One year I remember sitting in my classroom working on some lesson plans after school when all of a sudden I heard a lot of commotion in the hall. The next thing I knew this extremely large, extremely angry woman came stomping into my room. She picked up a chair and threw it across the room. I said "Can I help you?" Smart move, right? Wrong! She came charging at me like a bull in a china shop. I thought about sitting there calmly for about two seconds; then I got up and ran in the opposite direction. She was yelling at me when I caught the name she called me. I said "WAIT A MINUTE! I am NOT Mrs. S.....I am MRS. B....!" She stopped, looked puzzled, and said "You don't teach my son A...?" I told her that I did not teach first grade but in fact taught kindergarten. She yelled at me again wanting to know where she could find Mrs. S. I pointed her in the wrong direction and then pushed the intercom button as soon as she left. We did not have phones in the rooms back then.  As soon as I got a response, I told them that a very angry parent who had thrown a chair at me was looking for Mrs. S. Then, I hightailed it out of there. Three other teachers who had been working in their rooms as well were right behind me.

The next day we learned that the Principal had intercepted her before she could throw any more furniture and that she had been banned from coming back on campus. Nobody was happier about that than Mrs. S!

32 comments

  1. Bernie // February 27, 2010 at 1:28 AM  

    Gosh I didn't realize that parents were that vicious.....you were lucky to have not been hurt.
    ........:-) Hugs

  2. Tina // February 27, 2010 at 8:39 AM  

    OMG too funny/scary. Strange things happen with parents in schools. Last year, the day before school was to start a parent wanted to have their child's scheduing appt (HS). Our counselors were all booked and they were not leaving. The man said what would you do if you were me... I said don't ask me that... he asks again... I said I wouldn't have waited until the last minute to register my child for school AND took one giant step back away from the counter. Thanks for sharing!!

  3. VKT // February 27, 2010 at 8:57 AM  

    Bernie,

    She is the only one that comes to mind thank goodness! Have a wonderful week-end sweet lady!

  4. VKT // February 27, 2010 at 8:58 AM  

    Tina,

    Your comment cracks me up! I love it. You need to incorporate that one into your blog sometime! Too funny!

  5. Heather // February 27, 2010 at 9:11 AM  

    I guess this is the reason most schools are on a lockdown of some sort anymore. I can't get into any of my kids' schools without submitting to a background check first.

    Okay, a bit of an exaggeration, but though it makes me feel better that the kids are safe, it's also sad that things have to be that way.

    Thank goodness the chair didn't hit you!

  6. Mindy // February 27, 2010 at 9:14 AM  

    I think it's hilarious that she thought you would point her in the direction of the teacher after she assaulted you! How frightening. I had a roommate who taught middle school math for a few years and, boy, did she have some stories to tell!

  7. Theresa Milstein // February 27, 2010 at 10:01 AM  

    Wow - quick thinking, sending her in the wrong direction.

    Your kindergarten days were quite different than the ones I read at "Look at my Happy Rainbow". Yours should be, "Look at that Flying Chair and Have you Seen my Purse?"

  8. Surprised By Joy! // February 27, 2010 at 10:17 AM  

    WOW! That is an amazing story.....

    Thanks for stopping by my blog and for your nice comment. :)

    Blessings,
    Tammy

  9. VKT // February 27, 2010 at 10:25 AM  

    She didn't actually throw the chair at me Heather. She picked it up and threw it to the side. But....it got my attention!

  10. VKT // February 27, 2010 at 10:26 AM  

    Mindy,

    I have no doubt that she did! Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. Have a great week-end!

  11. VKT // February 27, 2010 at 10:26 AM  

    Lol Theresa....good point!

  12. VKT // February 27, 2010 at 10:27 AM  

    Blessings to you as well Tammy!

  13. Beth Chapman // February 27, 2010 at 10:37 AM  

    I love the strategic retreat thought process. This one is sooo scarey but when I browse through your other experiences I can focus on the good and not the abberation.Well done Kindergarten Navy Seal -- good ops!

  14. Karen Blados // February 27, 2010 at 11:09 AM  

    My mom worked as the athletic secretary in the high school I graduated from for 30 years, so I have a behind-the-scenes perspective on education. I've learned after helping in my kids' classes (pre-k, kindergarten and 1st grade) that I have all I can handle with two kids, a husband and a dog. Personally, I think teachers and school staff deserve combat pay. Thanks for being willing to take the challenge on and I'm glad you weren't hurt.

  15. VKT // February 27, 2010 at 11:22 AM  

    Lol Beth! You are so funny!

  16. VKT // February 27, 2010 at 11:25 AM  

    Wow Karen! I did not realize that. On another note, you are one talented lady. Your art is lovely!

  17. Juliana // February 27, 2010 at 12:05 PM  

    Mrs. S! Greetings! Ha ha--that is why I put another photo with my and my son and another of my hubby and I below my profile picture so people could see other pictures. I do post a lot of pictures on my blog (not just of me--wow that sounded stuck up). The profile picture is from my wedding day taken by volkelimage.com!

    WOW now reading your blogpost...I JUST posted this week about how you are a hero! You teachers every single day!!! That is crazy--it makes me very sad that parents react like that!

  18. VKT // February 27, 2010 at 1:03 PM  

    Thanks for the comment Juliana.....and you look great in all the photos!

  19. Kelly // February 27, 2010 at 2:36 PM  

    I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy reading your blog. I love your stories, they make me smile :o)

  20. VKT // February 27, 2010 at 2:43 PM  

    Thanks Kelly! Have a great week-end! I enjoy reading yours too!

  21. Unknown // February 27, 2010 at 3:10 PM  

    OMG!!! What a story. I'm sure you've seen it all. THanks for stopping by! Have a great weekend. Following you.

  22. ellen // February 27, 2010 at 4:45 PM  

    This is indeed quick thinking! Good work! I am only wondering why the parent was that angry! Did you find out what the other teacher had to say about that?
    Have a great weekend and thanks again for stopping by my site! I love our interaction through the blogs :-)

    Ellen
    www.elleninamerika.com

  23. Regency Kindergarten // February 27, 2010 at 10:48 PM  

    Dear God, I hope I can think fast just like you in such stressful situation.
    By the way thank you for stopping by and put a comment on my blog :)

  24. VKT // February 27, 2010 at 11:29 PM  

    Thanks Jenn....following you too!

  25. VKT // February 27, 2010 at 11:31 PM  

    Ellen,

    The teacher sent home a note about keeping the child in the same grade level the next year because he was doing poorly.

  26. VKT // February 27, 2010 at 11:31 PM  

    You would Regency! I think I was more in shock than anything...lol

  27. Unknown // February 28, 2010 at 2:56 AM  

    Wow! Amazing what people will do when they're angry. I had a teacher once who threw furniture at the children... I don't know what's worse o_O Aside from one crazy parent, it looks like you enjoy what you do!

  28. VKT // February 28, 2010 at 2:50 PM  

    Rene,

    I LOVE what I do. I hope that teacher didn't continue to work with chidren. Sheesh!

  29. gayle // March 1, 2010 at 10:36 PM  

    I bet you were scared to death!!

  30. VKT // March 2, 2010 at 8:10 AM  

    Me, scared, no way! I was cool, calm, collected.......NOT! I was scared to death...lol

  31. loonyhiker // March 3, 2010 at 7:55 AM  

    I'm so glad that you weren't hurt! This reminded me of a time that a man tried to kill my husband. My husband was a judge and this man just got out of jail. He was pretty upset at the judge who sent him to jail. He ran into my husband at a restaurant and pulled a gun on him but my husband got away. Later that day, he was identified and arrested. But in court he pleaded innocent because he thought my husband was Judge G., not Judge H. He said he wouldn't have hurt my husband if he knew he was judge H.! Needless to say, he was found guilty.

  32. VKT // March 3, 2010 at 9:24 AM  

    Wow hiker!

    That gave me chills! Unbelievable! I am glad they locked him up.