Slipping a note in the pocket, the eraser, taping it behind a ruler, sending a text message while writing the test, while in the washroom -cheating is not difficult. It all comes down to the person's values. Cheating can be accomplished anywhere -and I feel where one cheats is irrelevant. No matter the system, students will find holes. Whether at Ward or at any other school, every student is capable of cheating. It is whether or not they choose to engage in it.
Why people cheat is fairly obvious. Less effort, a greater result. It has temptation written all over it. As stated earlier, it all comes down to values. Guilt is not easy to cope with, and feeling it from an undeserved mark. Especially when you know your friend studied all week and still scored less than you did. On the other hand, a lot of people just do not consider cheating an option. They have little interest in taking the easy route, and would rather get the grade they deserve.
Avoiding temptation is difficult. Just like that chocolate-chip cookie you have been craving all day. It is located on that first shelf in the cabinet right beside the stove. But you are not even hungry -in fact, you are quite full. And your doctor has been telling you to eat healthier, since you aren't in the greatest shape. And you have already eaten a bag of chips and drank a can of coke earlier that day. But it was baked chips and coke zero, so it was kind of healthy. So it would be sorta-kinda okay to eat the cookie, right? It's just one cookie after all. Maybe two. Or three. What harm could three cookies do, anyway?
Thinking of the consequences may help fight the temptation. If one relies on cheating in order to get their desired grade, that probably means that they do not properly understand the subject in which they are studying. Sure, you don't get caught, but what happens after that? Good grades are necessary if one has university or college on their list for the future. As time goes on, it will become increasingly difficult to cheat. Or even if you are successful in cheating your way through your school life, what about your job? You are not going to know enough information about it, and you cannot cheat your way through a career. Then what? You are stuck.
Cheating is as risky as it is easy. What if one gets caught? Depending on the circumstances, they may fail the test or perhaps the entire course. It that risk really worth getting an A on that history test?
What does one truly gain from cheating? A short-lived satisfaction over something they didn't even accomplish them self? To feel like they have done well in the course? Maybe on paper, but how much knowledge does one actually gain? How great can an undeserved mark really feel anyway?
At Mary Ward, many students procrastinate -especially towards the end of the year. This creates pressure for the students to complete a lot of different tasks at once. Cheating may be more desirable, but not anymore justified, during this time period. At the same time, I feel that since Mary Ward's test system does reauthorize students when they fail, cheating may be less tempting. They provide a safety net for students to fall on, decreasing the pressure one may feel.
Cheating is wrong, but easy. Although it may grant the feeling of a short-term success (that A you received on that math test), it will not grant a long-term success. One needs to reflect on what cheating actually does before choosing to indulge in it. And perhaps rethink their values while they are one it.
