Students Reflect on Cheating to Succeed

by Alicia Ptak

It’s a taboo in every classroom, and students have been drilled with no cheating policies since first grade, yet students at Hudson High still cheat. Out of 140 students surveyed, 53 said they do not cheat, while 87 admit they do.

Out of the 53 that said they did not cheat, 42% say they do not consider cheating to be bad. Seventy percent of the students who said they do not cheat did not consider copying homework, changing answers on a test while self grading, and other actions to be cheating.

Of the students who said they do cheat, 71% said they believe cheating is bad. If half of students who cheat think it’s bad, why do they continue?

One student, who most commonly cheats by copying other students’ homework and cheating off of surrounding students, feels she mostly cheats because she thinks it’s her only way of doing well. “I know I shouldn’t cheat, but I need good grades so I can get into a good college,” says the student. “I don’t think I’m smart enough to get the grades I need, and teachers make it harder sometimes because some are really tough graders.

I know I’m only hurting myself because I’m not actually learning anything,” she says. “And, when I get to college, I’ll have no help and will probably end up failing. It sucks because cheating seems to be the only way to get the grades I need for a future, but it’ll probably end up ruining my chances of succeeding in college.”

Students feel the pressure of getting into a good college and also feel pushed to do well by their parents. “Sometimes I cheat on quizzes and tests because I need to get a good grade on something,” says another student. “I always feel like I’m being pressured by my parents and teachers to do well in school, and sometimes my grade depends on doing well on a test, so I choose to cheat. I’m not proud of it, but I’ll keep doing it if it means I can get the grade I need.”

Even students who don’t cheat still find themselves involved with it. “I don’t cheat, but sometimes I’m really tempted to. I know that I won’t actually learn anything if I do cheat, so I try not to. But, if someone asks to copy my homework, I let them. I know it’s wrong, but kids get angry and give you crap for not helping them.”

Other students agree that they feel pressured into helping other students, especially their friends. “My friends rag on me when I refuse to show them my work. If it’s my good friend and I know they’re struggling in the class, then I feel like it’s okay to let them cheat off of me because I’m just helping them out.”

Interviewed students commonly agreed that it’s easy to get away with cheating. Most students said they have yet to be caught cheating or have not gotten in trouble for it. Principal Brian Reagan said that only six cases have been dealt with on an administrative level this school year in regards to cheating, although the survey distributed to students showed that 61% of students surveyed do actively cheat.

When the administration handles these cases, they become part of the student’s record. This record has an effect on college applications, eligibility for sports and other school activities, and admittance to the National Honors Society.

Guidance Counselor and Advisor of the National Honors Society Megan Dubay says that a cheating record has an effect when applying to the National Honors Society. “The Faculty Committee looks at the disciplinary record of applicants, and from there we decide who to accept,” says Dubay. “If there is a record of cheating, we look to see the situation and if the student has learned from the experience. Then, the faculty discusses whether the student is still eligible for induction.” Dubay says that the seriousness of the offense affects the likelihood of being accepted into National Honors Society.

But being punished for cheating doesn’t guarantee that cheating will end. “A few years ago I got caught cheating in school and got in huge trouble,” says one student. “I just needed to get a good grade on my final test. I never thought I’d get caught. Now I’m just more sneakier with how I cheat. Since I got in trouble, I’ve been more careful so that I don’t get caught again. I don’t think cheating can be stopped. I got punished for it, and it never stopped me.”

83% don’t think copying homework is cheating

56% don’t think talking to someone who has already taken the test is cheating

49% don’t think changing answers while self grading is cheating

7% don’t think using a cell phone is cheating

19% don’t think taking or finding a test is cheating