There was a girl at my brother’s graduation who, after she got her diploma, took off her cap and gown and walked away. This was in 1985, before we had viral videos.
The big-ass enrollment package (emergency contact info, medical things they need to be aware of, who is allowed to pick up the kids from kindergarten) that had to be filled out at the beginning of every year. Finally by the time the kids reached middle school, it was all saved online and we just needed to update and confirm it with a few clicks.
Elementary fund raising was fine - just write a check - no sales crap. Elementary PTA had crunched the numbers and determined they got more money that way. Instead of buying $100 worth of popcorn or wrapping paper and seeing the school get $30-40 of that, just give the school the same $100 and let them keep all of it. Or pay half, $50, and the school still comes out ahead.
Middle school had the crappy magazine drives where they pump the kids up with an assembly hawking all the prizes they can win and we got badgered. We bought a few magazines, but I refused to bug my coworkers.
Talent shows were actually pretty good, as they were strictly voluntary and only kids that wanted to be up on stage were there, so they tended to practice.
Most awkward moment for me occurred after hiding eggs for a class Easter egg hunt in the park next to the school. We also had egg dyeing stations set up. The special needs kid being mainstreamed in the class mistook the dye cup for punch and took a big gulp of colored vinegar before I could stop him. I got colorful spew all over my front.
My kids weren’t into music so the only music programs I had to go to were the yearly Christmas programs up until they were in 8th grade. I never minded those, it was part of the season and was always festive. My kids were in numerous sports - hockey, soccer, baseball, softball, and basketball. They were always athletic and good at whatever they played so going to games was usually fun (unless the weather was awful).
What I hated was helping with homework or a project. I couldn’t tell you how many times I heard, “But mom, that’s not how the teacher showed us how to do it!” Then there would be crying. Or the famous, “I have to make a (fill in the blank) and it’s due tomorrow.” I remember one morning, my son called me from school (6th grade). There was an awards ceremony that afternoon and he was supposed to wear a shirt and tie. Guess who ran to Walmart and then delivered the items to school? I’m sure he had no advanced warning of this ceremony. 
The 4th graders always had to do a 50 State Report. At least one page for each state with at least one picture or map. Then in 6th grade, the big project was a 2 country report. They could pick any two countries. This project had to include maps and pictures and filled a huge loose-leaf binder - they had the entire year to complete it. This was before the internet, before everyone had a computer of some type in their home. So how did they get the info, you may ask? Well, their mom would run all over the countryside during her lunch breaks. I went to the public library that was only open M-F during the day 
I went to travel agencies for brochures, and I’d take the library books to work and make copies of pictures and maps. I always thought it was pretty crappy - the teachers knew there was no way the kids would be able to get what they needed on their own. I deserved an A+ for those projects.
My daughter came to me with a question about her homework. She was trying to figure out the answer to a math problem. It looked like simple algebra, so I explained the concept of using “x” as an unknown. She caught on quickly and was very happy.
The next day I got reamed out by her teacher. The idea behind their homework was for them to be a bit frustrated, so the teacher could sweep in and show them how algebra could be used. Instead, my daughter explained to the class how to use “x”, etc.
My daughter was all stressed out and said we had to stop after school to get supplies so she “could get started on her Harlem Renaissance project.” I had a few things to do first, but promised her we’d get to it after dinner. She then explained it was due the next day. She pulled an all nighter.
That teacher sounds like an arrogant jerk. Sorry to be cruel, but anyone who gets off on presenting themselves as so superior to young kids has a psychological problem.
Surprised nobody else mentioned science fair projects. There’s a reason why there is an entrire genre of books about making science fair projects the night before they are due. All my kids hated doing them, hated making the display, and hated talking about what they “learned” on science fair night.
What made it even worse was the fact we live in the same city as a large university. So half the science fair projects were what the kid’s parent did. Nobody clones DNA in their kitchen.
Fending off the continuous sexual advances of all the single mothers. It really highlighted my failures and weaknesses.