Acceptance Quote by Vicki Davis
“A professor was telling students about his colleagues class. Students in the other class had taken to tossing erasers at the clock. Each precise hit caused it to jump ahead one minute. Before class one morning they succeeded in advancing the clock by ten minutes. Since the new time indicated that the professor was beyond the accepted starting time, the class left. The professor never said a word about the incident. However, he presented the class with a killer of a final exam. As the students labored to finish in the allotted time, the professor amused himself by tossing erasers at the clock.”
About This Quote
Source Short story: anecdote from education blog, 2015
Students used a trick to manipulate the clock, gaining extra time, but the professor countered by making the exam harder, highlighting control over time and fairness.
In simple terms: Students tried to cheat time; professor responded with a tough exam.
Key Takeaway
Beware of trying to game the system.
Themes
education
fairness
time management
authority
cheating
Mood
irritated
reflective
Type
anecdotal
lesson
When to use this quote
- classroom timing
- exam preparation
- teacher-student interactions
Key Concepts
control
ethical dilemmas
power dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- Is cheating worth the risk?
- How should teachers handle subtle rule‑breaking?
A Different Perspective
The professor could have addressed the cheating directly instead of escalating.
