What do you tell the parent who comes to your class to see his child- the child he no longer has custody over and isn't allowed to see?

What do you tell the teachers that let the outside into their classroom and excuse lack of learning for outside factors?

What do you tell the girl that doesn't want to go home to be with her parents?

How should I respond to "you're not a real teacher Mr. Appel"?

How can I convey the contortions that my heart went through after hearing "thank you for teaching me that"?

Everyday one of my students chooses not to work, forgets to turn in homework, talks back, or doesn't show up, I fear for their future. Everyday. I'm scared for them that if they fail this grade the odds of them coming out on top with a high school degree- much less a college degree- are pretty slim. I can tell them that testing two years behind grade level is a very bad thing, but I haven't been able to truly get them to see why.

"Students, I want you to have the opportunities I've had, so please, let's get to work" replaces "Please get away from this place, before it steals the dreams you have yet to realize."