Book Dumb: Andy Garvey does try to study, but his mind just can't keep the content on his head, hence his poor grades.
Brilliant, but Lazy: Nellie cheats her way to high marks, but when Alice Garvey figures out she's doing this by hiding notes inside her jacket and makes her attend the final test without it, she later announces that everyone did well this time, implying that she actually got a good mark without cheating, and only does so to avoid the efforts of studying.
Condescending Compassion: Part of what makes Alice hesitant to accept Mrs. Oleson's proposal that Nellie tutor Andy. Harriet never misses a chance to rub the fact that Andy is behind in school despite being the son of the teacher while he daughter is the top student in the most condescending way, but Alice eventually complies to her offer for Andy's sake. Unfortunately, Nellie is a cheater and convinces Andy to do the same.
The Dog Bites Back: After enduring Harriet's condescending remarks about her son and how Nellie is the top student for weeks, Alice has a chance to expose Nellie's cheating in the final exam where Nellie is denied the first prize when she's forced to take the test withtout the jacket where she hid her notes to cheat. Mrs. Oleson is shocked and leaves with Nellie enraged and hitting her all the way home, much to Alice's (and Andy, Albert and Laura's) satisfaction.
Don't Make Me Take My Belt Off!: After Andy confesses to having cheated and his parents have a heart-to-heart conversation where they reassure him that they understand the pressure they put him under, Jonathan decides to "take him out to the barn" to give him a lick offscreen. While Alice is uncertain about whether or not that's necessary, Andy complies and seems happy to purge his guilt.
Education Mama: Alice Garvey is very concerned about her son's low grades, especially because he's her son and she's the schoolteacher. She later admits to being too harsh on him when he admits that he cheated.
My God, What Have I Done?: Andy immediately shows remorse for cheating, though it takes him a while, and a little talk with Charles to finally admit it.
Tears of Remorse: Andy is teary-eyed when he confesses to having cheated in front of his mother and the whole class.
Was Too Hard on Him: What Alice realizes after Andy confesses that he cheated. She was putting so much pressure on him as the son of the teacher that he felt forced to get better grades at all costs, and she was the one who put him under Nellie's tutorage, leading him to be gaslighted into participating in Nellie's scheme.
