Cheating: Academic Dishonesty and Honor Code
Cheating used to be considered an unmentionable sin. However, in this day and age, it has become more common and somewhat of a daily occurrence. Cheating is more widespread today than in the past. According to the article titled Education: The New Morality, cheating has not been an issue of values, but simply one of practicality. This shows that many view cheating as a mere occurrence and something that can often be skipped over. The reason cheating has become such a pervasive movement is because many students tend to rationalize their cheating behavior. A common rationalization that many students use is, " That 's the only way I 'll get anywhere in life." Many students also tend to incorporate reasons, such as parental pressures, the aim to be the best, and the lack of time, with their dishonest behavior. Since cheating has been a problem in our society, there have been many attempts to rid the world of this problem. Such attempts include creating an honor code, forms of punishment, and possibly a computer-integrated classroom. The terms by which an honor code are defined as are (taken from the article titled A Question of Honor), " something that defines ethical academic conduct with the expectation that students will monitor their peers, report violations, and mete out penalties." An honor code needs to be created by the student body in order to be carried out successfully. By enforcing an honor code, there is a creation of trust within the atmosphere. Not only do teachers trust them more when it comes to their studies, but they are also trust others in daily activities. They can leave their valuables and belongings out and not worry as much about theft and dishonesty. By reinforcing academic integrity, many students tend to weave personal integrity into their daily actions. The other attempt was the way of punishment. Many professors have offered all sorts of punishments ranging from receiving a zero on an assignment/test to possible
Cited: Many ideas are taken from: - Special Millennium Issue/Education: The New Morality: Welcome to the Evil House of Cheat: Large-Scale Testing and the Growing Impersonalization of College Culture Have Opened the Door to a New Breed Ashley Dunn (2-7-1999) - A Question of Honor Michael R. Haskins - The Cheating Game Carolyn Kleiner and Mary Lord - Adults Cheat Too: What started in elementary school Margaret Loftus and Anne Kates Smith