The problem of the behavior of the teenagers is the problem of the schools and their teachers, who should follow and correct this behavior. The book “Nothing but the Truth” by Avi is a good example of the conflict between teenager, whose behavior was awful, and a teacher who wanted to correct it without investigating the causes but sending the problem to Superintendent of the school. I agree with the second student who sees Philip as the wrongdoer because of a) his spoiled and uncontrollable behavior, b) the lies which created a lot of problems to Miss Narwin, an English teacher, and c) consequences as results of his action which ruined the teacher’s reputation.
His spoiled character and his behavior were awful because he did not want to study English class owning to the fact that “Classic literature is boring and stupid”. Philip Malloy’s attitude was directed by his bad upbringing and consideration Miss Narwin as “so dumb” because she did not understand his joke. Philip tried to protest the English studying by contradicting that he liked math, and that “the exam he wanted to study for was math”, Philip wanted to attract teacher’s attention, as if he wanted to say, “Look at me! I am popular among the classmates without your English classes!” The teenager psychology subscribes that to be cool is the main aim of his life, and that he knows a lot without these lessons. He made the clown of himself in the class with the only purpose – to irritate Miss Narwin. In spite of being intelligent “Who was calling who”, his spoiled character was demonstrated trough his laziness and rebellion to sacrifices for English class.
Another thing that becomes clear is that being a liar, Philip tried to slander his teacher in the eyes of the whole society. Philip Malloy sang the National anthem during Miss Narwin’s classes not due to the fact of his “patriotism” as he presented, but for the reason that he wanted to “annoy her”. Even though from very beginning Philip new the truth, he was tiring to manipulate Nati.