The Eternal Student Question

What is one question you hate to be asked? Explain.

Without a doubt: “What time will we finish?”

I hear this almost every week from students, even though the finishing time is already clearly known. Somehow, despite that, the question still pops up, usually with the hopeful tone that maybe, just maybe, we will wrap up early.

It genuinely baffles me.

When I was a student, I can’t imagine EVER asking a teacher that. It would have felt almost rude, as if you were counting down the seconds until you could leave. Yet now it seems completely normal, almost automatic.

Perhaps it is just the eternal optimism of students hoping for an early finish or maybe it is a sign that I am getting older and noticing the difference between generations.

Either way, it drives me mad. I always tell my students to ask questions, there is no bad or stupid question, however, I will make an exception for this one 😜