Hawaii Substitute Teacher Says She’s Walking Away Early as Classroom Chaos and ‘Bad Lesson Plans’ Push Her to the Edge
HAWAII — A Hawaii substitute teacher says she’s quitting weeks earlier than planned, admitting she feels “defeated” after struggling to manage a sixth-grade classroom where students refuse to follow directions and lesson plans offer little support.
The teacher, who posts on TikTok under the name @jens_teacher_journey, shared an emotional video explaining why she decided she won’t be returning to her assignment — even though she was scheduled to work the very next day.
“I guess for the first time, I’m just beat,” she said. “I feel defeated.”
‘The Lesson Plans, They Suck’
The substitute teacher, known as Ms. Jen, said she had been filling in at an elementary school classroom in Hawaii since early January. While she acknowledged the students themselves were a challenge, she placed much of the blame on poorly designed lesson plans that made it nearly impossible to keep students engaged or on task.
“These kids are a challenge,” she explained. “The lesson plans — they suck.”
According to Jen, the activities provided lacked structure and failed to meet students at their actual learning levels. As a result, many children wandered around the room, ignored assignments, and gravitated toward their computers to play games instead of completing schoolwork.
Multiple Adults Stepped In — Nothing Changed
Jen said classroom behavior had become so disruptive that multiple teachers, the school principal, and a counselor had to step in throughout the day in an attempt to regain control.
Despite those efforts, she claimed the students “just refuse” to cooperate.
On the day she recorded the video, the classroom was so chaotic that other staff members reportedly told her something shocking.
“They told me, ‘You shouldn’t even show up tomorrow,’” Jen said.
That advice ultimately pushed her to walk away from the job altogether.
@jens_teacher_journey I honestly stayed longer than I should have, but when I make a commitment, I always see it through. But today was the breaking point. I’ve been doing nothing but trying to manage extreme behaviors for 2.5 weeks with no true support from admin. I’ve been told they’re only like this with subs – every single sub. My heart breaks for the students that actually cared and tried, but I’m not going to fix a broken class in 2.5 weeks, so I’m going to protect my peace and enjoy my long weekend. #substituteteacher #teachersoftiktok
‘We Wouldn’t Dare Act Like This’
Reflecting on her own school experience from just over a decade ago, Jen said student behavior has changed dramatically.
“When I was in school, we wouldn’t dare act like this,” she said.
While misbehavior has always existed in classrooms, many educators argue that limited consequences, increased screen dependency, and underfunded school systems have made modern classrooms far harder to manage — especially for substitute teachers with minimal authority.
Jen’s experience echoes a growing concern among educators about so-called “iPad kids,” shortened attention spans, and curriculum that prioritizes compliance over meaningful engagement.
Teachers Nationwide Say They Feel the Same Way
Jen’s video struck a nerve with educators across the country, many of whom flooded the comments with similar stories.
One teacher shared, “I had a 7th grade class like that last year. I don’t know how I didn’t walk out. They were ridiculously disrespectful and refused to do work.”
Another wrote, “These kids don’t care because they know there are no real consequences. Teachers’ hands are tied.”
Others said their daily goal had shifted from actually teaching to simply “getting through the day.”
A Symptom of a Bigger Problem
While Jen’s decision to quit early was personal, her story highlights a broader crisis in American education — one fueled by burnout, inadequate curriculum support, classroom behavior challenges, and limited resources.
Many teachers argue that without meaningful reform, better lesson planning, and stronger support systems, stories like Jen’s will only become more common.
What do you think — is the problem student behavior, weak lesson plans, lack of consequences, or something deeper in the education system? Share your thoughts in the comments and stay connected with CabarrusWeekly.com for more real stories shaping classrooms, communities, and everyday life.
