Numerous speakers at a recent conference acknowledged that cheating has become an all-encompassing issue in the corporate sector, athletics, and schools. The Cheating Culture, a new publication by David Callahan that served as the inspiration for the conference, asserts that students are engaging in cheating more frequently, more seriously, and are being encouraged towards academic dishonesty by society, parents, and even teachers. For more information on The Cheating Culture, including how to purchase the book, reader stories, and an integrity test, visit our website to determine your level of honesty.
Educators who participated in the forum on February 18 echoed these concerns. According to Virginia Secretary of Education Belle S. Wheelan, "We teach children not to be the best they can be, but to surpass their competition." Wheelan addressed the group of educators and researchers at the forum, emphasizing that in today’s world, those who hold the power also dictate the rules. Consequently, the pursuit of success becomes the ultimate goal.
The forum, titled "Are We a Nation of Cheaters?," was organized by the Ethics Resource Center in Washington and the research and advocacy group Demos based in New York City. Wheelan stated that there are four primary reasons behind student cheating, with competition being the first one. Students are pressured by educators and parents to solely focus on their grades rather than learning, which creates a culture where cheating is considered a survival strategy.
The second reason, as argued by Wheelan, is the lack of academic preparedness among students compared to previous generations. Consequently, cheating becomes the only perceived option to navigate through school. Additionally, poor study habits aggravate this issue.
Wheelan stated that the third reason students cheat is simply that they have not been taught that it is morally wrong. Schools lack the necessary punitive measures to instill this lesson. Instead of failing students for cheating, they are often given the opportunity to redo the assignment. However, Wheelan believes that if a student is caught cheating, schools should not hesitate to fail them for that particular assignment.
Lastly, Wheelan stated that students are motivated to cheat by the thrill of not getting caught. It provides a sense of excitement and satisfaction for some students.
In the chapter titled "Cheating From the Starting Line" in The Cheating Culture, the author Callahan delves into the issue of dishonesty in the field of education. He focuses on two prestigious high schools in New York City and the immense pressures associated with gaining admission to these schools and subsequently securing a spot in top-tier colleges. The environment at these schools, according to Callahan, fosters the notion that if you don’t cheat, you will fall behind those who do. The chapter also highlights cheating on exams and the hiring of professional tutors by parents, who may inadvertently enable cheating.
The chapter cites an annual survey sponsored by Who’s Who Among American High School Students, revealing a steady increase in cheating over the past two decades, particularly among high-achieving students. Callahan notes that young individuals seem to receive conflicting messages of "just say no" in certain situations, but "do whatever it takes" in others. Consequently, cheating is seen as an acceptable solution.
Other factors contributing to the rise in cheating include the choice of teachers to ignore instances of cheating, as revealed by a study conducted by Donald McCabe, a professor of management at Rutgers University. This study surveyed 4,500 high school students, with almost half of them stating that they believed their teachers ignored students who were cheating.
