The attitude of knowing what the teacher expected and shirking it off because he knew he could get away with it. But also taking it a step further and turning in the assignment the way that he did knowing it would likely piss him off.
Your whole premise is based on this kid reading minds. Knowing the instructors intent despite what the instructor gave them, knowing it would piss the instructor off.
As I said before, its arbitrary and capricious. You keep trying to use a business analogy with this, and it doesn't work. First, the kid isn't an employee....he is paying to be there. Second, I don't know what kind of contractual law you are talking about, but judges generally would side with whoever is in the kid's position if the contract is arbitrary and capricious. There are laws as to what constitutes a binding, enforceable contract. Your analogy is wrong