Saturday, April 19, 2008

Moral Dilemma

Question for you....

If someone in your class is cheating, would you mention it to the professor or administrator?

I have an idea on what I'm planning to do, but I'm curious on your thoughts?

14 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Probably not to be honest, as long as their grade doesn't have an effect on my own.

I don't know why this would be my stance, but it would.

3:37 PM  
Blogger Rich | Championable said...

Would you report a robbery?

Would you report a shoplifter?

What if someone took a shortcut in a marathon... would you turn them in?

4:01 PM  
Blogger Yondalla said...

If you go to the administrator you will almost certainly be sent back to the professor.

I might write a post about dealing with cheating in the classroom, it is complicated. Not the issue itself, but what to do about about it. I find that the things that I can do to make cheating difficult don't serve the interests of the good students. Be prepared to find that your professor is not surprised and doesn't do much of anything about it -- depending upon how egregious it is and what sort of evidence you have.

Sign,
Associate Professor Yondalla

8:06 PM  
Blogger Jenny said...

I did my undergraduate degree at a school with a honor system (& one that actually worked). However, I probably wouldn't turn someone in, simply because I like to avoid conflict. But, I would not like myself over it.

8:17 PM  
Blogger Mrs. Chili said...

I'm sorry, Steve; is this an either/or choice (teacher OR administrator), or a "do I or don't I" choice?

Speaking as a teacher, I say report it, even if you have to do it anonymously. This person's cheating devalues EVERYONE'S work, and even if it didn't, it's still wrong.

9:40 PM  
Blogger Jeff and Charli Lee said...

Good question. On one hand I agree with Dan. On the other hand, I don't see any harm in dropping an anonymous note to the prof that simply says, "you may want to keep an eye on student X, it appears that he is cheating."

10:32 AM  
Blogger Whit said...

Why? Are you afraid someone is going to turn you in?

Just kidding.

I don't think I'd turn them in unless it effected me or another student. It will come back to them in some way.

1:54 PM  
Blogger Amie Adams said...

Tough call. I'm with Whit in my hopes that it will come back to bite them later. You know, karma and all (I hope).

9:14 PM  
Blogger Papa Bradstein said...

Depends.

How much is it worth to them for you to keep quiet?

What?

You are getting your MBA, right? I figured this sort of thing would have been covered in the first term--contract negotiations.

9:54 PM  
Blogger georgia said...

What is the school's policy on cheating? That's to be considered.

Also, is the person cheating or are they using all available resources at their disposal? It really might depend on how one spins the situation.

In the end, I'm a goody-goody at heart and would most likely send an anonymous message to the professor.

1:23 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

You're working towards an MBA if I remember correctly. If a person cheats in school, then they're pretty likely to cheat once they move beyond school, which in this case would be the business world. On the one hand, this kind of behavior may come back to bite them in the ass with repercussions that far surpass those that could be handed down by a university. On the other hand, a cheater in the business world can likely do a great deal of harm to other people (coworkers, clients, investors, etc) before they get caught. With that in mind, I have to wonder if it wouldn't be good to shine the light on them now. It's a tough call. Myself, I'm enrolled in a seminary...not on the priesthood track, but still...but I'd be a bit extra bothered if I discovered cheating going on. I think I'd probably have to confront the person directly if I was certain of what they were doing.

11:15 AM  
Blogger Creative-Type Dad said...

a post- it note left on the desk of the professor: you have a cheater among your class

1:02 AM  
Blogger Sarah, Goon Squad Sarah said...

I'm probably too late, but I find it offensive that anyone would stoop to cheating in a MBA program. We're not 15 anymore.

5:03 PM  
Blogger Sam said...

We leave an anonymous note for the teacher, and have someone else beat the shit out of the kid who cheated.

11:20 AM  

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