Back-benchers have the additional advantage of reading their favourite comics or story books. They can be part of the Hardy Boys or The Three Investigators! They can play `noughts and crosses'. Even if the teacher notices them, by the time she crosses the sea of bags, the back-benchers have ample time to fold up their operations and become angels! Moreover, as a measure of extreme caution, one of them is always on watch while others frolic.

Teachers are always suspicious of back-benchers but can never pin-point the exact problem because they have their books open in front of them, and appear to be paying the utmost attention to every word that is being uttered by the teacher.

The back-benchers can also send rockets and flick tiny balls carrying interesting messages, to the front-benchers. This happens every time the teacher is facing the blackboard. The front-benchers are distracted by this and the look of innocence is wiped off their faces. They become jittery and very soon the teacher asks a front-bencher what he is up to. This makes him even more nervous and he starts muttering something incoherent, resulting in a punishment. The back-benchers naturally have a good laugh silently.

Unlike the front-benchers, they are more loyal to each other. Whereas the policy of the former is ``Every boy for himself'', the back benchers believe in ``All for one and one for all!''

If any of their kin gets into trouble with the teacher, the backbenchers rise to the occasion, by trying to change the topic of discussion, or diverting the teacher's attention. That is the time when they become really studious and raise some doubt or other in the lesson. The teacher, astonished at a back-bencher taking interest in lessons becomes speechless, at least temporarily.

Beware of the time when the back-benchers are especially quiet or really obedient. That is an indication that something is seriously wrong. The disadvantage of being a back-bencher is that you are totally ignorant of what the teacher is teaching and the net result is poor marks in the exams, unless you are smart enough to mug up answers. Failure or poor marks brings with it disgrace in school and scoldings at home. But that is nothing compared to the thrills of being a back-bencher!