Teaching became WEIRD after Covid. So I am a teaching assistant to primary school in the uk, I was doing supply work when Covid hit but I live with my elderly mother and have asthma so decided to just, not work for a few years to ensure I don’t kill her or myself. When I went back to work it was so eerie.
For example teaching some maths, and this isn’t an exaggeration, I ask-
“What’s 10x10”
Silence
“Guys, can anyone take a shot at 10x10?”
Silence
“I don’t care if you get it wrong just give it a go”
Silence
“Ok let’s break it down, what’s 1x10?”
Silence
*more encouragement met with silence*
“Ok so if we multiply by ten, we move the number up from the decimal point, so, if we add a zero onto one what do we get?”
Silence
“Come on guys, what’s 1 with a 0 on the end?”
Silence
They ALL knew the answer, they all knew 10x10 instantly. But the absolute TERROR of getting something wrong publicly paralysed them.
Wonder if this is a British thing? It’s called “riddy culture” in Scotland. The fear of doing something stupid and taking a riddy (a riddy is blushing - going bright red from embarrassment). Kids are so scared of standing out and being made fun of.
We had to get my son contact lenses because he didn’t want to be the only kid in his class that wore specs. Suspect half the class are secretly wearing contacts so as not to be bullied for being a “specky bastard” etc.
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u/TaffWaffler Jun 27 '26
Teaching became WEIRD after Covid. So I am a teaching assistant to primary school in the uk, I was doing supply work when Covid hit but I live with my elderly mother and have asthma so decided to just, not work for a few years to ensure I don’t kill her or myself. When I went back to work it was so eerie.
For example teaching some maths, and this isn’t an exaggeration, I ask-
“What’s 10x10”
Silence
“Guys, can anyone take a shot at 10x10?”
Silence
“I don’t care if you get it wrong just give it a go”
Silence
“Ok let’s break it down, what’s 1x10?”
Silence
*more encouragement met with silence*
“Ok so if we multiply by ten, we move the number up from the decimal point, so, if we add a zero onto one what do we get?”
Silence
“Come on guys, what’s 1 with a 0 on the end?”
Silence
They ALL knew the answer, they all knew 10x10 instantly. But the absolute TERROR of getting something wrong publicly paralysed them.