<p>Thanksgiving break was a great opportunity to catch up with my S. One upsetting thing I learned is that my S says there’s lots of pressure to cheat at BS, For example, some kids get last years’ tests from upperclassmen (although not permitted) and get away with it. Others don’t do so, but find it increasingly hard to resist given the pressure to perform academically and the low likelihood of getting caught. Is this right answer to have the school be more vigilant on cheaters or change their rule (and allow everyone equal access to prior tests). Other cheating includes homework collaboration/copying, sharing of lab results, and crib sheets.</p>
<p>To be very honest with you:
everyone collaborates/copies homework…it’s not a big deal because if you don’t do the homework you won’t know the material
sharing lab test results won’t help anyone because it’s more than likely that each lab group has different data so a teacher will know
i have no idea what a crib sheet is…
also, getting last years tests from upperclassmen is something everyone does…like if you have an older sibling who took the same class that you’re in…
at my school teachers change the tests every year, and students don’t keep tests ever. only quizzes are kept.</p>
<p>To answer your question, unbeknownst to you the school probably already is vigilant on cheaters…</p>
<p>hmmmmm…wolverine, if you would get in trouble for revealing the sharing of old tests, lab data, whatever, then you are crossing a line. “Collaboration” is fine, study groups are fine, copying homework is not. Grinzing is right to be concerned if there are activities occurring that the school would oppose if it knew about them. Grinzing, this is an excellent learning example for your child who already shows the right instincts for truthfulness and honest learning.</p>
<p>Honesty is the best policy is not a lame expression. Many schools have the students sign an Honor Pledge every year. Cheating is as bad as D&A in the eyes of the Administrations. Talk to your kids about the perils of cheating.</p>
<p>Students who cheat need to be prepared for the “walk of shame” as they are escorted off campus after they are expelled from the school. Not to mention the explanation they need to give to their parents, friends, family, and new school administrators.</p>
<p>It’s not worth it kids. You’re only cheating yourself.</p>
<p>If most kids engage in this behavior, then we should not be surprised it happens in boarding school. </p>
<p>[Is</a> Cheating in High School Normal? | Psych Central News](<a href=“http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/05/17/is-cheating-in-high-school-normal/13876.html]Is”>http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/05/17/is-cheating-in-high-school-normal/13876.html)</p>
<p>Hello, it happens at all schools not just BS. Teachers on top of that game will change up the tests to make them more random. Lazy is the teacher who hands out the same ole tests year after year.
A story to share is a teacher who made his 1st period multiple choice test with all correct answers = A
His 2nd period test had correct answers = A B order.
His 3rd period test had correct answers = 1/2 all As and 1/2 all Bs.
It really messed up the cheaters and did a good job of exposing them.</p>
<p>Good teachers give tests that cheaters cannot cheat. They also let kids know what is expected of them. Multiple choice? Puh-leeze. What happened to the Blue Book, as we called them in college? Seriously, if there is widespread cheater in one particular teacher’s class, it says as much about the teacher as it does the students.</p>
<p>As for homework, sometimes that line is blurred when kids are expected to seek help from other students. Why is it cheating when a roommate shows a student how to work a problem and not when a teacher does?</p>
<p>ssat w/out the essay is a fill in the bubble/multiple choice test.
I`ll take a blue book over a multiple choice test any day, less tricky.</p>
<p>To form study groups, share ideas and learn from each other is actually encouraged, so I don’t think that’s considered cheating at all.</p>
<p>I agree Dandrew. I was referring the OP’s statement:
</p>
<p>I don’t think it’s considered cheating at my son’s school either, but the fear of something being considered cheating might prevent some kids from seeking the help that they could use from other students. Apparently, some people DO consider collaboration to be cheating. I don’t.</p>
<p>I don’t think WolverineWhiz attends a boarding school.</p>
<p>From my daughter’s accounts, her teachers and school are very clear and consistent about definitions of cheating and expectations of academic honesty. The prep schools take it very seriously. By very seriously, I mean, it can get you expelled.</p>
<p>I wonder if the Honor Code varies from school to school or is it pretty similar across the board? </p>
<p>I’d be interested to hear if some schools by reputation are stricter than others or enforce it more. </p>
<p>I know at son’s school, I am surprised that there isn’t more collaboration on HW and studying for tests together. I think the possibility of an honor code violation has scared some kids to the point where they think they have to do everything on their own, when in reality a lot of learning goes on between peers, i.e. isn’t that the methodology behind Harkness? Why is Harkness only good for classes and not outside of classes?</p>
<p>RBGG…strange…Our kid collaborates/studies all the time with friends in the dorm and often has group projects in classes. I know the dorm advisers and heads encourage them to work together when they need to. I agree that collaboration is very much in keeping with the spirit of Harkness. Just copying someone else’s homework wouldn’t do much good when students are expected to put their answers on the board and explain them to the class. Getting help/explanations from others, though, the night before, is all part of the learning process.</p>
<p>Want to see how deep-rooted this problem is in our culture? Only for those who aren’t faint of heart. Read on…</p>
<p>[The</a> Shadow Scholar - The Chronicle Review - The Chronicle of Higher Education](<a href=“http://chronicle.com/article/The-Shadow-Scholar/125329/]The”>http://chronicle.com/article/The-Shadow-Scholar/125329/)</p>
<p>Prep–my husband was just reading that out loud to our bs son, home from break. Wasn’t it inspiring to learn that his biggest customers are ed. school students?</p>
<p>I loved Maddog’s story of the teacher who mixed up the answers on successive tests for the day. I also agree that teachers ideally will not rely on the exact same test year after year. </p>
<p>In response to OP’s question "Is this right answer to (…) allow everyone equal access to prior tests). " - I do remember in college, the university actually did this. It was at the professor’s discretion, but many actually put copies of old tests on file at the main library, available for any student to check out & make a copy. Oftentimes the answers were provided as well. Of course, the actual test you would be taking would not be one of these old tests; everyone knew that. The apparent view of the school was that this policy rewarded those students motivated enough to seek out the old tests as further test prep & took away any unfair advantage from those trying to cheat. </p>
<p>Regarding the day of the actual test, as Neato said, the tests were made such that it really was hard to cheat by talking to kids who took it earlier in the day. </p>
<p>We also had bluebooks. A quick story. I remember one English teacher who told us precisely the the essay question that would be on the test. He even wrote it on the board, and we all duly copied it down. Unfortunately for me, I was overloaded with studying and, apart from a few minutes thought about an answer, did not have time to outline one or look up notes. The day of the test, we all arrived with our bluebooks. Some had already filled them out, smug in thinking that they could just sit there during the test without a worry. Cheating, yes - it was prohibited to come to class with anything but a completely blank bluebook. The professor wrote the exam question on the board - a completely different question, and there was a huge groan. He grinned. I was relieved.</p>
<p>Prep–Wow…very interesting article.</p>
<p>As a college instructor, I find this “cheating” happening many places. I am happy to admit that seldom can my students do this because of the courses I teach, (chemistry). Most of the students work is done in class, lab work. Extended responses are written in class during class!</p>
<p>As a parent, I take on much of the responsibility to my d’s point of view on cheating. It has been ingrained into my d’s head that the grade means almost nothing to me, proven when I removed her from the number 1 grammar school in our city. I home-schooled and put my money where my mouth was and told her it was about the learning…the knowledge gained. </p>
<p>I remember in 2nd grade people would ask her about her grades " I have all A’s except for math a B, and that’s the only one my mom is really proud about, because it is the only one I actually worked for."</p>
<p>Now I totally get why parents are into pressure, thus grades, but it just not my thing. In general, society feels grades are important and they are the measurement that many decisions are based on, some colleges for example. </p>
<p>But my family values, honesty, good citizenship, hard work, commitment to others, value of others, friendship. Those core beliefs are the bases on how my d was raised. Will she be faced with making decisions on this idea in years to come, YEAP! Will it be difficult --surely. But my only hope is that she will stay true to herself and to what she knows to be right.</p>
<p>Others find it strange when, my d is asked how she is doing academically, she responds “I am doing well, keeping up and learning everyday in every class”. But what they really want to know is GPA. In spite of my “non-grade” emphasis, my d does extremely well grade wise, perfect no way. She is constantly striving for more knowledge and learning.</p>
<p>If more parents put the focus on “learning” I truly believe that more of our kids would be educated.</p>
<p>IMHO</p>
<p>A Senior at Exeter was expelled this week for plagiarism. This problem is real and schools are serious about it.</p>
<p>Has anyone ever heard of or used writecheck.com?</p>