Bored Panda reached out to British comedy writer and single mom, Ariane Sherine, to get her insights about the boundaries of humor in how students communicate with their teachers. What's more, we had a chat about what parents can do to help their kids stress less over tests and grades, as well as the best approach to helping out with homework.

Ariane told us that she "absolutely" thinks that there's room for humor in how students and teachers communicate with each other, Furthermore, it can be a good way to strengthen the bond between them. Though she notes that this works only "as long as 'funny' doesn't stray into 'rude' territory."

"Having a laugh with your teacher can help you bond with them. But it's definitely best to err on the side of caution if you're unsure whether a joke's too risky or not," she advised that students need to keep an eye out for respect, not just competing who can throw out the wittiest comment.

A parent's support is essential when it comes to helping their children maintain their confidence. "I always just tell my daughter to do her best," Comedy expert and parent Ariane told Bored Panda what her approach is like when it comes to tests and grades.

"If you genuinely do your best, there's literally nothing more you can do. Effort is important, and achievement generally follows, but not always. There are different ability levels but all I expect is effort," she explained.

As for homework, there's a lot to be said about promoting a student's independence as a parent. "I think letting your kids get on with homework by themselves, but also letting them know that you're always there for them if they get stuck is the best approach," she said that it's all about striking a balance.

"Definitely not doing it for them, as that way they won't learn," she said that there's no point in doing your kid's homework for them because it defeats the entire purpose of assigning it in the first place.

A lot depends on the specific teacher who set your child’s test. If they’re more easy-going, they might actually appreciate the out-of-the-box thinking and witty answers. However, someone stricter, who feels that there’s only one ‘right’ way to answer any question might end up scolding your kid and giving them a bad grade.

There’s also a lot to be said about the type of school you send your children to. Whether or not the institution values creativity or rote memorization will depend not only on the teachers hired to work there, but also on the principal and local superintendent, how the PTA deals with things, and what the overall philosophy of the school board might be.

There definitely has to be at least some structure throughout the school day. You can’t just let your kids run completely free, doing whatever they want, without care, for years on end. Though there are schools like that and it’s up to every family to decide what’s best for their loved ones, generally speaking, there has to be a healthy balance between freedom and discipline.

Guidance from teachers and an expectation to follow the rules aren’t necessarily bad things, so long as they don’t try to limit their students’ expression and creativity for no good reason.

Plenty of you Pandas have probably felt firsthand what it means to successfully one-up your teacher… and how bitter some of them get. If you correct your teacher in front of the class or tell a joke, you’re basically flipping a coin. The more empathetic educators will probably laugh along with you, thank you for your observations, or even start a discussion with the class about how, hey, not everyone knows all the answers.