Teachers Share Their Most Controversial Teaching Views — Some Could Lose Their Jobs

Teachers Share Their Most Controversial Opinions on Education

Nearly everyone has something they would change about their job. However, when teachers feel that something at work is useless, outdated, or even harmful, it not only impacts their jobs, but also their students' futures.

That's why when a Redditor asked, "What’s your opinion on teaching/education that would get you in trouble?" hundreds of teachers shared their most divisive takes that would land them in hot water at work. From banning sports to not assigning homework, here are 17 of their most enlightening responses:

If you're a teacher who has a divisive opinion about education, feel free to share it in the comment section or answer anonymously using this form!

1. "No Child Left Behind" Poisoned Us

"I'm a freshman composition professor, and the number of students I get who are functionally illiterate is shockingly high."

This teacher believes that the "No Child Left Behind" policy had long-term negative effects on student learning and that it's okay to accept when a child doesn't have the aptitude for certain subjects.

2. Special Education Is Being Misused

"Special education has become a dumping ground for behavioral problems, and the kids who truly need it are being neglected."

—u/pjv2001

This teacher argues that special education is often used as a solution for behavioral issues rather than supporting students with genuine needs.

3. Class Sizes Are Too Big

"Class sizes are too big. 90% of teachers' problems could be solved by cutting the class size of 30 in half."

"Classroom management would be so much easier, and kids could get the one-on-one attention they need."

—u/LoudGolf9849

This teacher believes that reducing class sizes would significantly improve the learning environment for both students and teachers.

4. School Sports Should Be Banned

"I would ban school sports completely — no golf, football, volleyball, anything. And I have three reasons for this..."

This teacher feels that school sports take away from academic time and can create unnecessary pressure on students.

5. Parents Should Not Be Contacted for Every Issue

"We should refuse to contact parents for every little issue once students are in high school. They’re not learning to be independent and advocate for themselves before college, and college professors are feeling this."

"We coddle them way too much, and this is a significant part of the problem. At a certain point, parents need to learn to let go."

—u/BklynMom57

This teacher believes that over-involvement from parents hinders students' ability to develop independence.

6. A Four-Day Attendance Policy

"We should adopt a four-day attendance policy for all students. The fifth day of the week should be time set aside for grading, meetings to discuss IEPs, and department/grade level meetings."

"Admin/district staff should be tapped to run a day-care-style camp on that one day for students who still require supervision."

(This will only get me side eye from admin, I think).

—u/JoeNoHeDidnt

This teacher suggests that reducing the number of school days could allow more time for administrative tasks and professional development.

7. Homework Should Be Minimized

"The idea of homework that isn't something like reading practice is ridiculous. It's just overtime for kids."

"Kids should do their learning during school time (I know that's difficult to accomplish, but that's not being addressed by homework) and go home to be kids. We're just training them to be work-minded adults who live unhealthy and unbalanced lives, and that's not okay."

This teacher believes that excessive homework creates an unhealthy balance between school and personal life.

8. Not Everyone Needs to Like You

"Building relationships doesn't fix every problem in the classroom. There are students who don't like me, and I don't like them either — and that's okay."

"And even if students don't like me, they can still behave in my class, respect me, AND learn from me. That's how it should work."

—u/leisureletter

This teacher emphasizes that it's okay for some students not to like their teachers, as long as they maintain proper behavior and learning outcomes.

9. Laptops Need Better Security

"Laptops are a waste of time without a proper security system that can track when students bypass the system."

"These devices become expensive toys when not managed properly, and you'll never see tech-heavy teachers like myself using them unless we have actual support."

—u/StoneofForest

This teacher feels that laptops are not being used effectively in schools due to a lack of proper management and support.

10. College Isn’t the Only Path

"I think the big push, especially in rural schools, of de-emphasizing college and pushing kids into the trades/workforce, is allowing them to forgo classes that force them to critically think and expose them to ideas and perspectives different than their own."

This teacher believes that focusing solely on vocational training may limit students' exposure to critical thinking and diverse ideas.

11. Remedial Classes Can Be Harmful

"Remedial classes at all grade levels are helpful. What actually hurts a person's self-esteem is sitting in a classroom year after year, knowing that the material is too hard for you, while simultaneously seeing that same material being a breeze for your peers."

—u/TXteachr2018

This teacher argues that remedial classes can negatively affect students’ self-esteem and confidence.

12. Rote Memorization Has Its Place

"Bring back rote memorization in school. For example, students should be familiar with their times tables, the full chemical names of the basic elements on the periodic table, Newton's laws of motion, and how to perform basic math calculations without a calculator."

—u/fromthealtuniverse

This teacher believes that rote memorization helps build foundational knowledge that is essential for higher-level learning.

13. Alternatives for Disruptive Students

"We need to have more alternatives for violent/severely disruptive students. There are classes of Gen Ed kids who have to be evacuated from their room on a regular basis because one of their classmates is having a violent fit. It's not fair to those other kids, and if I were one of those kids witnessing that, it would traumatize me."

This teacher calls for better solutions to handle disruptive students to protect the learning environment for others.

14. Kindergarten Through Fourth Grade Should Be More Play-Based

"We need to stop expecting so much from kids in kindergarten through fourth grade. Play, social-emotional learning, and art are more beneficial than unrealistic expectations for standardized testing."

"I'm not saying do away with certain subjects, but the amount of time and pressure on kids and teachers is just unrealistic."

—u/chickpeatacos

This teacher believes that younger students benefit more from play-based learning and social-emotional development than from high-pressure academic standards.

15. Limit Computer Work in Early Grades

"Students should have minimal, if any, computer work assigned to them until they reach high school."

This teacher feels that early exposure to computers can be counterproductive and that students should focus on foundational skills first.

16. Lecturing Is Still Effective

"The 'let them learn on their own by giving them assignments on the computer' method is so dumb. What’s the point of the teacher if they just do assignments on their own? Let me lecture on my material the way I was taught in high school and college."

"I have a master's degree in my field, yet the admin still questions the fact that I lecture in most of my classes. I’ve had many students tell me my class was their favorite, and had students say they’re considering majoring in my field in college now."

—u/AstroNerd92

This teacher believes that traditional lecturing is still an effective way to teach and that it should not be replaced entirely by digital assignments.

17. Public Education Has Limits

"The 'right to a public education' is not unlimited and absolute. If you reject the basic educational or social compact or if you do not accept that education is a two-way street that requires action on your part, you should not be permitted to attend a public school."

This teacher argues that public education should come with responsibilities and that students must actively participate in their learning.

Did any of these surprise you? Teachers, what's a "hot take" or divisive opinion that would get you in trouble at work? Tell us in the comments or answer anonymously using the form below!