A popular saying about school is:
 
“Public school is a place of detention for children placed in the care of teachers who are afraid of the principal, principals who are afraid of the school board, school boards who are afraid of the parents, parents who are afraid of the children, and children who are afraid of nobody.”
 
The saying might to have been cited first in 2008, but the anonymous citation is printed at the end of a post (like a tagline), separated from the other matter. “Passing the buck on public school woes” by Ricky Thomason, published on an Alabama website on January 30, 2011, appears to have popularized or coined the saying.
 
   
Greenwich Roundup
“Public school is a place of detention for children placed in the care of teachers who are afraid of the principal, principals who are afraid of the school board, school boards who are afraid of the parents, parents who are afraid of the children, and children who are afraid of nobody.”
Posted by Greenwich Roundup at 4/06/2008 04:19:00 PM
   
AL.com
RICKY THOMASON: Passing the buck on public school woes
By Ricky Thomason
on January 30, 2011 at 6:30 AM
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. _ I am a member of the school bored.
(...)
Public school is a place of detention for children placed in the care of teachers who are afraid of the principal, principals who are afraid of the school board, school boards who are afraid of the parents, parents who are afraid of the children, and children who are afraid of nobody.
     
TwitLonger
UZOAMAKA ONWUNLI · @SEXYGOLDIE
25th Feb 2011 from SocialScope
“Public school is a place of detention for children placed in the care of teachers who are afraid of the principal, principals who are afraid of the school board, school boards who are afraid of the parents, parents who are afraid of the children, and children who are afraid of nobody.”
Source Unknown
 
Twitter
Katrina Huckabay
‏@khuckabay
“Public school is a place of detention for children placed in the care of teachers who are afraid of the principal, principals who are afrai
6:35 AM - 28 Feb 2011
   
Psychology Today
What Einstein, Twain, & Forty Eight Others Said About School
Published on July 26, 2011 by Peter Gray in Freedom to Learn
(...)
Anonymous (My favorite of all historical figures.)
. Public school is a place of detention for children placed in the care of teachers who are afraid of the principal, principals who are afraid of the school board, school boards who are afraid of the parents, parents who are afraid of the children, and children who are afraid of nobody.
 
Facebook
Alberto O. Cappas
October 17, 2012 · New York, NY ·
“Public school is a place of detention for children placed in the care of teachers who are afraid of the principal, principals who are afraid of the school board, school boards who are afraid of the parents, parents who are afraid of the children, and children who are afraid of nobody.”——Quote by an Unknown Source
 
Facebook
Baldwin’s Home Day Care
July 25, 2013 ·
“Public school is a place of detention for children placed in the care of teachers who are afraid of the principal, principals who are afraid of the school board, school boards who are afraid of the parents, parents who are afraid of the children, and children who are afraid of nobody.”