'Can we do 4?': High school sophomore students complain to teacher asking them to write 5 complete sentences

Author image for Ally Perry
Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Oct 25, 2025 9:00 PM EDT

It is a question that has been haunting many people who have observed the changes of the past couple of decades: are we getting dumber? Countless individuals have argued that the introduction of smartphones has fried our brains and their attention spans, and the spread of generative AI has only made this problem worse. 

No matter how much it might not be helpful to lean into tech doomerism, it has to be said that a world where people have widespread access to these things is very different to a world that doesn't. And, while this affects everyone, it is the younger generations who have spent almost their entire lives around these kinds of technologies who are molded by it the most.

A common complaint of educators in this day and age is that a reliance on phones and all the tools that come with them can make students much worse to teach. Sometimes, though, the reality of this doesn't sink in until we some proof.

Add as a preferred
source on Google
Advertisement
  • Cheezburger Image 10567875584
    via Giulia Squillace (Unsplash+)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • One high school teacher decided to reveal to the world how his sophomores reacted to the seemingly simple task of being asked to write five sentences. The class immediately complained and tried to barter with him to be able to write less, much to his annoyance.

    When viewers saw what had happened, many were at a loss at this reaction. Many boasted of the amount of writing that they had had to do in school, and others wondered what this meant for the future. Although some pointed out that students have always tried to get out of doing work in class, it cannot be denied that it is a sobering watch. Just because life through a screen is normal doesn't mean there isn't value in putting pen to paper sometimes.

  • via eli_carbullido
  • msnmymnd We're living in idiocracy
    via msnmymnd
  • im.notfromhere Tell them 6-7 sentences
    via im.notfromhere
  • Caitlin Guys what is the American school system
    via Caitlin
  • Ꮶ Ꮻ We used to write essays on the spot
    via K
  • Anya Paladin Wait till they get to college
    via Anya Paladin
  • name back in my day (literally only 8-4 years ago) we would act this way over a couple page essays, not PARAGRAPHSSSSS
    via name
  • zoedabunny Aren't they embarrassed?
    via zoedabunny
  • Payton Dale The parents should be horrified
    via Payton Dale
  • Katy☀ The freshman I subbed for today were wondering how they can write a paragraph when paragraphs are only supposed to be 3-5 sentences.... This was an honors English class... and they're writing 3-5 sentences in a paragraph. I remember paragraphs being 8-10 sentences for a fully fleshed out and well written paragraph.
    via Katy
  • Erica Lynn History lesson...kids have been complaining for generations about work just like this but now they are able to be vocal about it bc they feel comfortable with you. Just know, you have an engaged generation compared to zoned out, meaning you are able to discuss and make meaningful change in this world. Keep pushing them. You will be the teacher they remember having when they're old and thinking back about high school. Pros and cons of being an influential educator
    via Erica Lynn
  • Nic If they complain, it goes up. And if they ask if it's being graded I tell them "well I wasn't planning to but I guess it is now"
    via Nic
  • jon_jusdidit A paragraph was a dream in HS. We used to get smacked with at least two pages. And then college hit us with the 3-page minimum.
    via jon_jusdidit
  • abby!! this is embarrassing what has education become
    via abby!!
  • mrs kim "can we do four?" holy smokes bro.. it's over
    via mrs kim
  • hannah_harpist ❤ the way I wrote a 36 page paper my freshman year of college before ai was a thing
    via hannah_harpist
  • ben i am becoming a boomer
    via ben

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

class school comments intelligence students tiktok comments teacher gen z handwriting writing tiktok
Scroll Down For The Next Article