dear parent or guardian

When I call or send you a message that your child has not been using class time wisely, that he and his work mates have taken three zeros in a row because they chose not to complete their assignments in the time provided, that when I addressed the issue with your child in class he was dismissive and made no change in behavior, and that today your child proudly announced, "I don't do homework and my parents don't care about my grades so, whatever"...

and you do nothing...

...I begin to feel certain dark impulses which, though incredibly enticing, I suppress and control.

Unlike your child.  Who is not exactly a child.  He's sixteen.  In some cultures, he'd be expected to kill his own food. Possibly live alone in the wilderness for a few weeks.  I think your child, er, man-child, could learn a lot from that kind of experience.

Also, when you write back about how you're really sorry, but that you and your husband have decided that your first priority isn't academic, but rather that your son develop into a, how did you put it?, "fully actualized human being and a good person," it makes me want to place my hands squarely on your shoulders and yell... no!... *whisper* very, very softly into your ears, "Since when have apathy, smugness, boasting, and an utter lack of industry been congruent with "good person"?"

And then calmly walk away.

Just saying.