For Monday, Oct. 11:
Please read Mark Clayton's piece, "A Whole Lot of Cheatin' Going On," in Presence (pg. 198) and join the debate.
Respond with your opinion and cite a fact Clayton brings up in his article.
The question we'll debate is this: Should LSC's student newspaper, The Critic, publish stories naming students who are disciplined for academic dishonesty at Lyndon State?
I'll go first:
Yes, The Critic should publish the names of cheaters. Academic dishonesty is the collegiate version of fraud. Our daily newspaper, the Caledonian-Record, frequently runs stories about people convicted of fraud. Publication serves two purposes: it informs readers about a matter of great public interest (crime), and it acts as a deterrent by letting potential fraudsters know they'll be shamed in public if they are caught. Publishing the names of academic cheaters would serve similar purposes. As Clayton points out (pg. 201), the student newspaper at the University of Southern California covers cheating cases. The Critic should, too.
Your turn!
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In Clayton's article, a student states, “’Cheating is an answer. It might not be a good answer, but none the less it is an answer.’(198)" My opinion on cheating is that it is something that is not preventable. Students get stressed with the amount of work or the toughness of the work they are given, so they turn to cheating as an answer to their problems. Cheating is a negative thing, but as Clayton states, over 80% of students have cheated in one way or another, and that number is probably higher. Even though students know and understand it is a negative thing, not many see the consequences of getting caught. I think the Critic should publish information about cheaters, but not necessarily use the student’s name. Students should understand and see examples of what happens if they do not go by the Lyndon State handbook.
ReplyDeleteIn Clayton's article, he states, "...found that 66 percent of the parents of these tops students said cheating was 'not a big deal.'(199)" If the parents don't think it is that big of a deal, then the students may not have learned not to cheat. I understand that isn't an excuse, but they should know better no matter what. I agree with Kayla that there should be information in The Critic about plagiarism but not the names of the students who committ it. Although it is a lot like fraud, it is more of a learning experience for those who plagiarize.
ReplyDeleteI dont think the school should post the names of people who have cheated in the critic. chances are that if a person cheats they will be scrutinized by their peers and their teachers. In the article it said that 80% of people have cheated at some point, not to say its a good thing but for such a common offense it shouldnt be blown out of perportion. people should be punished by their school and then leave it at that without potentially putting a dent in the future of the person caught cheating, the critic would start t look like a yearbook after a while at that rate...-Dylan Rediker
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