforgettable for all involved. 

  • One time a student stole my wedding ring and he wasn't punished because he was on an IEP.

    Back to school time and a time to reflect on why I retired. This was when I was teaching seniors in highschool so EIGHTEEN AND SEVENTEEN YEAR OLDS WHO ARE BASICALLY ADULTS.
    via u/dinosaregaylikeme
  • I usually take my wedding ring off while grading papers or working on my computer. Always put it in the same place on my desk. This kid. He wasn't dis ed. He was just a lazy piece of sh. And I can say that because I am retired. Every was something. day it
    via u/dinosaregaylikeme
  • Portrait of a schoolboy with backpack looking at the camera while standing in front of a chalkboard
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Daily he would tell me he can't do the work because he didn't bring a pencil. Give him a penicl and he would throw it at me, the other students, or at the ceiling. Chewing and breaking them.
    via u/dinosaregaylikeme
  • Constantly complained that he is board. Hates me. Hates this class. Doesn't like history. Why does he have to learn about de d people. When is he ever going to use this in real life.
    via u/dinosaregaylikeme
  • Said he did the work, just didn't turn it in. Asked for it and he would say he lost it. Sometimes he would turn it in completely blank and say he didn't feel like doing it.
    via u/dinosaregaylikeme
  • When I was teaching the 60s revolution he would constantly make comments about how I was gay and teaching about the qur moments. Comments that include slur words.
    via u/dinosaregaylikeme
  • Parents were convinced that he just had a learning challenge. He was diagnosed with au_sm. My husband also has au sm but isn't a raging a_h_le. School was just a challenge to him and I had to help with those challenges.
    via u/dinosaregaylikeme
  • One day I was grading papers and noticed my ring was gone. I thought I had dropped it in my bag while looking for things, happened a million times. Got home. No ring. Probably got lost on my desk? I had a lot of paperwork on my desk.
    via u/dinosaregaylikeme
  • Got to school the next day. Couldn't find it. Asked staff. Asked admin. Asked my students. Last period of the day and we taking a test. All quiet in the room and I hear tink tink tink tink.
    via u/dinosaregaylikeme
  • A gold ring on a pink backgroud
    via Philip Oroni (Unsplash+)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • That ah le had my ring in his hand and playing with it on his desk. He swiped it yesterday when I left my desk to help a student out. The turn in folder is right next to my desk. None of the students thought differently when he was next to my desk turning in halfassed work.
    via u/dinosaregaylikeme
  • God and I will never forget the look he had on his face just staring me down. I went over to him. Grabbed my wedding. Told him to get the f out of my classroom. Students were scared that I dropped that word in my classroom. He was scared and left. I called admin and told him he needs to get into my classroom right now.
    via u/dinosaregaylikeme
  • Oh no can't do anything about it. Stealing is part of his au_sm. He can't control it. I can't have him in moved out of my classroom because he needs structure and changing classrooms is a bad idea.
    via u/dinosaregaylikeme
  • I moved his desk into the hallway. Gave him his textbook and the pile of work including test he didn't do. I didn't care if he used the textbook, just do your work in the hallway because the hallway is technically part of my class.
    via u/dinosaregaylikeme
  • This kid fought on me secluding him from the class. Everytime he brought his stuff in. I said nothing and pushed his stuff back into the hallway. Never spoke to that kid. He passed my class with a 12%. I bumped it up to 60%, a D-. Passing grade.
    via u/dinosaregaylikeme
  • He graduated highschool. That was ten years ago. Everytime I remember that kid I check in on him on Facebook. He doesn't have a job. Mom still posts about the struggles of an au tic child. He is 26 and probably still an ah_le.
    via u/dinosaregaylikeme
  • OkYesterday9764 I hate that this happened to you, but I absolutely love that you threw him and his shout in the hallway for the rest of the year.
    via u/OkYesterday9764
  • dinosaregaylikeme OP It was comical because he couldn't prevent me because he had to much stuff. His backpack, his laptop backpack, and his guitar hero guitar. He brings one in, I will bring it back out while he brings more stuff in.
    via u/dinosaregaylikeme
  • Ayafan101 This. I can tolerate most things, but when or if a student dares to steal from me I lose my sh and immediately tell them to get lost and tell admin to get their in the classroom. I grew up lower middle class and any of the few "luxury" items I ever had were gotten at special times like birthdays or Christmas at least during my childhood. Once I hit adulthood, anything valuable I bought was a huge deal because of the hours of labor put into them. I do not tolerate it.
    via u/Ayafan101
  • dinosaregaylikeme OP My wedding ring isn't just a massive produce ring. My husband hand crafted it and it is midnight black, not white. Because I didn't want a traditional ring and black is my favorite color. My ring also represents the years my husband and I wanted to get married and never could. The year we spent protesting California state to make same s marriage legal, again. Almost dropped kicked the kid out the window because my ring represents so much more to me.
    via u/dinosaregaylikeme
  • southcookexplore Really? Because a teacher on each side of my old classroom had a car stolen from them on work hours by a student and they definitely pressed charges. One was a 19 year old junior with an IEP.
    via u/southcookexplore
  • michaelincognito I once had a teacher express surprise that I suspended a kid with an IEP. "But won't you have to do a manifestation review hearing?" "Probably. It's just paperwork."
    via u/michaelincognito
  • Admirable_Camel7679 One of my coworkers told a kid “an IEP won't save you when you're an adult in the real world" and I still think about that. One day these kids will face consequences but when it's too late.
    via u/Admirable_Camel7679

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wedding rings rings wedding ring stealing teach students teaching teachers teacher ring high school punishment theft immature high schoolers college student
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