In a digital age where online slang evolves faster than a viral meme, the term “unc” has found its way into classrooms across Platte County. Initially emerging from gaming and meme culture, “unc” has gained traction as a catch-all term for someone who is perceived as out of touch or outdated, any one who is considered old can be targeted by this funny joke. 

“I would assume that the word means uncle,” math and engineering teacher Kyle Perkins said. 

The  term “unc” is actually short for “uncle,” and after learning this Perkins felt genius. 

“You see now that’s the basics of mathematics right there, I didn’t do any equation solving but I used logic to figure out what the term really meant.” 

Though the term started online it has moved into casual conversations and even into social media posts and classrooms. Some students, for instance, have used “unc” to characterize historical figures, teaching methods, or even just their teachers in general. 

“I’ve definitely had students that have called me “unc” before,” math teacher Austin Purtle said.“And I guess it would make sense to call me young, but I only feel my own age [when I teach].” 

While many young people use it in jest, its introduction into the school settings has raised eyebrows among teachers who don’t are confused about what the word really means or how it came about. 

Some teachers even have to deal with their own children calling them “unc.” 

“My daughter is very up on the slang and she asks me all the time if I am capping,” Perkins said. “So if she called me an “unc” I would probably contest that.” 

At the end of the day though, most students only use the term “unc” as a light joke and don’t mean any harm. So despite some initial reactions of annoyance for being called “old”, some educators use this opportunity to connect more with their students. 

“I think being connected helps to some degree, and I think that it helps that I am somewhat younger,” Purtle said. “But, I imagine as my career goes on that I will hear stuff that I have no idea what it means.” 

So even as time moves forward and childish slang evolves, teachers will always have to hear it but they can come to accept it as a part of school life. 

“I learned this slang over the summer that I just really liked,” Perkins said. “It was, ‘just put the fries in the bag lil bro.’”