How do teachers respond when a student asks if they won the lottery by being human instead of an insect, given that there are far more insects than humans?

[u/amichail]

This is an apparent probability question (and not one that asks whether humans are superior to insects).

If probability doesn't apply here, why not?

[u/OuroborousBlack]

Look, middle school kids just ask questions in the middle of a math lesson like “What does ‘golden shower’ mean?

[u/ohyesiam1234 → u/OuroborousBlack]

Just last week, I had a kid talk about the human centipede without any idea what it meant. I told him not to repeat it, don’t look it up, and don’t ask your parents what it means. Forget that you ever heard it.

[u/GrouchyGrotto → u/ohyesiam1234]

That's the best way to ensure they definitely look it up, you sly dog

[u/ohyesiam1234 → u/GrouchyGrotto]

I thought that too. I plan to look him in the eye when we get back from break.

He’ll know that I know what that means, he knows what it means, and that he asked me. I’m not gonna lie, the kid is a rascal, but I think that I just got the upper hand.

[u/NeonPupper]

Personally I would respond "What?"

[u/Flipside68]

The concept of “winning” is a human one.

As an insect you would get to bypass all the nonsense of wondering if you’ve won or lost in life.

A human is worthless if they spend all their time searching for meaning and purpose by comparing themselves to something else or thinking they have “won” because they are not an insect.

[u/Bluegi]

I would ask them what they think and then engage in conversation on their response following an interesting perspective to learn more about what they think.... If it isn't class time. If it is on the middle of class I would ask them to talk to me about that after class/school or at lunch.

[u/BurninTaiga]

I would say something like “That’s an interesting thought. Why do you think it’s considered better to be born human? Let’s note some of the pros and cons of each scenario before we make a judgment about it.”

Just because something might be off-topic, I tend to engage it if it’s in the spirit of learning (and I don’t have better things to do with class time).

[u/safetyusername1]

Insects have been here long before us and will probably outlive humans. That’s their win.

[u/Lefaid]

I would just say, "yes you did," and move on.

[u/Paperwhite418]

I mean, I thought I won. But then I got stuck being your teacher, so I guess not.

[u/IrenaeusGSaintonge]

"Great question, remember to ask me outside of class please. Now, who remembers how we determine if a number is divisible by 5?"

[u/Training_Record4751]

No kid would ever ask this.

[u/Primary-Benefit8263]

Ooo it's a statistics question.... probability of winning as a human vs. probability of winning as an insect.

[u/SignorJC]

Are you a bot?

[u/agawl81]

Well since this is designed to derail the lesson I mostly don’t. That’s an interesting thought but we were discussing photosynthesis.

[u/rhetoricalimperative]

We become who we are. We do not begin as we are.

[u/ImmediateKick2369]

Why assume that all humans live better than all insects?

[u/Feefait]

It's a very Buddhist thought. "At this time, when the precious human life has been attained..." Scientifically, I would frame it as "That's not how it works." As a Buddhist I would avoid the Dharmic implications because I don't talk religion at school.

[u/greatdrams23]

It's a good question to discuss, and good to engage the class. But it's not a quick discussion. And it would be more about showing the naunces of debate.

[u/Traditional-Joke-179]

yall: i will not be distracted by weird pointless questions

also yall: *constantly engaging OP*

[u/Fromzy]

You say yes, so many of these commenters are out here trying to kill creativity and curiosity — ask why they asked that or what they think, it’s a great prompt for teaching gratitude

So many of these teachers in here shouldn’t go back to the classroom after new years jfc you’re awful