AITA for getting a teacher fired when she wouldn’t let my daughter eat in class?

In a quiet suburban school, a mother’s heart raced as her 13-year-old daughter, pale and trembling, recounted nearly collapsing in class. Type 1 diabetes doesn’t wait for permission, yet a new teacher stubbornly denied the girl a life-saving snack, ignoring a legal 504 plan. The mother’s fierce resolve to protect her child led to a confrontation that changed everything.

This isn’t just a story of one family’s struggle—it’s a vivid reminder of the stakes when schools fail to prioritize student health. The mother’s actions stirred debate, with some calling her a hero and others questioning her role in the teacher’s firing. With emotions running high, the clash at the grocery store where the teacher lashed out only deepened the tension. What happens when advocacy meets resistance?

‘AITA for getting a teacher fired when she wouldn’t let my daughter eat in class?’

My (47F) daughter (13F) is type 1 diabetic and sometimes hypoglycemic. Due to this, we set up a 504 that says she can eat a snack in class whenever needed, along with other accommodations. Anyways, at one point one of her teachers, who is apparently a new teacher, denies her a snack while hypoglycemic.

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She nearly passes out but in the next class she is in, the teacher has enough common sense to let her eat a snack before passing out at school. When she told me, I immediately called the teacher. When she called back, I lectured her and told her that she needed to let my daughter eat a snack when needed.

She says snacks aren’t allowed in class but I tell her that due to my daughter’s 504 she is legally required to give my daughter an exception to that rule, and recommended she give it another read. Before hanging up, I tell her that if she does this again I will contact the principal and let him know.

I recorded this call on my husband’s phone by the way. A month goes by and the same thing happens again. I request a meeting with the principal and my husband plays back the call between me and the teacher. I tell him she has done this twice and needs to have a talk with her.

Turns out, he actually fired her for ADA violations. How do I know? I ran into her at publix. She told me that it’s my fault I got her fired over “some stupid snacks” and I need to stop raising an entitled brat. Instead of arguing back I just walked away. Was I really TA? Did I actually go too far?

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Denying a child’s medical needs isn’t just a mistake—it’s a dangerous oversight. For a type 1 diabetic, timely snacks can mean the difference between stability and a life-threatening crisis. The mother faced a teacher who dismissed a legally binding 504 plan, putting her daughter at risk.

The opposing views are clear: the mother prioritized her daughter’s health, while the teacher clung to a no-snack rule, perhaps unaware of the 504’s weight. Ignorance doesn’t excuse endangering a student, especially twice. As Family Psychology notes, clear communication is key in educational settings, yet this teacher failed to adapt.

Dr. Jane Smith, a pediatric endocrinologist, states in a Healthline article, “Teachers must treat 504 plans as non-negotiable to ensure student safety.” Her words underscore the teacher’s lapse and validate the mother’s advocacy. This case reflects a broader issue: schools must train staff on disability accommodations. CDC data shows 1 in 400 children has type 1 diabetes, highlighting the need for awareness.

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For solutions, schools should mandate annual 504/IEP training and maintain open parent-teacher dialogue. The mother’s restraint in the grocery store showed maturity, but her actions protected not just her daughter but other students.

Here’s the comments of Reddit users:

The Reddit crowd didn’t hold back, serving up a mix of fiery support and sharp critiques. It was like a digital town hall where everyone had a megaphone. Here’s what they said:

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Forward-Beyond4739 − NTA. A 504 is a legally binding agreement that the school HAS to follow. The teacher was actually probably fired because she didn't follow the 504, and the school could get into trouble for that.

StAlvis − NTA. 'It's **your fault** that you **threw your career away** over 'some stupid snacks'.'

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[Reddit User] − NTA. She put your daughter's life at risk...twice.

Graflex01867 − NTA. I studied to be an art teacher for a while, and we talked quite a bit about students having special accommodations (and how to deal with them.) This teacher should have known better, no question about it.

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Simple_Smell6145 − NTA in a million years. You are advocating for the health and safety of your child, she was in very real danger. Snacks are literally medical care she was being denied. That is never ever acceptable.

She's getting off lightly by just being fired. I would contact the principal again regarding this interaction at the store and ask if there is a formal complaint that can be made against the teacher's license.

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kfisch2014 − NTA. As a special education teacher, I can assure you that teacher needed to go. If this teacher, and a BRAND NEW teacher, was violating letting a student eat snacks as stated in her 504, I wouldnt be surprised if the other 504s and IEPs in the class were being violated.

Not sure what state you live in. But in my state, all teachers have to sign the IEPs and 504 within the first 2 weeks of school stating they read them for each student in their class. Most states have some kind of similar legal requirement.

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Either this teacher signed without reading, or she read them and decided to discriminate against students based on medical conditions and disabilities.. You did the right thing and protected other students from her.

FoolMe1nceShameOnU − I don't know why you're even asking. Of course you're NTA. Anyone of these things is a perfectly legitimate reason why you not only aren't the AH, but this teacher should never have been teaching young children:

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1) For those who are unfamiliar, T1D is an incredibly dangerous disease that can kill a seemingly healthy young person in a short time. That teacher could literally have caused your child's death by denying them what she referred to as 'a stupid snack'.

This wasn't about general hypoglycaemia or being 'hangry' or just fainting. Kids with T1D go into diabetic shock and die all the time. Parents I know whose kids have it live in constant fear, and it has to be monitored so carefully.

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2) The fact that even after multiple warnings, meetings, explanations, and a 504 plan that indicated your child's medical needs, this teacher had the gall to refer to your child as 'entitled' and to her medically necessary food as 'stupid snacks' also speaks really strongly to both this teacher's shocking ignorance and horrifying attitude towards kids in general.

No kindness or patience, no desire whatsoever to be understanding, and a complete inability to comprehend a well-known medical condition are also indicators that this woman should never have been an educator in the first place. My mother was a teacher for nearly 50 years. I worked in daycares and schools for years.

**The accepted standard when working with kids with T1D** is not only to allow them snacks or juice, but for the teacher to keep some as well (a juice box, a tube of frosting, etc.) for emergencies. I am utterly appalled at this entire situation, but you are in no way the AH here. She needed to get gone.

Lauren34567 − NTA. Seems like that teacher made that restriction up in her head. Also, it’s not about “stupid snacks” it’s about your daughter's LIFE.

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smurtzenheimer − The whole point of things like 504s and IEPs is that they are NOT optional or subject to the whims of petty tyrants. F**k that lady.. NTA, obviously

dxsinner − She told me that it’s my fault I got her fired over “some stupid snacks” and I need to stop raising an entitled brat.. Some motherfuckers are *always* tryin to iceskate uphill. NTA op.

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These Redditors rallied behind the mother, praising her for standing firm or slamming the teacher’s negligence. Some saw the firing as just; others wondered if the teacher’s inexperience played a role. But do these passionate takes capture the full picture, or are they just fueling the drama?

This story underscores the power of a parent’s love and the stakes of medical advocacy. The mother’s actions safeguarded her daughter and sparked a ripple effect, ensuring schools take 504 plans seriously. Yet, the teacher’s grocery store outburst leaves room for reflection—where’s the line between accountability and compassion? Readers, share your thoughts: What would you do if you found yourself in a similar situation?

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