Teachers lament unreasonable complaints from 'monster parents'

Demanding a change in a school's lunch provider because it did not have pizza on the menu. Expecting a five-minute grace period for latecomers to class because waking up earlier would affect their children's sleep quality.

These are just two of countless complaints lodged by "monster parents" at their children's schools, a survey of teachers has found.

The poll found 64 per cent of the complaints were "unreasonable requests", while 72 per cent of teachers found the attitude or tone of complaining parents "inappropriate".

The survey, by the Federation of Education Workers, polled 442 teachers from kindergartens, primary and secondary schools across the city late last month.

It found that 40 per cent of teachers received complaints from parents in the past six months, with kindergarten teachers the biggest target.

Common complaints related to commendations and punishments pupils received, bullying and pupils' workload.