I think another problem, at least in some of the areas around my hometown is that the parents almost seem to side with the kids more than working with the teachers. If a kid comes home and complains about a teacher or too much homework, a parents calls the teacher and chews their butt for that, or if a kid does something at school and says another at home, the teacher catches hell for it because the parents can't see how their kid could do that.

I'm not sayin this is the case all the time or everywhere, its just something ive noticed lately. My wife just started teachinglast year, so we're kinda new to the teacher side of the deal, but so far she hasnt had any problems like that(knock on wood)