A retired teacher’s candid letter to parents has taken the internet by storm, sparking applause from thousands who believe her words are both timely and necessary. Lisa Roberson, a former educator, penned a no-holds-barred letter addressing the challenges faced by public schools, placing much of the responsibility on parents rather than teachers. Her passionate plea, published in a local newspaper, quickly resonated with readers nationwide.

A Bold Callout to Modern Parenting

Lisa Roberson began her letter with a blunt statement that left no room for misinterpretation:

“As a retired teacher, I am sick of people who know nothing about public schools or have not been in a classroom recently deciding how to fix our education system.”

She argued that the root of the problem lies not with teachers but with parents who fail to equip their children with the basic skills and manners necessary for success.

“The teachers are not the problem! Parents are the problem!” Roberson declared, emphasizing that many children lack respect, social skills, and even the simplest tools for learning.

Roberson highlighted a common frustration among educators, stating, “The children come to school in shoes that cost more than the teacher’s entire outfit, but [the kids] have no pencil or paper. Who provides them? The teachers often provide them out of their own pockets.”

Hard Questions That Demand Reflection

Roberson didn’t stop there. She posed a series of pointed questions aimed at parents, challenging them to evaluate their involvement in their child’s education:

• “Do parents come to parent nights?”
• “Do they talk with teachers regularly?”
• “Do they ensure their children are prepared with the necessary supplies?”
• “Do they make sure their children do their homework?”

She also questioned students’ behaviors:

• “Do the students take notes in class?”
• “Do they do their homework?”
• “Do the students listen in class, or are they the sources of class disruptions?”

Roberson concluded with a powerful statement:

“When you look at these factors, you will see that it is not schools that are failing but the parents. Teachers cannot do their jobs and the parents’ job. Until parents step up and do their job, nothing is going to get better!”

A Painful Truth

While Roberson’s words may sting for some, they touch on a harsh reality: the success of a child’s education relies on a partnership between parents and teachers. Schools are designed to teach academic skills, but foundational life lessons—such as respect, responsibility, and discipline—must start at home.

Parents are a child’s first educators. By the time a child enters school, they should already understand basic social norms and have a sense of personal responsibility. Without these fundamentals, teachers face an uphill battle trying to balance classroom instruction with behavior management.

A Wake-Up Call for Change

Roberson’s letter serves as a wake-up call for parents to take a more active role in their children’s education. It’s a reminder that teachers alone cannot bear the weight of a child’s success. Parents must foster an environment of learning at home, ensuring their children are prepared to thrive in the classroom.

Her message is resonating because it comes from a place of experience and care. By calling for greater parental accountability, Roberson hopes to ignite meaningful change that benefits students, teachers, and society as a whole.