I returned the first homework a couple of days ago. All was relatively silent, at first. Most of them just took their papers and put them away, probably never intending to give it another thought. But then, someone looked and realized that only ten of the forty or so problems had been graded. You could almost see the dawning realization ripple out from that first person like a wave in the auditorium. I will never get tired of seeing the look of impotent rage on students' faces as they run up against a perceived injustice that they are powerless to fight.
These reactions, though enjoyable, are fully expected. What I didn't expect was this little pocket of unflappable bodies in the back corner of the room, centered around that blue-haired cheerleader imp. That group didn't seem bothered in the least. Normally this would be because these children are too distracted, too vacant, too busy talking and texting, to notice if the world is ending around them, much less if they're failing a class. But I handed back their homework, so I know that this whole group scored very well on the assignment. Among the highest in the class, no less.
Had they cheated? Did they get the answers from the internet or some contraband instructor's copy of the book? Or did they have one of their number, or some sucker elsewhere in the class, who carried the burden for all of them? This self-centered cheerleader already acted like the whole world was owed to her, and it looked like someone was willing to do whatever she wanted after a flutter of eyelids.
No. I will not allow this to continue. Now that I've handed back the homework, I have their names. Paul Moreno. Nathan Thompson. Kim Sun. Scott Castilleja. And the cheerleader, Lindsay Johnson. The name even sounds like a cheerleader. I will find out which of them, if any, is carrying the rest. I will separate them, turning the weaker against the stronger. And if the strongest survives, then maybe I will take them in and put them on the proper path. And if none of them has any ability, if they are all getting their answers from an outside source, then they will be purified, in the same way that an incinerator cleans everything away, leaving nothing behind but ashes.
It is possible that they are rather intelligent and worked on the homework together. Although the likelihood is slim to none. That Lindsay Johnson...she probably exchanged some specialty goods to some nerd to get the answers worked out for her motley crew. It is good that you have already taken notice of them and their alleged wrong doing. This will be an amusing semester after all.
ReplyDeleteI am watching their behavior. I have my suspicions, but I will need to see how their performance on the next test pans out to act more decisively.
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