Glad You Caught Your Error, Space Cadet

When I was in junior high school, my science teacher tested us by having us list all (then) nine planets in order from the Sun. I made out my numbered list, but I added “(Asteroid Belt)” un-numbered, between Mars and Jupiter.

When I got my paper back, everything from Mars to Uranus had been marked with a check, indicating that they were incorrect, but the checkmarks had been scribbled out.

I realized that the teacher had let his aide grade the papers and that she wasn’t reading them. She undoubtedly had a correct list that she compared my work to and checked off anything that didn’t match. Then, she saw “9. Pluto” on my paper at the end of her list and actually read my answers.

That was the point where I stopped expecting my work (other than essays) to be read.