Key Battle

"Could I see the answer key?"

Freshman math. I had gone over their homework answers, and then I gave them a practice test to work on.

Howard had not had his homework out when I read out the answers. This should have been a red flag. But I figured checking his answers late was better than never, so I let him see the key.

(Junior-level math and sometimes sophomore-level, the teacher will leave a key the kiddos can see. Generally, they're really responsible with using it.)

Twice I passed Howard on my way around the room. Both times he was talking to his neighbor, the key forgotten on his desk.

"If you're still not checking your work when I pass the next time, I'm taking this back."

On my third time by, Howard was busily copying the key.

"Did you even do the homework?" I asked.

He hadn't. And he begged me to bring back the key.

We argued. He explained that he needed the homework points to help his grade. I pointed out that the homework was supposed to be done by him, not copied. He didn't see my point.

So much so, Howard asked again later (twice!!) if he could have the key back. I pointed out that he had time right then to actually do the assignment. (We were on two hour block periods for state testing.)

Did he do it? Of course not. He didn't even do the new assigned work.

Gee, I wonder why his grade is so low.

Did you ever copy your school work? Did you like math?

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