Teacher's plea to parents about video classes: 'Wear proper clothing, stop smoking joints'

2020 has presented some unique challenges for teachers — though seeing parents in varying states of undress probably wasn't one they ever anticipated.

A US teacher has issued a plea to parents to "wear proper clothing" and refrain from smoking "big joints" in the background of their children's video calls during remote learning.

According to CBS12, Florida teacher Edith Pride made the comments in a public, recorded Palm Beach county school board meeting last week.

During her fiery three-minute address, the Boca Raton Elementary teacher said educators had "seen it all" throughout the pandemic.

"Parents, please make sure that you have on proper clothing when you are walking in front or behind the child's computer because we've seen them in their drawers, their bras, and everything else," Pride said.

Cameos from underwear-clad mums and dads is just the beginning, it seems.

"Parents, when you are helping your children at their computer please do not appear with big joints in your hands and cigarettes," the teacher continued.

"Those joints be as big as cigars."

While home schooling eliminates the need for the dreaded school run, it seems some parents are still struggling to get their child "to school" on time in the virtual era.

"Parents, the school day starts at 8 o'clock and ends at 2. Not 8:15, not 9:30, not 10 o'clock while the child is in his pyjamas and trying to eat cereal and can't pay attention," Pride continued.

"Also, make sure the children have on underclothes ... put some clothes on."

Children being embarrassed by their parents is a time-honoured ritual, but this takes it to a whole new level.

In fact, it would appear the COVID-19 madness has even prompted something of a role reversal between parents and their children.

In instructions you'd ordinarily expect to hear directed at kids, Pride requested parents stop "cussing" and "making silly faces" behind the pupils while they try to concentrate on their work.

"Please try to use proper language, no cussing," she said.