How to Cheat in Schools

Bibliographic Citation: 
Pytel, Barbara. "How To Cheat In Schools: Cell Phones and iPods Are the Newest Modes for Cheating | Suite101.com." Educational Issues: Go back to school to discuss bullying, dyslexia, ADD, testing, violence in the classrooms, PTA, virtual schools, budget cuts, and technology vs pedagogy. | Suite101.com. 30 Apr. 2007. 30 Oct. 2009 <http://educationalissues.suite101.com/article.cfm/cheating_in_schools>.
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How To Cheat In Schools
How To Cheat In Schools
Barbara Pytel

Cell Phones and iPods Are the Newest Modes for Cheating

Read more: http://educationalissues.suite101.com/article.cfm/cheating_in_schools#ix...

Schools are banning cell phones and iPods because students are using these devices to cheat on tests.

The Past

The Baby Boomer generation occasionally cheated by asking a friend for a few answers on homework. There were those glances at "Richard's" test because he always did well. And, when desperate after being ill, a few may have asked to copy an entire assignment. When caught, there was shame and parents were horrified that their child was not being honest.
Today

Cheating is not only continuing in schools today, but it is much more frequent and bold. Students go on MSN at home and compare answers. They sit in the commons area in school and copy an assignment in the presence of peers. Some go into lockers and take another student's completed work and pass it off as their own leaving their friend stranded with a zero for a grade. And, when parents are told that their child was caught cheating, the reaction can be surprising. Many parents are still extremely disappointed in their child, but some deny their child could do such a thing. Some parents even use this incident to accuse the teacher of lying or finding fault with the assignment as unreasonable and anyone with a brain would cheat just to complete it.
ACT and SAT Tests

Cheating is becoming so accepted that parents actually pay someone to cheat for their child on ACT or SAT tests. A fake ID is made and the professional cheater will take the SAT for a high school student who wants to get into a more prestigious school than high school efforts will allow. It may cost $800 or more, but the end seems to justify the means.
Cell Phones

Many school districts have banned cell phones. Silent Ringers on cell phones enable students to call each other and text answers without teachers hearing them. New York City is being sued by parents claiming that children are not safe unless they have cell phones. Italy has joined in the ban of cell phones. While safety may be an issue on rare occasions, students are using camera phones to:

* cheat on tests
* arrange drug deals
* arrange fights for YouTube
* harass other students in locker rooms and bathrooms
* call a friend during class time
* harass teachers

After school, students load the camera video onto a website for the world to enjoy the debasing of students or teachers. This has become a new form of harassment, Cyber-Bullying.

Read more: http://educationalissues.suite101.com/article.cfm/cheating_in_schools#ix...