Accounting teacher accusing me of cheating!?

Question

Here's the deal. We've only had 1 week of school. The teacher assigned us an accounting problem to be done in Excel spreadsheet. I had no problem with this because my 1st accounting class required you to do ALL your work in Excel and it had to be perfect(perfect format, formulas in the appropriate cells etc.) so since I was told that this would be expected of me in any future accounting class, I have used this format for everything. Because of these things I am being told that the work is not mine and that I copied it from the solutions manual. I asked her to tell me what parts of the spreadsheet make her assume that it wasn't my work and she said stuff like the format, and the formulas used in the cells, basically the stuff that was drilled into my head in my first class. I guess she assumes that I wouldnt know how to use Excel and that I wouldn't prepare the spreadsheet professionally because quote "other students did not present the same similarities"

I have asked her to show me how she wants me to prepare my spreadsheets in the future to prove that I am working on it, (I spent 4 hours on it for crying out loud) and she will not help. She has set her mind to believe that I am a cheater and that's it. She said that if this is only my basic knowledge of how to prepare a spreadsheet and to get the problems right then this will prove itself on the test. Till then she will make my life hell. The test is a few weeks away. I've offered to come into her office and work my homework in front of her but she refuses. What else am I suppose to do?

For those who doubt me, I REALLY do know the formulas, however, the only formula needed and was used was the sum function, example =sum(d8,f8) or subtraction =sum(d8-f8), even a monkey could do it.

This is the first assignment of the semester. I'm not as concerned with the grade as I am about the reputation that will be placed on my record. Should I fight her on this or immediately go to the dean?

Answer 1

I have observed similar problems in a high school and a graduate school. You MUST go talk to the head of the department and the dean of students or the very least your advisor or counselor. An accusation of cheating can be damaging if it ends up on your transcript. Also she may not grade your tests fairly. This teacher sounds like she is crazy and unreasonable. You need to go higher up and document this on paper before you go to the higher ups. As hard as it is, please remember to be calm, don't get angry, emotional or have an accusatory tone when talking to the head of the department and the dean of student- you want to give them a good reason and argument to support you. Keep a good attitude (hard.. but you've gotta do it).
1) Bring the work you did from the previous class.
2) Write down all the things you offered to do for this teacher and all the attempts you made in communicating with her.
3) Ask your dean or head of department " I need your help and advice on what is the best way to handle this situation"
I am sure they will be supportive.

Things like this happen a lot in the "real world" so it will be good experience for you to learn how to deal with things like this.

Good luck!

Answer 2

It sure sounds like the teacher has her mind made up.
However, do you REALLY know the formulas or are they just stored in copies of the spreadsheets? If you really know the formulas, the next time she says something about it, tell her to get off your back and wait for the test. Or better yet, give you the test NOW, so you can prove that you know what you are talking about.

Answer 3

Have your parents contact her and talk to her with you there. If she still accuses you of cheating, and won't back down on her theory, she has to have positive proof. After you explain your side of the story in front of her and your parents, and she won't budge, go to an authority above her, the principal. The truth will eventually come out. She can't go around accusing you of something that you are not guilty of. Bad form!

Answer 4

Depending upon how the politics work at your school, you could try speaking with the head of the department about the issue. Or, if you took your first accounting class at the same school and your teacher is still there, talk to your Accounting I instructor and see if he/she will talk to your current instructor about how you did in the previous course.

Good luck!

Answer 5

I will go to the department head and file a grievance. I shall try to document what was said when your talk to the professor. If this will not help, then I shall go to the business dean.

Check with your College Appeal process.

Answer 6

You will want to explain to her that you took a class that involved this, and name off the top of your head the formats and appropriate cells and things, so she sees that you do just know this stuff.
And if you have some kind of record of this past class, show it to her, that would really help!

Answer 7

If you still have samples of the work you've done for the other class, show her those... there'll be enough similarity in all of them that she should recognize that you've consistently done them that way. If you can't do that, ask her to assign another worksheet, and show her (while she watches, if possible) that you DO know how Excel works.

Answer 8

Explain the situation to your old accounting teacher and ask him/her to talk to your new teacher.

Answer 9

Time to get a lawyer or go to your teacher's boss.

Answer 10

haha you are a cheating whore and got caught. turn to stripping to support yourself and your seven welfare kids

quit whining about it and drink some drano or throw yourself down an elevator shaft