Teacher's controversial post to parents goes viral: 'Be involved in your child's life'

Many agree with her, while others are completely outraged

Many agree with her, while others are completely outraged

Teacher's controversial post to parents goes viral: 'Be involved in your child's life'

Many agree with her, while others are completely outraged

After tragedies like the Parkland shooting, many of us have the same question: how can we pick up on warning signs? Georgia teacher Amie Diprima Brown shared her answer in a viral post — and she's pointing her fingers at parents.Every school year, Brown says she asks parents to write a letter describing their child in a million words or less. "I go on to explain that I want to learn the child's hopes, dreams, fears, challenges, etc, and jokingly ask parents to limit it to less than a million words since we all know we could talk forever about our children," she wrote in a Facebook post. These letters have been a beneficial tool for her to learn more about her students outside of the classroom. Over the years, she's learned about her student's mental health struggles, eating disorders, adoption stories, abuse, and more. "I often pull them out when a child has a sudden change in behavior or issue that comes up," she wrote.But there's a problem, she says. In 2003, she received letters — emailed or hand delivered — from 98% of parents. This year, only 22% of parents wrote a letter.Brown suggests that parents' lack of involvement is causing harm in more ways than one. "This year's average for homework turned in is riding at 67%," she wrote. "Parents continue to let their child rack up zero after zero. But then again, that average used to be around 98% as well."And homework is just the start of it. "With all of our other responsibilities in our profession, how are we supposed to get to know students so that we can identify the ones with the mentality and disposition to become a school shooter if parents are checking out of the academic process."In other words, she is calling on all parents to actually "be a parent." "Don't wait until your child is the school shooter to let us know your child is struggling mentally. Don't wait until your child is ineligible for sports or the day before report cards to check grades and question the teacher on why your child is failing," she wrote. Within days, her post received comments from dozens of parents and teachers. Many teachers echo Brown's statement. "Very well said! That's THE problem. Parents do check out of being a parent for whatever reason and I think it is so very sad," one wrote. Some teachers even asked Brown to share the letter template so that they can add it to their curriculum. Others, however, are pointing out the difficulties of parenting today. There's more demands outside the home, less stay-at-home parents, and less control over children due to social media and technology usage. "A lot of other things have changed. Like how much parents have to work, and how much is expected from us at work. Shuttling kids back and forth to different lessons and activities. Hours and hours of homework and yada yada yada. There's not enough time in the day. Something has to give. A letter seems to be one of them," another wrote. While controversial, Brown's post ends with a poignant message many can agree on: "As parents, our job is to grow the most amazing humans possible. Its the most important job in the world. The education and emotional stability a parent provides is priceless."Watch the video above on how you can help your child with their homework and get more involved!(h/t Scary Mommy)

After tragedies like the , many of us have the same question: how can we pick up on warning signs? Georgia teacher Amie Diprima Brown shared her answer in a viral post — and she's pointing her fingers at parents.

Every school year, Brown says she asks parents to write a letter describing their child in a million words or less. "I go on to explain that I want to learn the child's hopes, dreams, fears, challenges, etc, and jokingly ask parents to limit it to less than a million words since we all know we could talk forever about our children," she wrote in a .

These letters have been a beneficial tool for her to learn more about her students outside of the classroom. Over the years, she's learned about her student's , eating disorders, adoption stories, abuse, and more. "I often pull them out when a child has a sudden change in behavior or issue that comes up," she wrote.

But there's a problem, she says. In 2003, she received letters — emailed or hand delivered — from 98% of parents. This year, only 22% of parents wrote a letter.

Brown suggests that parents' lack of involvement is causing harm in more ways than one. "This year's average for homework turned in is riding at 67%," she wrote. "Parents continue to let their child rack up zero after zero. But then again, that average used to be around 98% as well."

And homework is just the start of it. "With all of our other responsibilities in our profession, how are we supposed to get to know students so that we can identify the ones with the mentality and disposition to become a school shooter if parents are checking out of the academic process."

In other words, she is calling on all parents to actually "be a parent." "Don't wait until your child is the school shooter to let us know your child is struggling mentally. Don't wait until your child is ineligible for sports or the day before report cards to check grades and question the teacher on why your child is failing," she wrote.

Within days, her post received comments from dozens of parents and teachers. Many teachers echo Brown's statement. "Very well said! That's THE problem. Parents do check out of being a parent for whatever reason and I think it is so very sad," one wrote. Some teachers even asked Brown to share the so that they can add it to their curriculum.

Others, however, are pointing out the today. There's more demands outside the home, less stay-at-home parents, and less control over children due to social media and technology usage. "A lot of other things have changed. Like how much parents have to work, and how much is expected from us at work. Shuttling kids back and forth to different lessons and activities. Hours and hours of homework and yada yada yada. There's not enough time in the day. Something has to give. A letter seems to be one of them," another wrote.

While controversial, Brown's post ends with a poignant message many can agree on: "As parents, our job is to grow the most amazing humans possible. Its the most important job in the world. The education and emotional stability a parent provides is priceless."

Watch the video above on how you can help your child with their homework and get more involved!

(h/t )

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