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Original poster

Inappropriate mnemonic from school?

219 replies

Angelofmycoins · 23/05/2025 21:35

Son is doing exams Y11 - he has just told me they were taught this mnemonic in science (physics?) when they were in Y9:

'Gay X-men Use Vibrators In My Rectum'

(for remembering types of waves ie gamma, x, uv etc)

Aibu in thinking its inappropriate? He did remember it so he argues it worked!

For context, fee paying school, all boys.....

OP posts:
Emotionalsupporthamster · 23/05/2025 22:11

I mean, it’s pretty effective!

sprigatito · 23/05/2025 22:07

Sounds like the sort of boorish crass “humour” that is rife in posh all-boys’ schools tbh. Revolting, but it seems to be the pool we like to draw our prime ministers from.

WearyAuldWumman · 23/05/2025 22:04

I know that our Latin class (pupils) came up with the following to remember the declension of ire/to go. Not a mnemonic...

Eh oh! Is it a moose? It is! Eh oont! (The last is a bit weak.)

eo, is, it, imus, itis, eunt

Original poster
Angelofmycoins · 23/05/2025 22:04

LoveTheLake525 · 23/05/2025 22:01

🤣🤣🤣

but also 😠😠😠

Show quote history

😡😡😠

Not even helpful either

OP posts:
Original poster
Angelofmycoins · 23/05/2025 22:03

Octavia64 · 23/05/2025 22:00

Haha you should see what our year 11s come up with to remember trig ratios.

never heard such filth,

Yes.... except he was 13 and it was a teacher.

OP posts:
LoveTheLake525 · 23/05/2025 22:01

BlackBean2023 · 23/05/2025 21:41

Must be a thing with science teachers. DD’s science teacher’s favourite joke was “how do you make a hormone” … “don’t pay her”

Hmm

🤣🤣🤣

but also 😠😠😠

modgepodge · 23/05/2025 22:00

Another questioning if the teacher actually taught it or a kid came up with it (I’ve previously asked kids to come up with their own mnemonic for remembering the order of something, they like doing it and it is more memorable than my one for them usually!) Could a kid have said it in class when asked to share, and the class dissolved in to laughter and the teacher have shrugged it off rather than disciplining? If the teacher definitely taught it I’d be complaining I think.

Octavia64 · 23/05/2025 22:00

Haha you should see what our year 11s come up with to remember trig ratios.

never heard such filth,

DBSFstupid · 23/05/2025 21:58

RedPandaClaws · 23/05/2025 21:41

I'm sorry I know it's wrong and inappropriate, but I'm just 😂😂😂

😂

noworklifebalance · 23/05/2025 21:56

Well, it served its purpose as a mnemonic.
I have heard many that are close to the line and they are memorable because of it.

BlueyNeedsToFuckOff · 23/05/2025 21:54

Angelofmycoins · 23/05/2025 21:52

I don't get that ?

Show quote history

Richard Cranium = dickhead

WearyAuldWumman · 23/05/2025 21:53

Something to do with Dick Head? Other than that, I'm lost.

DBSFstupid · 23/05/2025 21:53

CassieAusten · 23/05/2025 21:37

You KNOW that's not OK, you don't need a poll!

Exactly.

Skodasuperb · 23/05/2025 21:52

JillAndJenTheFlowerpotMen · 23/05/2025 21:49

I’m relaxed about this. He’ll remember it, and it’s not as if his innocent little mind has been corrupted. These are 15 and 16yo boys who wouldn’t have needed the mnemonic explaining. Mine had a dirty mnemonic for remembering the order of the hydrocarbons.

You can't leave that there. I did chemistry at university so I'm intrigued. Spill!

M E P B P H H O N D

Original poster
Angelofmycoins · 23/05/2025 21:52

BlueyNeedsToFuckOff · 23/05/2025 21:51

Ours did that back in the 90s. It wasn’t funny then, either.

Show quote history

I don't get that ?

OP posts:
BlueyNeedsToFuckOff · 23/05/2025 21:51

springbabydays · 23/05/2025 21:47

Yeh my kids science teacher talks about Richard Craniums in class apparently.

Show quote history

Ours did that back in the 90s. It wasn’t funny then, either.

Original poster
Angelofmycoins · 23/05/2025 21:49

thistimelastweek · 23/05/2025 21:48

Is he at Eton?

No but the fees aren't far off

OP posts:
Init4thecatz · 23/05/2025 21:49

Let it go. It's a silly mnemonic to help them pass their exams.

Not massively appropriate, but teenage boys will have found it funny, and will definitely remember it. That's the point isn't it?

JillAndJenTheFlowerpotMen · 23/05/2025 21:49

I’m relaxed about this. He’ll remember it, and it’s not as if his innocent little mind has been corrupted. These are 15 and 16yo boys who wouldn’t have needed the mnemonic explaining. Mine had a dirty mnemonic for remembering the order of the hydrocarbons.

Original poster
Angelofmycoins · 23/05/2025 21:48

Just don't like that culture of normalising chat like that with 13 year old boys.

I also witnessed a teacher getting back from a school trip telling boys "remember, you tell your parents it was already dead". Because he'd hit a deer with the mini bus!

But making them keep a secret from parents also felt wrong.

OP posts:
BaronessBomburst · 23/05/2025 21:48

You don't want to know how electronics students remember the colours/ values of resistors then!

BallerinaRadio · 23/05/2025 21:48

Is this another Friday night on the wine fantasy post?

thistimelastweek · 23/05/2025 21:48

Is he at Eton?

springbabydays · 23/05/2025 21:47

BlackBean2023 · 23/05/2025 21:41

Must be a thing with science teachers. DD’s science teacher’s favourite joke was “how do you make a hormone” … “don’t pay her”

Hmm

Yeh my kids science teacher talks about Richard Craniums in class apparently.

Koazy · 23/05/2025 21:47

Yeah. I don’t believe that. But please ask the school and tell us what they say Grin