WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT CHEATING

The author is Teacher

RICHELL M. TAMBIS

Students cheat for various reasons, one of which is to get good grades. Others cite stress as a reason, even though they do well in their classes.

According to studies, academic dishonesty is becoming rampant, even in prestigious schools. More and more students admit to cheating on tests, while some admit to copying their classmates’homework. A number of students also have admitted to committing plagiarism.

The question now is, how do we stop this practice?

Teachers must first try to identify what motivates students to cheat. Students should also be made to realize that cheating is very wrong, eventhough they see something moral in it. Some tend to think that if they cheat “just a little”, they can maintain some semblance of honesty.

According to researchers, students who cheat can still see themselves as principled people by rationalizing cheating for reasons they see as legitimate.

Honor students, on the other hand, feel pressured, so they rationalize cheating on assignments as having value.

For them, cheating is a way to find an edge against the competition. A so-called cutthroat environment is also a factor in rampant dishonesty in schools.

Research also found that students who receive praise for being smart are more inclined to cheat, because of the expectations other people have from them.

They take risks to cheat, but don’t see the consequences of their actions. They keep doing it, because they think they can get away with it. They also cave in to peer pressure, for fear of being losing their social status in school.

Cheating is now facilitated by the use of technology - which is a sad fact. Students have quick access to the answers they need, at their fingertips. Studies show that technology has made cheating in school easier, more convenient, and harder to catch than ever before.

So what can be done? Teachers may want to turn down the pressure a notch. Students are less likely to cheat on work if they feel encouraged to think critically and expand on class discussions. They should also be careful about the language they use, like praising children for being smart instead of praising them for their efforts and progress. Motivate students instead and this would lessen cheating.

Help students process their motivations, goals, and actions. Should they cheat or lie just to achieve goals? Push students to consider the steps they take to get the outcomes they desire.

Most importantly, teachers should talk about ethical behavior in class. Apart from enforcing rules and consequences, teachers should know what really motivates students to cheat, which can help them foster integrity in the classroom.

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I at Dela Paz Norte Elementary School