Why did Toby want to distract the teacher?

Toby wanted to distract the teacher to create a diversion that would allow his classmates to engage in some mischief or to avoid being called on for participation in class. He believed that by grabbing the teacher's attention, he could lighten the mood or give his friends a chance to have some fun without getting in trouble. Ultimately, his actions were driven by a desire to break the monotony of the lesson and foster camaraderie among his peers.