There’s one part of grade school that most people on TikTok would like to block out if they could: anything to do with Kumon.
According to the company’s website, the Kumon Method of Learning is a worksheet-based study program “designed to help any child of any ability progress to their maximum potential and become enthusiastic learners” in the subjects of math and reading.
While it’s an optional program done outside of school, it has multiple learning centers throughout the world where students can go after school or on weekends to strengthen their skills.
But according to most people on TikTok, it was also kind of the worst.
“raise your hand up if you were victimized by kumon,” wrote @pmanda_ after sharing a video they took when spotting a Kumon location in England.
That alone triggered a flood of responses from others who clearly felt the same way.
“I was a victim of kumon,” one person confirmed.
“biggest trauma of my life,” said another.
“Kumon is the most depressing thing posisble to do to your child,” another person declared.
The program left quite an impression on people — some of whom said their parents would “threaten” them with Kumon worksheets or even force them to take the worksheets along on vacation. One person flat-out called it “hell.”
“I cry out in despair whenever I see one in the wild,” one TikToker commented.
“I’m traumatized by the 2 hour it took me every evening, not to mention the 3 hours in the little church I had to go to every Thursday for my stickers,” said another.
But not everyone had it out for the learning program. A few people said it helped them.
“Ok I hated it but I’m not gonna lie it really helped with my math skills,” one person admitted.
“It really works if the student puts effort in it,” wrote someone else who said the program “meets you where you’re at.”
Another person said it was the only reason they have any kind of math skills today.