Stop cheating, Johnny!

 

Johnny thought he could talk his way out of anything, until his teacher held up two history tests. With matching answers, a classmate’s paper, and his own confidence suddenly under scrutiny, he insisted that studying explained everything. But one question about an American president was about to turn his smooth defense into a very public and humiliating continue reading …When Johnny’s history teacher suspected him of copying Mary’s test, he wasn’t ready to admit a thing. The teacher pointed out that their answers to questions about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln were identical. Johnny had an explanation ready: he had studied hard the night before. After all, two students getting the continue reading …

same facts right wasn’t necessarily proof of cheating. For a moment, his argument sounded reasonable enough. Then the teacher moved to the question that made his entire story fall apart.

The question asked who was president during the Louisiana Purchase. Mary, unable to supply the answer, had written, “I don’t know.” Johnny hadn’t named a president continue reading …