27/04/2025
Dear parents, school resumes on Monday.
These 6 Things Teachers Wish They Could Tell You (But Can't Say Out Loud). Let me gist you.
1. Your child can lie, and they do.
I know you believe "my son can never lie," but let’s be honest:
Children lie.
Sometimes because they’re scared.
Sometimes because they want to impress.
Sometimes because...well, they just can.
We hear stories like:
"Miss, I didn’t do my homework because my mummy traveled and locked my books inside her car."
Meanwhile, mummy is sitting pretty at home.
We hear it every day.
Please, when we call you, don’t come swinging with "my child can NEVER."
Because sometimes, they just did.
2. You think you’re arguing quietly in the living room? Your child heard.
You think you’re mocking someone’s child? Your child heard.
You think you’re badmouthing the school? Your child heard—and they come to school repeating your words like parrot news reporters.
“My daddy said this school only knows how to collect money.”
“My mummy said our teacher is not even rich.”
We hear it. We smile. We continue teaching.
But deep down, we wish we could say: Please, clean the lens your child uses to see us.
It's stained with your conversations.
3. Many children come to school emotionally half-empty.
You think school is about math and English?
Half the time, we’re battling things you can’t test with an exam.
Children who are angry because daddy left the house after a fight.
Children who are distracted because mummy cried herself to sleep.
Children carrying emotional loads heavier than their backpacks.
We wish we could call you and say: "Please, before you pack the lunchbox, pack their heart too."
But we can't.
So we just hug them tighter and pray silently.
4. Some parents teach bad habits at home and we’re left to ‘uncook’ them.
We know when a child has learned to cheat, curse, gossip, or disrespect from home.
It’s written all over their behavior.
When a child tells us, "My mummy said if you beat me, she’ll beat you back,"
What do you want us to say?
We’re unteaching what you planted without embarrassing your child.
It’s slow, it’s hard, and it's silent… but we do it for the child's sake.
5. Not every complaint from your child is true—or complete.
"Mummy, the teacher punished me for nothing."
Oh, really?
They forgot to mention they insulted a classmate first.
Or that they refused to do their classwork.
Or that they broke someone's pencil and laughed about it.
Children tell stories like TikTok creators: they edit, remix, and skip scenes that make them look guilty.
Please, before you storm the school in anger, always ask:
"Tell me everything—not just your version."
6. We are trying harder than you can imagine with less appreciation than we deserve.
Some days, we stay awake worrying about how to help your child catch up.
Some days, we spend our own money to buy extra books, snacks, or even pencils for children who "forgot" again.
We laugh with them, pray for them, cheer for them... and still get side-eyes from some parents.
No, we’re not looking for medals.
But once in a while, a simple "thank you for everything" would heal wounds you don't even know we're carrying.
As your child steps back into school this Monday, remember:
Teachers are not fighting your child.
We’re fighting for your child sometimes harder than even you realize.
Let’s be partners, not competitors.
Because at the end of the day, we both want the same thing: a child who thrives.
