Teacher Rates His Year 1 Students’ Jokes On Twitter, And His Thread Goes Viral
Interview With Author
Just like so many of his colleagues, George Pointon, a Year 1 teacher from the UK, doesn’t know if there’s such a thing as a “normal day” in school in the current climate. But, just like so many of his colleagues, he still tries to make the best out of each lesson. And succeeds.
During a recent English project, Pointon asked his class what makes them laugh. One child said “jokes” and things began escalating really fast, resulting in an impromptu assignment: the teacher asked his students to come up with a joke.
More info: Twitter
Image credits: GeorgePointon_
Image credits: GeorgePointon_
“Children by their nature are hilarious and giving them a platform to be funny felt like the perfect idea,” Pointon told Bored Panda. “They had no time to prepare. It was an impulsive experience. It was as simple as “Tell me a joke” and they all lept at the chance to do so.”
When everything was said and done, the teacher decided to evaluate his students on Twitter. And to be honest, I don’t know what’s funnier, the jokes or their reviews. Continue scrolling and check them out yourself.
Image credits: GeorgePointon_
Image credits: GeorgePointon_
George and his students have just got back to school and the teacher said it’s been both tough and exciting. “After spending months on online classes, it’s nice to finally have the band back together,” he explained.
As for the funny task, George obviously didn’t tell them about the idea to analyze it. “That came after. I absolutely adore all the children in my class but I thought ‘Wouldn’t it be funny if…’ and began to write a narrative and look at each ‘character’ with a critical eye. After that, the comedy wrote itself.”
Image credits: GeorgePointon_
Image credits: GeorgePointon_
His students probably also got more out of the task than just a few good laughs. Experts say that kids with a well-developed sense of humor are happier and more optimistic, have higher self-esteem, and can handle differences (their own and others) well. Furthermore, kids who appreciate and share humor are better liked by their peers and more able to handle the adversities of childhood — from moving to a new town, to teasing, to torment by playground bullies.
Research has shown that people who laugh more are healthier — they’re less likely to be depressed and may even have an increased resistance to illness or physical problems. They also experience less stress and have better digestion.
Image credits: GeorgePointon_
Image credits: GeorgePointon_
The teacher is really happy about how everything turned out. “I was absolutely gobsmacked by the reaction. I genuinely thought just my friends would see it. Obviously, you can never predict what goes viral. If we could, we’d all be in marketing jobs.”
George is happy people enjoyed the content and the outpouring of joy he has received really brightened his week. Plus, the thread has allowed him to enjoy a new personal highlight: going on national radio.
Image credits: GeorgePointon_
Image credits: GeorgePointon_
When George asked himself why has this tweet has taken off, he thought that 1) it’s the middle of the week and people need a little ‘pick me up’ time; 2) the world is very dark right now, and people need a little ‘pick me up’ time; 3) it’s children—they are just naturally very funny.
“It was all basically good timing, funny children, and I had a Twitter account. I’m not even funny and granted my dad doesn’t understand why anyone finds the tweet funny.”
“There are two people without who none of this was possible. Don Linney and Kyle Hines,” Pointon added. “They pushed me to write the tweet and to post it… Also, if anyone can get me in touch with Paul McCartney, Declan Rice, or Todd Carty, I’d be unquestionably grateful.”
Image credits: GeorgePointon_
Image credits: GeorgePointon_
Image credits: GeorgePointon_
As of this article, over 235,000 people liked Pointon’s thread and they absolutely loved the jokes
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We teach 'em young here in the UK. That dark sardonic sense of humour doesn't come from nowhere!
My maternal family is not from North America. Dark and dry in the DNA! I crack up at things my hubby, whose family is only one generation removed from the UK, doesn't "get". Oh well, he never does expect the Spanish Inquisition.
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This is exactly what I needed at 6:36 Monday morning! Bored panda never fails me!
I’m a teen now and I still find the poop jokes funny. Should I be worried?
Pardon my ignorance, but what is a Year 1 student? First year in public school, right after Kindergarten? Or first year of High-School? Or Freshman year at Uni? I'm 73, and we're allowed to ask stupid questions.
I'm 31 and I had the same question. However, judging by the content, it seems like 1st grade elementary school. That's pretty much their style. But yeah, hopefully they change that introduction to make it more specific.
Load More Replies...
I went to a certain island in the Caribbean and there happened to be a LOT of chickens on that one island. We saw one crossing the road as we were driving somewhere, and I said, "why did the chicken cross the road?" My older brother responded with "why can't chickens cross the road without their motives being questioned?"
Why are cow barns noisy? Because the Cows all have horns. Why do cows wear bells? because the horns don't work!
When my brother was real little, he had a joke that went like this: "knock knock" "who's there?" "Elephant" "elephant who?" "Elephant eyeball head nice place to be on you"
And you can't forget about French and Saunders when talking about comedy duos!
A year seven student said to me "What cheese would you use to hide a small horse". I told him I didn't know. He laughed and said Marscapone "mask a pony"
I'm just here standing up for Mikey. I think his joke was hilarious.
I am adult and I recycle the same 5 jokes - kid-friendly once in a blue moon. I can't retain jokes and have nobody to tell them to. I am a bad storyteller and once when I had new, adult joke to recite (which I have since forgot) I ended it and laughed hysterically. Nobody else did. I realized I butchered it and left the punchline completely out. :( 9
We teach 'em young here in the UK. That dark sardonic sense of humour doesn't come from nowhere!
My maternal family is not from North America. Dark and dry in the DNA! I crack up at things my hubby, whose family is only one generation removed from the UK, doesn't "get". Oh well, he never does expect the Spanish Inquisition.
Load More Replies... This is exactly what I needed at 6:36 Monday morning! Bored panda never fails me!
I’m a teen now and I still find the poop jokes funny. Should I be worried?
Pardon my ignorance, but what is a Year 1 student? First year in public school, right after Kindergarten? Or first year of High-School? Or Freshman year at Uni? I'm 73, and we're allowed to ask stupid questions.
I'm 31 and I had the same question. However, judging by the content, it seems like 1st grade elementary school. That's pretty much their style. But yeah, hopefully they change that introduction to make it more specific.
Load More Replies... I went to a certain island in the Caribbean and there happened to be a LOT of chickens on that one island. We saw one crossing the road as we were driving somewhere, and I said, "why did the chicken cross the road?" My older brother responded with "why can't chickens cross the road without their motives being questioned?"
Why are cow barns noisy? Because the Cows all have horns. Why do cows wear bells? because the horns don't work!
When my brother was real little, he had a joke that went like this: "knock knock" "who's there?" "Elephant" "elephant who?" "Elephant eyeball head nice place to be on you"
And you can't forget about French and Saunders when talking about comedy duos!
A year seven student said to me "What cheese would you use to hide a small horse". I told him I didn't know. He laughed and said Marscapone "mask a pony"
I'm just here standing up for Mikey. I think his joke was hilarious.
I am adult and I recycle the same 5 jokes - kid-friendly once in a blue moon. I can't retain jokes and have nobody to tell them to. I am a bad storyteller and once when I had new, adult joke to recite (which I have since forgot) I ended it and laughed hysterically. Nobody else did. I realized I butchered it and left the punchline completely out. :( 9
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