Like a canary in a coal mine, certain developments in the postmodern world are early telltale signs that the concept "morality" is changing beneath our feet. I think one of them is cheating, which has become an almost accepted practice in most high schools and some universities. It is simply not regarded as dishonest by most practitioners. For a depressing collection of stories from a classroom teacher, see Cheating Stories at Gently Hew Stone. I've got a few stories of my own. Doesn't everyone?

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I can't speak for high school (since I graduated so many moons ago), but grad school wasn't too long ago (graduated 2001), and I'd have to say that Dave's statement that cheating "has become an almost accepted practice in most high schools and some universities" is wholly inaccurate in my experience. That's not to say that fellow students weren't so morally superior as to be above cheating, but that the stakes of getting caught were too high. But I just didn't see or hear about cheating much at all, and certainly never experienced any attitude of acceptance of it.
"I just didn't see or hear about cheating much at all"
Wow, this is incredible. I often had people trying to copy my work (homework or tests)from 5th grade on (either by asking or just doing it without my permission because I'd say no). I often saw people copying others' work, especially homework. I often heard people who were required to do something and self-report turned in something saying that they did it. I rarely saw someone with a cheat sheet but that kind of cheating was usually more discreet.
This kind of cheating went on in various places.
I agree about the author's belief that cheating is increasing in Schools. The world now, especially with the bad economy,will probably cause this to be worse as students are under more pressures than ever. As equally cruel ,is for someone that has made an achievement or advancement or completed a degree or a study, is accused of not being the author or achiever of the study or work, when the person is innocent. In our world today, we are swayed by someone's personality, or who their friends are instead of what the person themselves has accomplished. Mary B.
Prepare for cynicism here:
And why shouldn't cheating be, if not encouraged, at least not taken as seriously anymore? Cheating is now demonstrably a required life skill. If you wish to get ahead in life, cheating is very nearly a requirement. It would then be logical for schools to teach children to cheat smartly and judiciously.
No, not everyone has a few cheating stories. Honesty may be in the minority, but I think there are quite a few who haven't cheated. A lot of people who have cheated in the past try to make themselves feel better by telling themselves that everybody has done it.
I also don't support the premise that one blogger stated, "If you wish to get ahead in life, cheating is very nearly a requirement."
Rather than concentrating on stories about cheaters, wouldn't it be more beneficial to concentrate on stories of those who have been exemplarily honest?
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