LIFESTAMPS ... lifelong lessons: PRACTICING MAL-s

I had warned the whole class on my first contact with them and had taken my time to let them in on what could make us work together and achieve a common goal: their success. I went ahead to briefly caution them as they got set to write a test they never prepared for or even saw coming. I was to give them a surprise test and I knew how it felt to be unprepared for a test prepared for you. That did not deter me anyway. The word of caution had been sounded weeks ago and a word is usually enough for the wise.

We started the test and I was invigilating the whole class all by myself. It was a large class. I had my sensitivity tuned to the highest and I watched for every slight indication of illegality. I walked majestically around the silent class trying to read the expressions on their various faces. Some were uneasy, some confused, others indifferent. I took time to watch the time and still concentrate on maintaining order. Just then I noticed a movement and I called out in the direction.

The supposed culprit pretended not to hear me and I grew angry. I motioned to his neighbour to tap him and I asked him to come forward. He came and I seized his test sheet, squeezed it and flung it through the partly open window pane. In few seconds it had hit the ground of the parking lot down below. We were on the first floor of the two-storey building. I wasn’t appeased yet. I felt slighted.

“Didn’t I warn you beforehand”, I barked at him

“I am sorry sir.” he feverishly replied

I was mad at him. Why would he do such a thing? He was taking me for granted. I make it a point of duty to keep my word and mean whatever I say and here he was trying to take me for a ride. I asked him to leave because I wasn’t going back on the incidence. He had already recorded a failed test. I know many of my student hadn’t seen me in that fit before but it was me alright. Many of them could have been wondering who must have annoyed me earlier in the day. If only they knew what happened in primary four (4) green, back in primary school, they would have known that nobody aroused my temper.

I went to a school where it was a taboo, though unwritten, for a girl to top the class. We were made to believe that apex positions were for boys and we didn't relent in striving to attain and keep the position amongst ourselves. There was this girl named Kemi. She never gave us the breathing space we needed and silent as I was I hated her topping the class. We were normally handicapped in positions once she is at her game. I was her seat mate and I hurt the most because it was like shoving dirt in my face.

One day however, it was an examination morning and we had taken our normal seating positions. The examination papers went round and silence enveloped the class. It was time to withdraw from our internal academic banks. We got to work and shortly after the start time I noticed she pulled up her short gown and written all over her laps were scribbles of whatever they were. She looked down and up again and her paper began filling up. I checked to make sure I was seeing clearly. Could this be true? She didn't even act like I was there. I was fuming right inside. So this is how she tops the class? I couldn't contain it. I felt my hand drop its licensed activity for the moment as it rose above my head signaling for attention.

“Excuse me teacher”, I heard the words form on my lips

“She is copying”, I said as I pointed to my seat mate.

Kemi would not forget that day in a hurry as she was trashed and caned beyond what I expected. I watched as she got stripes for cheating. I felt for her because I had my own scribbles on the wooden desk we shared. The desk was covered with many ink scribbles but it was easy to make out the ones specific for the exam. I couldn't even use the scribbles again. It felt like any attempt to look, I would get the same punishment of even worse.

I shelved the idea of copying for that exam and I really can’t remember when last I took the idea back down from the shelf. I grew to hate malpractice especially in examinations and the fear of ever being caught kept me sane.

I remember an attempt in Biology Theory during the 1999 WASSCE, I was confused about an answer to a question. I knew it had to be either commensalism or symbiosis but I couldn't place my hand on it. Just then I heard someone ask the class monitor the same question and with all confidence he gave the answer. I wrote it down. The moment the examination finished I rushed to check the correct answers, as was our custom back then, lo and behold, the class monitor was wrong!

Who was I to blame? He wasn't talking to me neither did he even know I was eavesdropping. I was so angry with myself and the lack of confidence I had that I made up my mind NEVER again to get help whether I failed or not. I would rather celebrate my own failure or success than bank on another’s word, correct or not. I grew with that caution and determination and throughout my higher institution days I proved to myself that I could do it just like others and even better. I never sought a second opinion in the hall and every result I got, was my product. I am not thinking or assuming. I decided and for all the years I spent in school, what I did to Kemi and the lesson I learnt from the Biology exam helped me to trust God for my success. Need I say that He (God) never failed me? I might have failed once but he never did.

I have friends who decided not to cheat in exam halls based on my counsel and they failed the exams either because they never prepared well or the examinations were already compromised beyond their efforts. Failed or not, we all know what is right and doing the right thing would never ever be wrong, not in this world, not anywhere else. It may not favour us or grant us our wants and desires but knowing that we have the strength to do right is enough in itself.

I hate and detest and distaste any form of malpractice and inequality especially when it has to do with qualifying for a higher level of achievement of attainment. I believe in merit. Not that I haven’t failed before, I sure have but I did with dignity. That is what is called living by Gods available grace.

My students might have come to know that I am just in accessing them as much as I can afford but they may not know that what I say and do is how I have lived all the days I went through what they are going through. I would not lower my standard on that principle even though some think it is wickedness.

I know for sure that it is hard to practice right and practice it consistently but we can if only we try and try hard enough and for the better part of it, it is not impossible!

I have lost jobs, been denied favours, being looked down upon and even quarreled on the basis of being firm on curbing forms of malpractice. It has never been funny but I lived through it. You certainly can. Only try.