A retired teacher named Lisa Roberson wrote an open letter published in a newspaper in 2017, and her words continue to spark debate about whether parents or teachers are to blame for current issues in the school system. The letter went viral and remains relevant today. Roberson stated that she is sick of people who know nothing about public schools deciding how to fix education. Her message was direct: teachers are not the problem—parents are.

She argued that parents are not teaching their children manners, respect, or basic social skills. Children come to school wearing expensive shoes but have no pencil or paper, which teachers often provide out of their own pockets. Roberson asked critical questions: Do parents attend parent nights? Do they talk with teachers regularly? Do they make sure their children have necessary supplies and complete homework? Do they keep working phone numbers on file?

She also questioned whether students take notes in class, do their homework, or listen without causing disruptions. According to Roberson, when you look at schools that are failing, you should look at the parents and students. She concluded that teachers cannot do both their own job and the parents’ job. Until parents step up and take responsibility, nothing is going to get better.

The letter raised valid points that many educators quietly agree with. While some may argue that the system itself has flaws, Roberson shifted the focus back to the home environment. Without parental involvement, even the best teachers struggle to succeed. Her words remind us that education is a partnership, and when one side stops showing up, the children are the ones who ultimately lose. The debate continues, but her message remains as powerful today as when it was first published.