Teacher Insists that I Cheated

Pre-College Topics High School Life
1

<p>I have quite an ordeal ahead of me, and it's driving me mad. </p>

<p>In one of my classes, my teacher assigned us some classwork in which we were allowed to collaborate and work with our partners. So, of course, my partner and I worked together on the entire packet, as did the rest of the class and everyone in the other class periods.</p>

<p>However, I looked at my grade, and it says "0 out of (a lot of points)," and a note next to the grade says that I cheated. It turns out that 2 of our answers out of the entire packet happened to be exactly the same (they were one-sentence factual answers). I don't cheat in any class, or allow people to copy my work. But, in this situation, I guess I showed my partner my answer (because we were allowed to work together), and he wrote the exact answer without me knowing.</p>

<p>To me, this is outrageous, because it was a very large assignment and there's a very strong chance that this will stop me from being valedictorian. Also, we were allowed to work with our partner and our teacher never said we had to reword the answers. Also, it's not my fault that he copied a couple answers word for word without me knowing when we were working. After all, how are we supposed to collaborate if I don't show him what I think is correct?</p>

<p>I spoke to my teacher, and I told her that it's not fair to punish us for having the same answers as partners on a collaborative assignment when she didn't specify that we couldn't. She responded "Oh, so I guess it's okay to copy answers on a test too then huh?" I was pretty stunned at this response, since it had nothing to do with group work. I also told her that we didn't know we were breaking a rule and that it doesn't benefit anyone to punish two people who strive to be academically honest, but broke an unspoken rule. However, she wouldn't budge.</p>

<p>Moreover, this teacher hates me for no good reason. She used to grade a lot of assignments incorrectly, so I would have to personally have her fix them, or correct her key. However, she despises people who ask her about their grades, even when she realizes she is wrong. Thus, on countless occasions, she has been exceedingly rude and mean to me, including one occasion where she tried to humiliate me by screaming at me in my face in front of my friends and then opening the door to the hall and screaming to the other teachers about me. Also, she sent me a nasty message on our class website once for no reason, and I have a picture of that. Finally, everyone I've spoken to said that they had the same answers as their partners verbatim, but didn't get zeros, whereas we only had two identical answers and are being punished. </p>

<p>Tell me your honest opinion on this and how I should go about this. Another friend of mine got accused of cheating in a similarly ridiculous way last semester, and never got his points back because the VP said he couldn't do anything about it even though he believed him.</p>

<p>Keep in mind, this assignment decides whether I can still accomplish my goal of attaining a 4.0 and being valedictorian, and that I've never cheated on anything in my life.</p>

2

<p>I have a hard time comprehending how one classwork assignment, not even a test or anything, in one class of one semester of one year can effect you getting a 4.0 and being valedictorian? </p>

3

<p>It’s probably the difference between me getting an A and a B in the class, and academic dishonesty disqualifies you from being valedictorian. I’m talking about unweighted GPA by the way.</p>

4

<p>If she insists on putting it in as a zero, you may want to email her about it and CC the principal or similar authority? Make your case again politely and mention how you are really worried about your grade because of this incident.</p>

5

<p>Damn, I don’t know what to tell you… Make as big a stink of it as your can. Go make your case to Principal, Vice Principle, school board, superintendent, ect. Even see if you can get on the local news. You need to draw as much attention to your situation as possible.</p>

6

<p>Don’t do what nflpackers96 said.
Ask the teacher politely. If (s)he says no, have your parents (yes, it’s a little extreme, but extreme times call for extreme measures) email the teacher and CC the principal. Or (if you don’t what to have your parents get involved), talk directly with the principal. I’m sure that if the principal agrees that you didn’t cheat, you’ll be fine. </p>

7

<p>Both of my parents agree with me and have already found out about the ordeal.</p>

8

<p>I suggest getting your parents involved.</p>

9

<p>My mother already spoke with my teacher via e-mail and phone, but nothing has come of it. That actually happened before I myself went to talk to the teacher.</p>

10

<p>Take that exact block of text that you wrote in the OP and email it to the principal. Trust me, do not attempt to reason with the teacher as it won’t get the situation resolved, leave the teacher out of it and talk with the principal.</p>

11

<p>I also was accused of cheating not to long ago. Just keep asking and emailing your teacher for about 1 week. if this doesn’t work go to administration because a teacher needs actual proof to pull crap like this.</p>

12

<p>Verbose I agree @dfafd2dfafd that you need to take it to the principal. Accusing a student of cheating is a very serious thing and not something to be undertaken without proof, evidence, a reasonable explanation, and some common sense thrown in to boot. </p>

<p>Send a very polite email detailing all the facts, and state firmly that you did not cheat and that the teacher’s actions make no sense in light of the fact that it was a collaborative assignment. Request that your full credit be reinstated with no further action or attempt to discredit you or tarnish your reputation. </p>

<p>Be sure to copy your parents on the email so that the principal understands you are all on the same page. Good luck to you. </p>

13

<p>Don’t copy the exact block of text (make it nicer), but send something similar to the principal. </p>

14

<p>Make it nicer, but still keep everything in there, including the part about the teacher treating you like dirt.</p>

15

<p>I agree with @DigitalKing, @Mondut, @dfafd2dfafd, and @bodangles on this one: you need to contact the principal. It’ll probably be more efficient if you can meet with everyone (principal, teacher, parents, and partner) to discuss your case.</p>

16

<p>Do something.</p>

<p>Think about that.</p>

<p>What actions will create your favorable conclusions?</p>

<p>Do that.</p>

<p>If it fails, try again, PM me, and talk with your principal about this issue, an issue that is a great deal bigger than just this assignment.</p>

17

<p>Email the principal. That’s the best option. </p>

18

<p>Talk to the principle, and bring other people from the class with you (in order to explain the assignment). </p>

19

<p>I agree with quite literally everyone else on here, accusing you of cheating is serious and you should email the principal. CC both the teacher and your parents. </p>

20

<p>You need to schedule a meeting with your counselor to discuss this with you, your parents, the teacher, and administration.</p>