We’re Going To Go Out On A Limb And Assume This Student Failed

Reading this story reminded me of an interaction with a well-loved chemistry teacher from my school, and how I discovered that he had a wicked sense of humor.

We were being told what to expect for an upcoming midterm, and one of the less-bright students was constantly interrupting to ask incredulous variations of the question:

Student: “Is that really going to be on the midterm?”

This finally ended with the question:

Student: “Can we just… get a copy of the midterm?”

He chuckled and replied:

Teacher: “Sure, but it’ll cost you an arm and a leg!”

I raised my hand and, staring at the back of the first student’s head, asked:

Me: “Does it have to be YOUR OWN arm and leg?”

He had to dismiss class two minutes early because he couldn’t stop laughing.