Accounting teacher accusing me of cheating, what should I do?

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.

Answer 1

Sounds pretty bad. After all that i'm pretty convinced you didn't cheat. It's kind of understandable that someone thinks you're cheating when they see a perfect assignment. But if you even offer to do the work in front of her, I don't see what the problem is. If it bothers you that much you should probably take up the matter with someone higher up - like the school principal or someone. Or else, just forget it, she's probably jealous of you..take no notice.

hmm, and i don't think a monkey could do those Excel functions :)

Answer 2

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 3

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 4

Simple; go to the chair head of her department. Tell him that you are willing to sit down with her/him, your teacher and yourself and demonstrate that you know what you are doing. Otherwise you are going to file a lawsuit with the State Board of Education. They'll allow you to show your stuff. I've had to do this several times for different reasons in my academic career.