CHEATING

TRENDS

Enhanced technology provides many opportunities for cheating that weren't available just a few years ago. (Cell phones, PDAs, music devices, pagers and calculators.)

• "Cheat Sites" are growing on the internet—these are sites where students can download term papers, get help with projects, homework, etc.

• There are sites and software for teachers to help detect plagiarism and cheating; these tools are being used more often to detect cheating in schools.

• Why students cheat: Often students don't "buy-in" to home work assignments.
• Cheating is so widespread on high school campuses that it is considered by many to be the norm.

• The internet provides a seriously tempting option for getting something for less work.

SUGGESTIONS FOR PARENTS

There is a direct correlation between cheating and low self esteem. Most people cheat when they do not know the information, or do not want to spend the time to complete a task on their own and risk failure. Teaching an adolescent how to study and helping them master difficult academic areas will help them build confidence within themselves. Make learning more important than grades—help students see the bigger picture! Parents and teachers need to have zero tolerance policies when it comes to cheating. Don't lie for your teen, or enable illegal or immoral behavior. We, as adults, must be positive role models. We must be honorable in our actions. Everyday we experience situations where we can show our teen how to be people
of honor.