Throwing A Pair Of Scissors
A young child once accidentally threw a pair of scissors at their teacher. She claimed they had slipped from her hands, and since no one was hurt, she wasn’t expelled.
However, the very next day, she showed up to school with a pair of nunchucks. This time, there were no second chances—she was expelled immediately. Surely, her parents must have seen the warning signs, right?
Second Grade Teacher
As a second-grade teacher, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for one of my students—a small, quiet girl who was constantly pestered by the bigger boy sitting in front of her. He would shove her desk back whenever she tried to move her chair and repeatedly knocked her stationery bag onto the floor, making her frustration grow each day.
One day, she’d had enough. Just as he leaned forward, she forcefully pushed her desk back, slamming his fingers in the process. He yelped in pain, and from that moment on, he never bothered her again.
A Pair Of Twins
Having a twin can be pretty handy, especially when it means having an alibi in class. There was a pair of twins in one of my classes who were always full of energy, constantly stirring up trouble with their antics.
One day, one of them got his head stuck in a chair and immediately yelled, "Call my brother!" His twin rushed over but nearly made things worse in his attempt to help. Luckily, I was on duty and arrived just in time to free him without any harm.
Bit My Finger
A classmate once bit my hand so hard that it bled. When the teacher arrived, he claimed I had bitten him first. The school informed my mom, who was furious, and I ended up grounded for a whole week.
Fortunately, the truth came out when he did it again—this time, right in front of the teacher. I’ll never forget the moment the principal stepped into our classroom and publicly apologized to me. It was one of the happiest days of my life.
Openly Disapproved
There was a girl in my class who openly disapproved of me being gay. She went out of her way to avoid touching anything I had used, making me feel isolated and ashamed.
I tried to connect with her, but she lacked respect for everyone, including our teachers. She was running for class representative and carried herself with an inflated sense of importance. Her homophobic behavior ultimately cost her the election. Hopefully, she has since grown and changed.
Teaching Methods
I once had a student who strongly disliked my teaching methods. One day, in the middle of class, she lost her temper, shouted that I was an incompetent teacher, and stormed out. Despite my attempts to calm her down, she was too upset to listen.
In her anger, she yanked the door open with so much force that it swung back and hit her hard on the back. While I felt a little sorry for her, the rest of the class couldn’t contain their laughter. The situation, though tense at first, quickly turned into an unforgettable classroom moment.
Senior Student
This senior student was known for frequently getting into fights with his peers.
One day, he got into a major altercation in the school parking lot. Punches were thrown, and the commotion kept students from returning to class. In the chaos, the other student managed to slam his head through a car window, leaving shattered glass everywhere. His injuries were severe, making it impossible for him to continue attending school in person. He ended up finishing his senior year online.
Incredibly Gifted
One of my brother’s friends was incredibly gifted, often acting like a know-it-all. He took great pride in his intelligence and loved showing it off.
He never needed to study, relying on his natural abilities to get by. In fact, he only needed to pass one English course to move on to the next year. During the final term, he was overheard asking a friend why he should aim for a 90% when he could easily pass with just a 50%. His attitude caught the attention of a teacher, and, as a result, he was expelled for his lack of motivation and negative mindset.
Smart But Athletic
There was a popular boy in class who was not only smart but also athletic. With his skills and looks, he was full of himself, and his massive ego often irritated the girls. He would take their stationery and pull their hair, always finding ways to show off.
However, his life took a turn when he broke his leg and had to rely on crutches. Unable to play sports, he became frustrated. During a classmate's birthday celebration, the girls saw an opportunity to get back at him. They snatched his crutches, leaving him stuck inside while everyone else enjoyed ice popsicles outside. When his cast came off, he had a change of heart.
Lacking Motivation
I once taught a senior student who, despite not being terrible, lacked motivation and was consistently late with his assignments. One day, he asked me for a recommendation letter, and I saw it as a chance to teach him a valuable lesson about responsibility and integrity.
Instead of highlighting his academic struggles, I wrote him an overly flattering letter. I described him as someone who regularly volunteered at homeless shelters, read to blind children, and selflessly dedicated his time to helping others in need. When he saw it, he was so taken aback that all he could manage was a simple "thank you." I sincerely hope he never tried to use that letter in a real-world situation.
First Timers
The first year of school is always the most exciting, but we always get some overactive kids. One such 7-year-old was always playing and fighting with the other boys in his class. When I spoke to his parents, they denied such aggressive behavior and said that he was quiet at home.
During lunchtime, he was annoying one of our usually well-mannered little boys; the little boy got tired of the bullying and decided to fight back. He punched him so hard that he wet himself. When I confronted the children about it, all their mouths were closed. We couldn't pin the blame on anyone and had to let it go.
Gory Details
Science class was one little boy's favorite time. He enjoyed the dissection parts and was always the first one to grab live animals. We had an incident with him where he was dissecting a squid, and before he could receive instructions from the teacher, he had already started cutting the animal open.
He caused squid juice to be sprayed over several students, and we all stank like fish the whole day. We had to call his parents in about his over-eagerness to learn, and his parents found it fishy.
Out In The Real World
As a college professor teaching education, I take my work and my students very seriously. I believe that teaching is the profession that gives birth to all other professions. I had one student who didn't seem to have the same interest. He would always show up late to class, and his assignments were always half done.
I told him to improve his attitude, or he would never survive in the real world. The next year, I heard that he got fired from his first teaching job. I felt sorry for him but laughed at his stupidity for not putting in the effort at school.
Class Act
In the Tenth grade, we moved house, so we stayed a few miles further from my school. I tried to be on time, but I'm also not really a morning person. I was usually late for my Biology class which was the first period on a Monday morning. This particular Monday, I walked in a few minutes late to see that my class was preparing for a spot quiz.
I excused myself and sat down at my desk to read the quiz paper. I was shocked to find that I didn't understand any of the questions, and nothing made sense to me. I was sweating bricks and about to raise my hand to ask our teacher if it was the right quiz when I saw everyone looking at me. All my friends were laughing because it was a prank test they had all played on me for always being late. I laughed at myself and promised that I would always be on time.
Triple Times
Working with undergraduates in college has its fair share of drama. I was once a TA for first-year Sociology, and I caught one of the students for plagiarising. I asked the boy to withdraw from the course, fearing that he might get in trouble, but the obstinate lad wouldn't heed.
During exam time, he was caught for plagiarism, exceeding absences, and not completing the final. He didn't return to our college after that.
A Little Diva
I was teaching 9th-grade music, and I loved my job. We had a new child transfer from a posh school in the suburbs, and he struggled to fit in. However, my kids were warm and friendly toward him. They felt he was a showoff and always tried to pretend to be better than the rest. This boy was a great flutist, but unfortunately, he also had an ego that didn't match his sweet music style.
He would pick on the other flutist, who was a girl, and he refused to play next to her at the school concert because he claimed he was a professional and deserved a solo act. The little girl was in tears, and he ruined the school concert night. I failed him at music and told him that musicians require discipline to succeed, not attitude.
The Wind Beneath My Wings
Keeping kids in order is no joke, especially after lunchtime when they are full of energy. We had one boy who always had ants in his pants. He could never sit still and had a problem obeying rules. Our school had a large deck outside, and it would get quite slippery when wet. That day it was raining, and this little tyrant decided to slide across the deck on the damp wood.
He skids straight over the railing and onto the grass. He was airborne for a good few seconds. Although the class found it amusing, thank God he didn't get badly hurt.
Nosy Kids
Our 8th-grade class was a rowdy bunch. One boy was caught rifling through his classmate's bag who was a girl. The girl was furious and called me to assist. The naughty boy tried to cause problems by saying that the girl had brought weapons to school.
He tried to get her into trouble, but the teacher had the perfect response "Don't you think girls carry weapons to defend themselves from thieves who take their bags without asking?" The little troublemaker stared at the teacher wide-eyed and handed the girl's bag back to her."
Public Indecency
Our school was the largest in the district because we shared premises with the center for the mentally ill. We also had an Olympic size swimming pool which the students thoroughly enjoyed. Swimming was the favorite extracurricular of most of the children as we are a warm city all year around. The kids from the center and school shared the swimming pool, and sometimes, there was a clash of classes.
One day one of our top swimmers decided he didn't want to practice with the center kids around, so he decided to fool around with them. He started growling and barking like a dog at one of the center kids, who was immediately scared and intimidated. The kid reported the incident to his support worker, who immediately contacted the school principal. Of course, the brazen boy was suspended, and he failed gym class too.
A Little Party Pooper
We were on our Fourth-grade environment excursion, and I knew I was in for a busy day. Our chatterbox Marco was a boy who couldn't stop asking unnecessary questions and pretending like she knew it all. He would often have arguments with me as though he knew more than I did. This little chatterbox had a knack for getting on my wrong side, and this particular day he wouldn't stop asking if everything was animal droppings. To the amusement of his friends because he kept singing different words for feces.
I had just about had it when the little boy got into an argument with a classmate about the kind of plant they had just found. The class boffin warned the class that there was Poison Ivy around, but the little know it disagreed with him and was convinced that it was something else. Luckily I stepped into the conversation just as he was going to pick some leaves. Marco was never so embarrassed, and he kept quiet for the rest of the trip.
Last Chance To Pass
A teenage girl named Lily was a rebellious soul who always thought of herself as a misfit. She never cared about studies and believed that math was not for her. In her math class, she refused to pay attention or participate in any way. She would doodle in her notebook, gaze out the window, or daydream about her future as a famous artist.
Despite numerous warnings from her teacher, Lily refused to study. As a result, she failed her math exams and realized the hard way that her actions had consequences. She finally realized the importance of education and made a promise to herself never to give up on her studies again.
Won't Listen To Rules
We once had a naughty five-year-old who loved to jump off tables. One day, he was wearing flat sandals and jumped off a wooden table onto the pavement. As he felt the rush of excitement, he closed his eyes and jumped. When he opened his eyes, he was lying on the pavement, holding his ankle. His mother ran to him, and he knew he was in trouble. He had always been a curious and adventurous little boy, but jumping off tables was prohibited.
He looked up at his mother with tears in his eyes, and he knew he was going to be scolded. She scooped him up in her arms and hugged him tightly, telling him that he would be okay. From that moment on, he promised himself never to jump off tables again. But he couldn't help but feel a little sadness for his adventurous spirit.
Reigning Champ Vs New Kid On The Block
I am all for body positivity, but once we had a big-sized, fat bully who would torture other kids. He would pick girls and boys smaller than him. One day we got a transfer from another boy who was just as big. The two heads clashed, and it looked like the bully had finally met his match. The new boy stood up to the bully, and the two engaged in a physical fight. The other kids gathered around to witness the showdown. The bully, who was used to having the upper hand, was no match for the new boy.
The transfer student was quick and agile, dodging the bully's punches and landing his own. The bully was defeated, and for the first time, the other kids saw him cower and run away. The new boy had established himself as the new king of the playground, and the kids no longer had to fear the big-sized, fat bully who used to torture them. The other kids were now free to play and have fun without the fear of being picked on.
Chemical Clash
The disobedient student refused to put his phone away during a chemistry lab. He was too busy texting and scrolling through social media to pay attention to the dangerous chemicals surrounding him. Suddenly, his phone slipped out of his hand and slid under the door of the chemical storage room. The student was left in a panic, realizing he could not retrieve his beloved phone.
He was forced to wait until the next day when the teacher would return with the key. Meanwhile, the student was left to ponder the consequences of his actions and the importance of paying attention during lab. The next day, he retrieved his phone with a newfound appreciation for safety protocols in the laboratory.
Payback Time
Mike was the notorious troublemaker in school, always getting into trouble and scaring the other students with his infamous prank of pretending to pull the emergency shower. But one day, I decided to teach him a lesson. I waited for him to be under the shower and called, "Hey Mike, look up!" As he gazed up, I pulled the emergency lever, drenching him with water.
The shock and embarrassment on his face were priceless and worth every moment of the suspension I received for it. From that day on, Mike learned to think twice before pulling his childish stunts, and the other students felt a sense of relief knowing they no longer had to be scared of him.
Final Substitution
Maxwell was a troublesome student who lacked respect for authority, especially towards his substitute teacher Mrs. Vegara. He believed that he was above her, constantly interrupting her lessons with his outbursts and disregarding her instructions. However, things took a turn when Mrs. Vegara became the full-time teacher for his class. Maxwell was taken aback as he realized that he was now required to follow her rules.
Mrs. Vegara's strict demeanor quickly put Maxwell in line, as he learned the hard way that he could no longer disrupt her lessons or yell at her. Maxwell soon realized the importance of respect and obedience in the classroom and became a model student under Mrs. Vegara's guidance.
Lunchtime Shenanigans
The no-nonsense 10th-grade science teacher, Mrs. Smith, had had enough. The students were usually rambunctious after lunchtime, but today they wouldn't shut up. A fight broke out between the smartest boy and the school jock, and they locked heads, refusing to budge. Mrs. Smith, with her quick thinking, grabbed a cup of cold coffee and threw it on their faces.
The coffee jolted the boys out of their fight, and they stopped immediately. Mrs. Smith gave them both a stern look, letting them know that this behavior wouldn't be tolerated. She handed out detention for a month and continued her lesson, proving once again that she was a teacher who meant business.
Mind Your Language
I was a teacher's aide for a group of fourth-grade special needs students; there was a boy who frequently used words like "gay" or "retarded" to describe things he didn't like or understand. One day, he confidently told me he was allowed to use the word "retarded" since he was in special needs. I took the opportunity to ask him what his excuse was for calling everything "gay."
The boy was taken aback and realized the impact of his words. It was a valuable lesson on the importance of word usage and the impact it has on others.
Always A Solution
I came up with a unique solution for students who often needed more time to complete their homework. I introduced a "homework excuse" form that needed to be filled out as a reason for not completing the assignment. However, one student with an attitude problem wrote some inappropriate things like "This class sucks" and "I had better things to do" on the forms.
As a result, her grades took a dive, and her parent came for a teacher-parent conference. The mother tried to defend her daughter's grades, blaming the difficulty of the homework and lack of clarity. However, I showed the forms filled out by the student, and the truth was revealed.
Gaseous Exchange
One particularly chubby student was always eating. He was constantly eating and always had to keep his sugar levels up. His constant eating meant that he was constantly passing gas. At first, it was funny to some of his friends, but his little farts made a big problem. After a morning of having boiled eggs and spinach for breakfast, he was too gassy to control his bowels.
He let himself loose in the middle of the school hall while the exam was going on. All the students had to vacate the hall as the smell was thick In the air. The exam was canceled for the next day. He learned his lesson and tried to control his diet during exam time with other learners around.