Middle School Teacher Refuses to Hand Over an Expensive Brand-Name Hoodie to a Mom with Only a Vague Description, Then Another Student Proves It’s His and Proves Her Right

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  • Woman in glasses looking at a laptop near a window, wearing a black top and red lipstick.
  • AITA for not giving an expensive hoodie to a student's mom without proper proof?

    I work as a teacher at a middle school. Ot's the last week of school year and we had a field day after lunch on Wednesday.
  • There were outdoor games, activity stations and indoor games in the gym. So till the end of the day entire space was cluttered with backpacks and hoodies that kids had left lying around everywhere.
  • After the event I helped out at the lost and found table. We have a simple rule if an item isn't labled with a name, person has to describe it clearly. Color, brand, size, what's in the pocket, any detail.
  • At the end of the day, someone brought a navy hoodie from an expensive brand to the table.
  • There was no name on the tag, but inside the packet was a floded schedule with initials and a small robotics club sticker.
  • About ten minutes later, the student's mom came over and said it was her son's hoodie. I asked her to describe it. She said dark blue, expensive brand,
  • Cheezburger Image 10635372800
  • medium. The problem is that this describes half of all middle school boys hoodies. I asked if there was anything in the pocket
  • or if there was a photo of her son wearing it. She said irritably that she wasn't obligated to take a quiz. I said I understood, but I couldn't hand over an expensive item without definite confirmation.
  • On Thursday morning another student came in and immediately said that his robotics schedule with a sticker was in the pocket.
  • He gave his initials and described a small stain on the sleeve. The hoodie was his.
  • After that mom wrote to the assistant principal, saying that I had humiliated her in front of the other parents and treated her like
  • a liar. She said she could have returned the hoodie that morning if it hadn't turned out to be theirs. The assistant principal said I followed the rules, but the mom is demanding an apology.
  • To be honest, I don't want to apologize as lost and found doesn't work like you give expensive items to the first person who says that's mine. AITA?
  • Trippynet NTA, sounds like she was trying to "steal" it anyway. The fact that you reunited it with its actual owner is proof that you were right to ask for more details before just handing it over. You've nothing to apologise for.
  • Helpful-Livina OP i also have such feeling now. i think the reason why she is angry now is that people asking questions.
  • IceSeeker She got caught in a lie and now she's blaming you for the embarrassment she put herself through. Don't apologize. You only did your job.
  • zefy_zef She lied to you. The only apology due is hers to you, or the student she tried to steal from.

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