Clueless teacher asks Reddit 'why do my students call me a goat?' and it's adorable.

Understanding the next generation and their slang is not an enviable task. Some adults can avoid it more than others, but when you're an 8th grade teacher, it's mathematically inevitable.

When a confused teacher kept hearing the same joke over and over in class, he decided to ask Reddit what exactly he was laughing at. The answers and his responses to them are actually too cute to post without a warning. So, there it is. You're warned.

'Why do my students call me a goat?'

PuzzleBrain20 writes, with total and complete sincerety:

I am a math teacher for 8th graders at the school I teach at.

Throughout this whole past school year there was this running joke where the students would call me the goat.

And I would respond back each time that they are the goats, and they would all laugh.

It was pretty funny to be honest, and I never gave it much thought. But I realized that I have been partaking in a joke that I never actually got.

Relatable.

I had a good connection with them, and they are all really good kids, so I don't really think that they were making fun of me.

Can someone (maybe an 8th grader) explain this joke to me? And how would you respond if someone calls you a goat?

So, do you think they're making fun of him? Or were you grinning knowing exactly what they meant?

Luckily he doesn't need a middle schooler to solve for this. Reddit to the rescue!

Ethan21162 answers:

It means Greatest Of All Time.

OP responds:

Oh wow, my day has been made. Thank you!!

Balrog229 explains:

GOAT is a compliment. Sounds like you’re a great teacher and they enjoy your classes. Which is saying something since math is most people’s least favorite subject.

OP says:

Oh wow!!! Yes, that is the reason I became a math teacher. I always hated math growing up, but then I realized at some point it's just taught terribly.

In my classes for example, there is no such thing as a useless math lesson. I always remind them how useful it is to know this stuff, from anything regarding money to detecting patterns in life, to even have a strong basis for any career they choose.

Some of them are looking forward to solving the Millennium Prize Problems, which I really hope with all my heart will happen. I been teaching for 17 years, and they are by far my favorite set of students so far.

I put my heart and soul into teaching, this is amazing to hear. Thank you!!!

megorio comments:

Haha cute! As a teacher of high school freshmen if someone says something that I’ve never heard I always threaten to urban dictionary it in front of them and someone always tells me what it means and giggle fits ensue! It’s always a good time.

OP replies:

Haha that is pretty funny!! I didn't even know about urban dictionary until people mentioned it here. That urban dictionary is a lifesaver.

Xacrosity provides context:

GOAT is a term coined by 80’s-90’s rapper LL Cool J, which is an acronym for Greatest Of All Time. It was popularized by his 8th studio album, titled G.O.A.T., and he credits Muhammad Ali for the origin, according to an interview in 2016 with Rolling Stone.

It’s contemporary use is mostly in instances of a person being a holistically positive and empowering individual, and has become more and more popular in recent years.

FreddiePeterson sums it up:

You're the Michael Jordan of math teachers. It's a good thing.

ReluctantChimera is here for it:

It's so cute that you didn't realize they were calling you the Greatest of All Time the whole year, and you were calling them the same back. So wholesome.

OP adds to his post:

Omg I am IN TEARS!!! I can't believe they were complimenting me this whole time!!!! I now love my students more than I already loved them, which I didn't think was possible haha.

Thank you all for answering this question!!!!