KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A Ruskin High School teacher worked to clear up confusion at a meeting with parents Tuesday night over a letter that was sent home with students.

The letter outlined the teacher's reasons why almost every student failed a math final in her classes.

About 65 students were the subject of the scathing letter that offended several parents. They were upset that the letter pointed at student behavior as a reason for widespread failure.

Math teacher Janice Wilson Todd said in the letter, "Unfortunately, behavior in Algebra I and Geometry has been a serious problem and has almost halted the learning process."

She referred to her two algebra classes where every student failed the final and her honors geometry class where only three students earned a passing grade.

Parents were offended their children were being blamed for what they said was a failure on the part of the school.

Wilson Todd has been teaching the class for only a month. She took over for the original teacher, who is longer with the Hickman Mills School District.

At Tuesday night's meeting, both the teacher and the parents agreed that the problems started in August, before Wilson Todd took over the class. Now, faced with the task of getting all of the math students up to speed, parents and faculty said they'll work together to gain back confidence in both teachers and students.

Wilson Todd apologized for the tone of the letter, saying she never meant to offend anyone.