In what can only be compared to a teenage-style prank or hazing, a first grader had a mustache drawn on him after falling asleep in class. In most schools when a student is hazed or bullied in any way, there are repercussions for the instigator. There’s only one problem; the perpetrator was his teacher! 

A parent recently went to Reddit to complain and ask for advice after their 1st-grade son’s teacher painted a mustache on him while he was sleeping at his desk. The parent asked other Redditors, “Would you be upset? Should I report it to the principal?”

The parent went on to explain that they have already had issues because they feel that teacher does not communicate with them about what is happening in their child’s classroom. Because they have already had to go to the principal twice about that issue, these parents didn’t want to go a third time and seem like “overbearing parents.”

The Redditor also explains that they did not see the mustache themselves, since it was painted on their child in the morning, and already washed away by that afternoon. The child explained to his parents that he woke up because all the other kids in the class were laughing at him, and he joined in the laughter.

These parents decided to email the teacher and say that their child “seemed off” when he came home from school and ask if anything had happened in class that day that may have caused it. They wanted to see if the teacher would admit to what had happened since they’d had communication problems in the past.

The teacher did not fess up, however, but instead emailed the parents back and stated that their son had fallen asleep, but that nothing had really happened. Upon realizing that the teacher was not going to share the whole story with them, the parents decided to contact the principal, who will be “looking into” the event.

In the meantime, the 1st-grader will have to change classes. He is “being switched classes” after the school’s Thanksgiving break, which will go on for a week.

Redditors were none too happy about this incident and were quick to voice their opinions on the subject. As one former STEM teacher said, “I would never dream of humiliating a student for meeting one of their basic biological needs.”

Another teacher stated, “First grader falls asleep:
Step one check for fever.
Step two see if the child has eaten.
Step three see if something is happening at home preventing sleep at night.
I’m a teacher and had a fourth grader falling asleep during class. Poor kid had newborn triplets at home! Arranged for him to tell me if needed a rest and would power nap in the nurse’s office.”

Still another Redditor lamented, “This is so sad. Imagine if this child was going through something as it is, and then wakes up to the TEACHER drawing on him and humiliating him and everyone laughing. No matter the reason for falling asleep, this is ridiculous, and the teacher needs to have consequences. I can’t even wrap my head around why this seemed like a reasonable thing to do. Poor guy.”

Followers of the thread are waiting for an update as to what happens after Thanksgiving. What would you do if this was your child? Would you demand repercussions for the teacher, or let it go? Let us know in the comments!

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