The boy needs the class to graduate but he spends class time chatting with a friend, texting and checking Facebook updates. He does not hand in homework. He fails 3 out of 5 exams and then gets a 51 on the final. He finds his grade and is devastated. He fires off an e-mail begging the teacher to pass him or to at least give him extra work to get him through.
The teacher answers no. You'd think a boy ready to graduate would know better.