AITA for Leaving my Zoom Class because my Teacher didn’t Care that I was in the Hospital?

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Step into a hospital room, where a 13-year-old girl, hooked to IVs and battling epilepsy, faces a Zoom PE class gone wrong. After informing her teacher of her hospitalization, she’s forced to turn on her camera and pressured to exercise or reveal private medical details in front of classmates.

When suggestions like jumping jacks fly, her discomfort peaks, and she exits the call, only to face a failing grade and absence mark. Reddit’s roaring with takes on whether her exit was justified or a misstep in a tough spot.

‘AITA for Leaving my Zoom Class because my Teacher didn’t Care that I was in the Hospital?’

So I(13F) am in the hospital because I was having some pretty bad seizures, I'm epileptic. At my school we have PE every other day. Yesterday I emailed my PE teacher(I'll call her Ms.R) and said I'm in the hospital and I can't come to PE that day, I had done all my other classes but my teachers usually let us keep our camera off.

Also my parents work during the day so I was alone other than the nurses. She emailed back and said that I still had to come even if I couldn't do anything. She didn't ask if I was ok or anything. The way our Zoom PE works is we take attendance, then we fill out a sheet on the healthy things we've eaten that day and then we exercise. I usually ride my station bike at home.

When I got into the class the teacher made me put my camera on. When I turned it on she didn't acknowledge the fact that I was hooked up to IV's and had a wrap on my head that made me look like an egg though I could tell all the other kids were curious. Well then when it was time for the exercise part didn't get up from the camera because I couldn't really exercise.

Then she asked why I wasn't exercising, I replied that I am not supposed to get up from the bed. She asked why and I didn't want to say it in front of the whole class so I said 'I don't know' She didn't like that and said we should 'Brainstorm' thing's I could do. I thought it would be something like my homework for other classes but she was suggesting things like Jumping jacks or Burpees.

She was saying it right in front of everyone and I was really uncomfortable. She started getting mad that I wasn't 'Willing to work with her' or 'Being cooperative. She said if I didn't know why I couldn't get out of bed than I probably could and just didn't know it. I just left the meeting and was so embarrassed I almost cried.

Then after school some girl that had been in my class messaged me on Instagram and asked why I left the meeting, I told her that I was uncomfortable and she kept saying I could've just told my teacher why I was in the hospital but I didn't wanna say it infront of everyone. The teacher gave me an F for the day even though I filled out the sheet thing.

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She also marked me absent from the class and emailed my mom that I 'wasn't participating in class' I explained what really happened to my mom but she doesn't speak English so there isn't much she can do. But most people seem to think I should've just said in front of the entire class why I was in the hospital, so AITA for not?

Edit: since someone in my DM’s were curious, my mom only speaks Amharic.

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Edit 2: My doctors wrote a note to the school saying what was going on and it was my guidance counselors decision if I had to go to classes or not. My guidance counselor said I did have to because she didn’t want to do the extra work.

Navigating school from a hospital bed is tough enough without a teacher’s insensitivity, as this 13-year-old discovered. Her PE teacher’s demand to exercise or disclose her epilepsy publicly, despite her hospitalization, was not only inappropriate but potentially harmful. Forcing a student with IVs to consider jumping jacks ignores medical reality, and the public questioning violated her privacy. The failing grade and absence mark compounded the injustice, especially since she completed written work.

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The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) mandates reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities, like epilepsy, affecting 1% of U.S. teens per a 2024 CDC report. Education expert Dr. Amy McCart notes, “Teachers must prioritize student safety and privacy, especially in health crises.” The teacher’s actions, coupled with the guidance counselor’s refusal to excuse her, suggest a systemic failure. The girl’s exit was a self-protective act, not defiance.

Experts advise students to document such incidents and escalate to administrators with medical proof, as her doctors provided. A parent or advocate, despite language barriers, can push for policy enforcement. For others, schools should train staff on disability accommodations and virtual class etiquette. The girl could request a meeting with the principal, armed with her doctor’s note.

Here’s the feedback from the Reddit community:

Reddit erupted with support and fury for this hospitalized teen. Here’s what they unleashed:

TheBarefootWonder - NTA. Email your principal and guidance counselor that you're in the hospital and your teacher was asking about your private health information, that it demonstrated that you're in the hospital and unable to participate, and that if your PE teacher needs anything else that she can email you a form you can have the hospital staff fill out to get her off your back

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[Reddit User] - Because the nurses will be absolutely thrilled with you doing burpees with an IV in place. What an i**ot, Christ on.a bike some people are dumb. Sorry that happened OP, NTA.

[Reddit User] - NTA! Here is an email you can send you your school. To whom it may concern, On the day of X I was hospitalized due to epilepsy. Attached are my medical reports confirming this. I was scheduled for a PE zoom class, which I attended informing the teacher that I would not be able to participate in the physical aspects.

During class the teacher kept asking me to reveal sensitive medical information to the entire class, despite me making it clear I was not comfortable with this. I participated in the group work to the best of my ability, but the teacher insisted that I be participating in physical activity to receive credit.

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I was alone in the hospital and became quickly o**rwhelmed and signed off when I began crying. I was given an F in participation for the day, which is unacceptable. In the future I expect to be given medical accommodations, I can participate in the written assignments in these times,

but it is inexcusable to expect a 13 year old who is attached to IVs to participate in the physical aspects of class or be denied credit and participation.. I look forward to your prompt reply as we figure out where to go from here,. (Your name). Feel free to message me with anything your school responds with.

I can help you email them back and forth to advocate for yourself. Just because English isn’t your moms fist language doesn’t mean you don’t deserve to have an adult help you stand up for yourself. I’m so sorry this happened, your teacher sounds like a f**king ass.. Edit: wow guys thank you for the awards, this is my first gold post and I’m honored

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popcornjellybeans13 - NTA. At all. Your teacher is being incredibly callous and you need to report that to another teacher or the principal. She cannot ask you why you’re in the hospital in front of everyone on zoom and failing you for the day when you physically cannot get out of bed is ridiculous.

[Reddit User] - NTA. I'd report it to the school. You're in a bed for an epilepsy fit. Not only did she try to force you to disclose medical information, but you were incapable in any way of getting out of the bed. They most likely (and should) have a copy of the class which can be watched back,

in case there is any discrepancy about what happened. You should also retrieve a doctor's note and send that, including the initial email, all to the principal.. Edit: typo. Please stop commenting asking me about the typo.

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curiousbelgian - NTA! This is very bad behaviour from the teacher. If your mother doesn’t have enough English, maybe there is a senior teacher who you can explain to? I would not hesitate to take this to the principal if I were you.

Yarragh - NTA, contact the principal of your school right away and basically copy paste this story to him/her. There is ethics and etiquette to teaching. This lecturer has none of it.

IT_Trashman - NTA. I would have hit the room call button and let a nurse rip that PE teacher a new one, with a live audience.. Normally, I am a patient person, but something like this is not a thing I would tolerate. I do agree with others though, you can feel free to reach out to school administrators, you don't need parental help from that.

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Feel free to explain your mother doesn't speak english, but you can get her involved and translate as needed if there is anything they need her to provide.. What the PE Teacher did was very simply unprofessional, disrespectful and disappointing.

Kyle032196 - NTA I hope your teacher stubs her toe. Twice.

Nowuh7 - Nta either this is a troll or you need to talk to her superiors...what the hell is her problem, what kind of person tries to make a person in the hospital do some dumb zoom PE

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These fiery takes spark a question: was her exit a bold stand, or could she have stayed and fought?

This hospital-Zoom clash reveals how a teacher’s callousness can wound a vulnerable student. The 13-year-old’s exit from her PE class, after facing pressure to exercise or bare her medical struggles, was a cry for respect. Yet, she faced unfair punishment. Was she wrong to leave, or was the teacher out of line? How would you tackle a school ignoring your health needs? Drop your thoughts below and let’s keep the convo blazing!

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