August 2, 2025 Jonathan
When parents pick up their child’s school report card, they expect clarity: grades, conduct, and helpful advice. But one teacher’s remark about a Primary 4 girl who ranked 18th in her class has sparked a mix of laughter, confusion, and online outrage.
The Remark Everyone Is Talking About
The report card showed two key observations:
Character: Calm
Attitude: Lazy
But then came the kicker — under “Teacher’s Remark” was the phrase:
“Keep it up.”
This contradictory feedback quickly went viral after TikTok user @ohemaapretty79 posted an image of the card, asking followers: “What exactly should she keep up?”
Social Media Erupts
Reactions poured in across TikTok, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter).
One commenter wrote:
“How do you call a child lazy and then tell her to keep it up? That teacher needs a performance review.”
Another quipped:
“Maybe the teacher meant keep up being calm? Or keep up being lazy? Either way, I’m confused.”
Some, however, defended the teacher, suggesting the “keep it up” was meant to encourage the child despite her ranking, perhaps as a way to avoid discouragement.
Bigger Picture: Feedback That Confuses
This incident has ignited a debate beyond just one child’s school record. Parents and educators are now talking about:
The importance of constructive feedback – Remarks should guide, not confuse.
Balancing honesty and encouragement – Children need realistic but uplifting feedback that helps them improve.
Privacy and viral content – Should children’s academic records ever be shared online?
Conclusion
Feedback is powerful. For a Primary 4 pupil, being called “lazy” can hurt, and adding “keep it up” may only deepen the confusion. Constructive teacher comments should focus on specific behaviors and encourage improvement, e.g., “Try to be more active in class, you can do it!”
This report card may have started as a small classroom note, but it’s now a nationwide conversation about how words shape young minds.
