These Heartbreaking Notes From Students To Teachers Are Changing The World

By Asad Tipu
July 23, 2017
3 minutes read

A few years ago, a teacher gave her students a task

She asked them to fill in the blanks of “I wish my teacher knew ______”

It was meant to be a comforting exercise, something she could use to improve herself. But the result was far more shocking. It was filled with admissions and truths that were heartbreaking to read.

There was even one that read:

“I wish my teacher knew how much I miss my dad because he got deported to Mexico when I was 3 years old and I haven’t seen him in 6 years.”

The teacher, Kyle Schwartz, began sharing these notes online and received and outpouring amount of love and support for it.

#1 Just look at them

“I wish my teacher knew that my dad works two jobs and I don’t see him much.”

#2 They’re so sad

“I wish my teacher knew that my mom got divorce 3 times.”

#3 Children shouldn’t have to go through this

“I wish my teacher knew that my mom and I live in a shelter.”

#4 Even teachers from other parts of the world tried this

“I wish my teacher knew that my little brother gets scared and I get worried about getting up every night.”

#5 The hashtag #IWishMyTeacherKnew tells teachers and parents about these heartbreaking confessions

“I wish my teacher knew that my dad died this year, and I feel more alone and disconnected from my peers than ever before.”

#6 Schwartz even wrote a book with the same name as the Hashtag

“I wish my teacher knew that my mom and dad are divorced and that I am the middle child of 7 kids. 5 out of that 7 or (are) boys.”

#7 The book is a guide on how to address these matters in the classroom

“3 things I wish my teacher knew about me: 7 kids in my family, me being the second to youngest. I play basketball. I think I’m really good at writing.”

#8 The book includes tips and tricks and methods on how to handle kids dealing with adult problems

“I wish my teacher knew that my mom might get diagnosed with cancer this week and I have been without a home 3 different times this year alone.”

#9 And by seeing all these notes, I’m just struck by the necessity of it all

“I wish my teacher knew that I got kicked out of the house because of my mom’s girlfriend, and now I don’t have a relationship with my mom because of it.”

#10 The results of other people trying this exercise is just as eye opening

First day activity.. 😳 #iwishmyteacherknew #deep pic.twitter.com/2AACBIkxWa

— Laura Lemos, EdD. (@DrLemosTeaches) July 19, 2017

#11 No doubt they’re thankful for it

This one is the student with the best grades, I asked him that day "what happened to you? " bc he forget his books. #IwishMyTeacherKnew pic.twitter.com/JdbMCDtN3j

— Citadella (@Sa_Riitaaa) June 29, 2017

#12 And since they’re kids, not all of them are incredibly profound

I never did figure this one out! 🤔 #Iwishmyteacherknew pic.twitter.com/nVNvSu08OX

— Sandra Orozco, M.Ed. (@Sandraorozco427) May 18, 2017

The hashtag and the book are affecting a lot of people. A lot of refugees. And if it helps even one person, that it’s changed the world for the better.

Source of all images: Kyle Schwartz