During a typical sixth-grade science class, the students were engaged in their usual routine when their teacher, Mrs. Parker, posed a question that instantly caused confusion and discomfort in the room. As she stood confidently at the front of the class, she asked, “Class, can anyone tell me which human body part increases to ten times its size when stimulated?” The classroom, which had just moments earlier been buzzing with the sounds of pencils scribbling and quiet chatter, fell completely silent.
The students looked around at each other, eyes wide with confusion, and no one dared to answer. The tension was thick in the air as everyone silently wondered whether they had misheard the question. Finally, a student named Mary, who was known for her boldness and outspoken personality, could no longer stay silent. She stood up and addressed Mrs. Parker directly, her voice filled with outrage. “Mrs. Parker, you shouldn’t be asking sixth-graders a question like that!” she exclaimed. “I’m going to tell my parents about this, and they’ll report it to the principal. You could get fired for this kind of thing!”
Her reaction caused an audible stir among the other students, some of whom nodded nervously in agreement while others just stared at their desks, unsure of how to react. But Mrs. Parker, remaining calm and composed, repeated her question in the exact same tone: “Now, class, can anyone tell me which body part increases to ten times its size when stimulated?” Her refusal to change the question or show any reaction to Mary’s accusation only heightened the sense of confusion in the room. Mary whispered to a few of her classmates, “Oh, she’s going to be in so much trouble,” her eyes wide as she waited for someone else to object. Despite Mrs. Parker’s calm demeanor, the class remained silent. No one wanted to risk saying something that might be considered inappropriate, especially after Mary’s outburst. Just as it seemed no one would answer, a student named Billy slowly raised his hand.
Billy was known for his intelligence, but even he looked unsure as he stood up to respond. His voice trembled slightly as he said, “The body part that increases ten times its size when stimulated is the pupil of the eye.” The moment he finished his sentence, a wave of relief swept through the classroom. Some students chuckled, others sighed, and a few even smiled at how unexpectedly innocent the answer was. Mrs. Parker gave Billy a warm smile and praised him for his correct and thoughtful answer.
She then turned to Mary, who looked both embarrassed and stunned. With a slight smirk and a twinkle in her eye, Mrs. Parker addressed her. “Mary, I have three things to say to you,” she began. “One, you have a dirty mind. Two, you clearly didn’t do your homework. And three, one day, you are going to be very, very disappointed.” The room burst into laughter, and even Mary couldn’t help but blush and crack a small smile at her own mistake. The moment served as a humorous yet important reminder that assumptions can often lead us astray and that sometimes, things aren’t always what they seem. Mrs. Parker’s question, though provocative in its wording, was actually a clever way to test not only the students’ knowledge but also their ability to think critically without jumping to conclusions. It also reminded everyone of the importance of doing their homework. If you found this story as amusing and clever as we did, feel free to share it with your friends and family on Facebook—it’s a light-hearted lesson we could all use a reminder of now and then.
