I work in student accommodation at a fairly large UK university, and jesus christ the things I’ve seen. Even if you don’t count the things they do while drunk, you still end up being concerned for the future of humanity.
Things I’ve seen students learn the hard way:
To boil pasta, water is required. Again, panicked flatmates and corridor full of smoke.
Most people know they shouldn’t microwave metal. Some people still try to heat unopened cans in one.
If you forget your keys, call security. Don’t try to climb in through the 10″ x 12″ bathroom window because you’ll get stuck, and we’ll need the fire brigade to come and rescue you.
I had a nun who taught us the famous quote 'Vini, vidi, vici'. I was also taught that this is where the evil 666 originated. (VI, VI, VI). It was only after an embarrassing conversation as an adult that I realized it was 'Veni, vidi vici'.
There are teachers - far too many teachers - purposely 'teaching' incorrect things such as sex education in order to further their radical and/or uninformed political-religious agenda.
I had teachers 'teach' us that certain musical progressions etc were 'incorrect'. When I pointed out multiple examples of these progressions in famous masterpieces, I was told that they were exceptions, and that they were still 'wrong/incorrect' etc.
I could go on. But my point is that given the state of teaching, it's no wonder some of the students struggle.
Oh yeah, depending on the age and experience of the student, putting a thermometer in a flame to determine its temperature is not an unreasonable thing to do. A teacher should have covered that before putting students - probably children - in front of an open flame.