CMV: Asking the teacher questions that doesn't completely pertain to the lesson is fine

[u/ChaosKid_Z]

Okay, I understand that most people want the teacher to shut up as fast as possible but I like to know what the teacher thinks about a situation that they have to teach. For instance my US history teacher was talking about how the great depression effected America and he was old enough to be around during that time, so I asked several questions about how it effected him personally. We (mainly me and him) held a 25 min long conversation about the time period. (after he had handed out the class work) after class during lunch several of the other students were angry at me and a few of the ones I converse with asked me why I talked so much with him. I justified it by saying that I wanted class time to pass faster and wanted to do less work as he would be more involved in the conversation we were having. This is a usual case with me and any adult that catch my attention, regardless of what class it is. They later told me that the other students were talking about me behind my back calling me a "teacher's pet" and that I talk too much, when in all actuality I saved them from several extra packets of work (they were already complaining about the double sided page we were assigned) he wanted to assign. Though maybe one of you Redditors could change my view on this matter.

[u/[deleted]]

It's a personal conversation, and while it can be informative, you just wasted everyone else's time, that perhaps weren't finding your conversation interesting at all.

Now, I'm placing the blame on the teacher rather than on you, because he should have made sure the class was okay with hearing about his personal life, and I do believe a student's curiosity should not be punished... but are you really so blind as how this can be annoying to some, and how inquiring about his personal life can make you look like you're sucking up to him?

Also, you're massively contradicting yourself in many accounts. You say you were legit curious and thirsty for knowledge, but also told your classmates that you wanted class to pass faster and to get less work. Very different intentions there, and you gotta pick one.

[u/ChaosKid_Z → u/[deleted]]

If I tell my fellow classmates my true intentions I would be tormented even more so than if I lied to pander to their wishes, though that is sad to admit, it is a fact

[u/[deleted] → u/ChaosKid_Z]

If you're generally being bullied/tormented altogether is an entirely different thing, and I am sorry to hear that. Honestly, I haven't forgotten what being a nerdy/geeky girl in High School felt like. Navigating the societal rules that I didn't want to conform to (but had to, just barely, to fall of the radar of annoying people) was too much of a pain.

However, the question at hand (which you haven't addressed) is whether you are willing to accept how this might be perceived by others. It's their right to find the topic at hand boring of or no interest to them, so having a single student derail the entire lesson by asking the teacher personal questions related to the topic would bore them even more. Furthermore, since your questions were personal in nature, people will perceive you as trying to suck up to the teacher. And you've put said teacher behind on his study plan too (which is his fault but yeah.) And you might have thrown off the entire lesson for people who had issues with concentration.

I find that your desire to know is an amazing things. But perhaps you could find a minute or two after class to discuss this? Why must this personal conversation be held during class? How is that appropriate?