# How do I remember to be kind to beginners?

I just called a question silly. I'm mad at myself for doing that. The person who asked is teaching math, but they are a high school teacher who may not have a math degree. There are many people teaching math as long-term subs, who aren't math experts.

Yes, that question was probably better posted in mse, but he didn't know that yet.

It seemed silly to ask if one line is longer than another. But if he is wondering something about infinity, that's not silly at all.

I chose to moderate here because I wanted this site to be welcoming to people who are homeschooling, or teaching elementary school. I blew it today.

I had a student simplify $$2\pi x\ =\ \frac{\pi}{2}$$ and said the result was $$x=4$$. A senior in pre-calc. It wasn't a 'typo' kind of mistake, I had to explain it for a good 10 minutes. It wasn't easy to keep my feelings from seeping through, but it's a different world. Covid has caused gaps. As you noted, there are people unqualified (not a criticism of you or them, it's a fact, there is a teacher shortage and kind people are filling in) to teach, but it's better than cancelling classes and losing a year.