I made my son’s volcano project for him: is that so bad?
Editors' DilemmaOctober 28, 2026· Be the first to vote
A story made up by our editors to get the debate going, not a real account.
My side
My ten-year-old had to turn in a volcano model for school. He started on Sunday night, the night before, of course. At 9 p.m., he was crying over a shapeless lump of salt dough. I sent him to bed and finished it myself: crater, painted lava flow, a little info sign, and even vinegar and baking soda for the eruption. He got an A, and the teacher showed it to the other classes. My husband says I cheated for him and that it doesn’t teach him anything. I think I saved an evening and an exhausted kid.
Their side
My husband explains that our son had known about the project for three weeks. By finishing it for him, I taught him that all it takes is crying at 9 p.m. for an adult to take over. He adds that the A isn’t really our son’s, and that the other kids turned in models they made alone, sometimes less pretty ones.
So, who's wrong?
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