You’re Only Cheating Yourself

Dear Ed Inquiry,

I am no longer a new teacher with 7 years in, but for some reason, the cheating that goes on in my high school classes is just starting to really get under my skin. Maybe it’s because I’ve gotten better at detecting it?

I know kids have always cheated, but it seems to have reached epidemic levels with the high achievers as well as the struggling students (I have both).

What gives?

Sincerely,

You’re Only Cheating Yourself

Dear You’re Only Cheating Yourself,

I’m with you!  Every year I have the cheating chat with my students. How I really need to see what they are capable of (besides copying) and how when they cheat, they are robbing themselves of opportunities to learn only to have it fall on deaf ears.

I have come to the conclusion that this is a symptom of a broken system and a product of an overly competitive society.  The idea that only the top dog gets the spoils permeates every aspect of our culture.  Any time the discussion arises, I end with “Smart kids cheat to compete and struggling kids cheat to survive.” 

But, don’t take my word for it. Inside Dateline addresses the issue in this interesting report.  Our kids are under extreme amounts of pressure to make the grade and pass the barrage of tests given to them.

A’s are no longer exceptional; parents and students expect them! However, failure is inevitable at some point in any endeavor, and we must acknowledge that and spin it positively. When our expectations are ridiculous and unreasonable, we create a culture of cheaters.  

Actually, the impulse to cheat isn’t unnatural; it’s innately human.  As educators, if we can recognize that, we should also see it as a cry for help, a chance to help a kid, not just dole out some punitive consequence. 

I found this little gem that I plan to use in my classroom to start the conversation about changing our classroom culture into one where we not only support each other and help each other, but also take responsibility for ourselves, including our shortcomings.  

I want my students to think outside the box instead of being worried about always having to get the right answer. I want more grappling, more questioning, more conversation, less emphasis on grades, and less testing.  In the long run, this is what it will take to reverse the epidemic in cheating. 

Ed Inquiry