A retired teacher’s candid message about the state of education has gone viral, prompting thousands of reactions and reigniting a long-running debate over who bears the greatest responsibility for students’ success.

Lisa Robertson, a former public school teacher, shared a letter with a local newspaper expressing frustration over what she believes is a common misconception about the challenges facing today’s classrooms.

In her letter, Robertson argues that teachers are too often blamed for problems that begin long before students walk through the school doors.

“As a retired teacher, I am sick of people who know nothing about public schools or have not been in a classroom recently deciding how to fix our education system. The teachers are not the problem! Parents are the problem!” she wrote.

Robertson said many students arrive at school without basic classroom supplies, despite wearing expensive clothing or shoes. According to her, teachers frequently spend their own money on items such as pencils, paper, and other essentials to ensure students can participate in class.

She also questioned the level of parental involvement, asking whether parents attend school events, communicate regularly with teachers, make sure homework is completed, and ensure their children come to school prepared to learn.

In her view, schools cannot succeed if teachers are expected to take on responsibilities that traditionally belong to parents.

“Teachers cannot do their jobs and the parents’ job. Until parents step up and do their job, nothing is going to get better,” Robertson concluded.

Her comments have generated mixed reactions online. Some parents and educators praised her for saying what they believe many teachers have been thinking for years, arguing that parental involvement plays a critical role in a child’s education.

Others, however, felt the issue is more complex, pointing to factors such as poverty, long working hours, limited resources, and broader social challenges that can make it difficult for families to provide the level of support schools hope for.

The letter has since become a talking point across social media, with many agreeing that improving education requires cooperation between teachers, parents, students, and communities rather than placing the blame on any one group.