How far will you go to succeed?

The amount of students who are being dishonest with their school work is increasing every year. It's easier and much faster to steal someone’s answers and label it as your own. Some don't think it's cheating if they don't get caught, others know it's cheating and only hope they don't get caught. The majority, however, will think it’s okay because “everyone else is doing it.” Whatever reasons students might give, it’s still the same and they should all pay the consequence.

Why do students cheat is a big question that still has multiple answers to. Clearly it is the quickest and easiest approach to doing just about anything because there is no effort involved. I wanted to discuss this topic because I find it to be very common and very hurtful in the long run. Students tend to take the easy road when it comes to school work because they want to have a social life, or want to keep up the grades the easiest way possible. I find this topic very important because it affects not only the progress of a student but also where they will be academically years down the road.

When someone cheats they don’t need to know the information, nor do they have to take the time to learn the information in the first place. A big factor might be based on the actual probability of getting caught and the penalties following that. If there’s a slim to none chance of ever getting in trouble then what would actually stop them from doing the deed besides maybe high morals. Students who have high academic standards and are afraid of failing will be more prone to cheat so they will keep a high grade point average and maybe later on get into college.

Cheating in school has become such a norm for students that almost everyone is doing it. According to a Duke University survey in 2005, 75 percent of high school students admitted to cheating. That was four years ago and the numbers have greatly increased; especially now with all the new technologies available that make it effortless to cheat. Graphing calculators, cell phones, even iPods are mechanisms to cheating that most students nowadays are already aware of. Do we blame the companies for putting these devices in the hands of students or the students for turning these simplistic devices into cheating tools? Maybe it’s the school systems to blame for not closely watching this outbreak and providing the appropriate consequences.

“Schools need to have zero tolerance policies concerning cheating (About.com: Cheating 101).” Some schools have caught on to the different techniques used to cheat and have banned items that make it easier. Cell phones, hats, even keeping a bottle on top of a desk while taking a test have been forbidden to help put a stop to cheating. Not giving out the same tests each year will help also so the material is new and hard to get the answers. Separating desks so students aren’t in view of each other’s papers is a big factor that will help. Overall, teachers and parents need to make it clear to the students that cheating will not be accepted and there will be consequences to pay. This will help regulate the problem and maybe cause someone to think twice before they look the other way.