i just don't understand why so many take offence to such a question.
Couldn't agree more. The snarkiness is unnecessary and unacceptable. If I were a teacher like Mr. Camper, I'd probably want to be away from them too!
It's not always a matter of dislike. Some people are just nervous around kids. Or dogs. Maybe they just lost a young person they were close to. Who knows and it doesn't matter. Just answer the question.