Best Teacher I Ever Had

Mr. Whiston taught sixth-grade science. On the first day of class, hegave us a lecture about a creature called the cattywam-pus, an ill-adapted nocturnal animal that was wipedout during the Ice Age. He passed around a skull as hetalked. We all took notes and later had a quiz. When he returned my paper, I was shocked. Therewas a big red X through each of my answers. I hadfailed. There had to be some mistake. I had written downexactly what Mr. Whiston said. Then I realized thateveryone in the class had failed. What had happened?