boy calls 911 for math homework

Watch CBS News

911 dispatcher helps child who called for math homework help

By Caitlin O'Kane

January 29, 2019 / 1:22 PM EST / CBS News

A police dispatcher in Lafayette, Indiana, is being praised for her kindness toward a caller last week. Antonia Bundy received a call from a child and asked what his emergency was. His problem was not the typical emergency Bundy normally deals with, but she still helped the boy out.

"You had a bad day at school?" Bundy asked when the boy told her why he was calling.

"Yeah. I just came to tell you that," he said.

''When he told me he was having a bad day and I asked him what was troubling him he told me that he had homework," Bundy told CBS affiliate WLFI-TV . "And at that point, I was able to determine that it was more of a 'I need help with homework' than an actual emergency."

Bundy was glad she wasn't too busy and she could focus on helping the boy with his homework. "I've always been good at math. All the way through high school I enjoyed it. So it was something I was very happy I could help him with," she said.

The boy read her the problem — what is 3x4 + 1x4 — and Bundy walked him through the steps to solve it. She said the brief interaction was a nice break to her otherwise busy day.

"It kind of takes the pressure off of it a little bit. Not too much, but just a little bit to be able to relax to take a step back and truly figure out what he needed and truly spend time with him and assist him in the best way I could."

Usually, the emergencies she deals with are much worse, so a math problem was a welcome change. The boy said that was the only problem he needed help with, then thanked Bundy for her assistance.

"I'm sorry for calling you, but I really needed help," he told her.

"You're fine. We're always here to help," Bundy replied.

The dispatcher has dedicated her life to helping others, and this proves she goes above and beyond to do so.

Caitlin O'Kane is a New York City journalist who works on the CBS News social media team as a senior manager of content and production. She writes about a variety of topics and produces "The Uplift," CBS News' streaming show that focuses on good news.

More from CBS News

Why some Ohio school districts are arming teachers and staff with firearms

A yearslong journey documenting the bedrooms of school shooting victims

Proposal would allow Bible teachings in Texas public grade schools

Video shows Las Vegas dad who called 911 killed by police in his home

Shawano County deputy subtracts confusion from young math student's homework

by Ashley Kaster, FOX 11 News

SHAWANO (WLUK) -- A 911 call in Shawano County added up to math homework help from an unlikely source.

The sheriff's office says last week dispatch received a call from a 10-year-old who said he needed help with his math homework.

The boy said his family "wasn't very good at math either."

Deputy Mason indicated in his report, "personally, I am also not overly proficient when it comes to math, but nonetheless, I responded to assist."

With the help of Deputy Mason, the two were able to work together and solve the decimal related math problems.

The student was given a business card and was told deputies are always here to help, but next time, he should use the non-emergency line if it's not a life-threatening situation.

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

AGRICULTURE

Shawano County Boy Calls 911 For Homework Help

Scott Davidson / CC

SHAWANO, WI (WSAU) — A Shawano County student stuck on a math problem took a non-traditional means of getting help last week.

He called 911.

According to a Facebook post, the student said neither he nor his family was “very good at math,” and called the emergency line for help.

Deputy Mason was dispatched to help the unidentified boy although by his own admission he “[was] not overly proficient when it comes to math, but nonetheless, I responded to assist.”

Last week, Deputy Mason responded to an unusual 911 call. This call came from a 10-year-old who called to say that he… Posted by Shawano Sheriff's Office on Tuesday, November 19, 2024

After helping with the decimals problem, Deputy Mason gave the boy his business card and a reminder that the 911 line should be reserved for life-threatening situations, not homework help.

The post concluded by thanking Deputy Mason for taking the time to help the young man while he was on patrol.