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jimpock-
Aside from the mundane sexism of not caring what the mothers did (which isn't what makes the story stand out), I can only assume you've missed the point that the kids didn't know what their fathers did because they didn't know who their fathers were.
And there's nothing bad about that, but society (still) often thinks there is and the teacher humiliated a kid, reducing him to tears, and then repeated the mistake because insensitive idiot.
In fact, we all knew their situation and I never saw any of the other kids use it against them, which made a class of 11-year olds more sensitive than the teacher.
itsbruce
Dumbest thing I ever saw a teacher do was from a replacement Geography teacher we had one term when I was 10/11. His name was Mr. Gauci and having introduced himself at the start of the lesson, he said he was going to get to know us by pointing to us in turn at which point we had to say our name and also what our father did for a living.
So he works along the classroom, row by row, and one boy is going red. When it's his turn, he just says his name.
Mr. Gauci: And what does your father do?
Ben (very red in the face): I don't know, sir.
Mr. Gauci: What?
Ben (loudly): I don't know, sir!
Ben bursts into tears.
Mr. Gauci:
Mr. Gauci:
Mr. Gauci turns to the next boy: Right, your name?
A few desks down the row, another kid is beginning to cry. Mr. Gauci doesn't pay attention and doesn't stop. He puts that second kid through the same humiliation aaaaaaand continues till he's done the whole class.
If you happen to know a retired teacher called Gauci, do break his leg.