Cheating can be a lifelong habit. Have you ever witnessed someone cheating? Cheating comes in many forms. Sometimes students will copy other students' homework. At another time, a student might copy answers for a test from another student or get hints about a test from another student who has already taken the same test because they have the same teacher. How should these students feel? The student who helps the cheater is also a cheater whether he or she realizes it. In addition, the student enabling the copying is allowing his or her hard work to be STOLEN by a lazy student (who may have a sad story to cover up his or her basic laziness and greed). The cheater should feel embarrassed or ashamed but often does not because he or she rationalizes that others do it, so it's all right. Come on. There is no legitimate excuse for cheating. It's wrong. There aren't that many black-and-white answers in this world but this is one of them. The cheater not only steals from a fellow student but also steals from himself or herself. That student has robbed himself / herself of the opportunities to learn and to feel pride in the work produced. Finally, the student who gets away with cheating in high school will probably continue to cheat as life goes on. Take a close look at the photo which accompanies this blog entry. Do you want to be one of the cheaters pictured? Take a stand against cheating, starting right now. Don't do it - and don't help someone do it.
