FULL MOON
Are You a Perfect
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Volume 45 — No. 6
ALBEMARLE SENIOR HIGH NEWSPAPER
311 Palestine Road Albemarle, N.C. 28001 982-3711
May 9,1980
CHEATING:
A Candid Report with Student and Teacher Response
By LORI THOMAS
Cheating is an underlying element in all types of
classrooms. Teachers and students alike are
well aware of its existence. However, since at a
given time or in a given circumstance different
students will cheat, accuracy in this or any sur
vey is impossible. These findings are merely an
attempt to somewhat reveal student actions and
opinions.
In this survey on cheating one
hundred students (twenty-five
from each of the four grades)
were polled from randomly
selected homerooms. The first
question asked these students,
“Do you ever cheat on tests?”
The majority of students, 65%,
answered yes, while the remain
ing minority, 35%, answered no.
This difference shows that over
all, most students do cheat. Of the
65% who cheat, 54% were female,
and 46% were male — the differ
ence being insignificant. When
asked, “. . . how often?” the most
common reply was “occasional
ly.”
The sophomores ranked high
est among the classes with 21 of
the 25 people polled confessing to
cheating. Freshmen followed
closely with 19 of the 25 cheating.
The majority of the junior class,
15 of 25, also confessed to cheat
ing. The seniors polled are the on
ly group with the majority, 15 of
the 25, answering no, that they
did not cheat. The difference is
perhaps due to the experiences of
the upperclassmen. However, on
ly 15 of the 65 who cheat have
been caught while cheating, and
all but one of the 15 were either
freshmen or sophomores. More
frequent cheating in lower grades
perhaps indicates a rise in the
number of cheaters.
Opinions on the morality of
cheating is also shown in this sur
vey. The majority of all as well as
the boys and girls divisions pro
claimed cheating as being moral
ly wrong. However, this majority
was not great. One student re
plied, “No” and gave this as his
reason — “Everyone else does
it.” Another student stated, “Stu
dents are under a lot of pressure
from their parents to make good
grades and feel like they have to
do well on tests and turn to cheat
ing.” In opposition to these com
ments, common replies included,
“Because it’s not fair to others,”
and “Because you’re not helping
yourself learn anything.”
English and math seem to be
the subjects that most students
are most likely to cheat in. For
eign languages was also a com
mon response as to what subject
one cheats in.
“When the teacher
isn’t looking..
When questioned on cheating
tactics, students commonly re
sponded that “cheat sheets” are
the dominate method. These
“cheat sheets” are small pieces
of paper with the needed informa
tion. Normally this paper is con
cealed underneath the test paper
or on the desk seat under the stu
dent’s leg. Talking and looking
onto another’s paper were also
frequent answers. Other modern
methods include stolen test ques
tions, plagiarism of scholarly
work, and “ghost-writing” which
is having another person do one’s
work^
To combat cheating most col
leges, preparatory, and private
institutions maintain an “honor
code.” At the completion of tests,
students must simply sign a
statement pronouncing their in
nocence and honesty. These
codes are normally strictly en
forced. Expulsion and/or sus
pension are likely on the college
level. Area high schools have no
such code but perhaps it should
be considered.
Who's Responsible?
Who is responsible for cheat
ing? This question leads an
answer comprised of several dif
ferent factors. Parents may be
responsible in part for their de
manding pressure. They may not
realize the limits of their children
and, therefore, continually push
them harder. They feel that if
grades are too low that it is be
cause the child is not trying,
never because he just can not do
any better. Parents must realize
the true capabilities of their chil
dren.
The attitude of parents in deter-
Students Talk About Cheating
Do you ever cheat on tests?
ALL
65% YES
35% NO
BOYS
72% YES
28% NO
GIRLS
60% YES
40% NO
Do you view cheating as
wrong?
morally
ALL
60% YES
40% NO
BOYS
56% YES
44% NO
GIRLS
62% YES
38% NO
. . the great majority will cheat
at least upon occasion if given
enough freedom to do so.
Morrow
fi
mining right from wrong may
further contribute to the practice
of cheating. They call it “clever”
to hedge on income taxes, take
ashtrays and towels, pad expense
accounts and speed a little here
or there. Is it so different?
Another factor responsible for
cheating lies within the educa
tional “system”. Too much em
phasis is perhaps placed upon
grades and exams and not
enough on ability. Instead of con
centrating on real learning and
student growth, memory work
and tests are of prime concern.
Teachers may also contribute
to the practice of cheating. They
may leave during a test, give the
same test to each class or not test
frequently enough, creating the
“do-or-die” exam. Expecting too
much in the way of facts, figures,
dates, and small details may also
drive the potential cheater to his
limit. When questioned on his
view of cheating one student re
plied that he does not think cheat
ing is wrong because, “Some
questions you didn’t even study
with the class — out of the blue
questions!” Foresight and com
mon sense by the teacher could
eliminate some possible cheat
ing.
The final responsibility for
cheating of course lies within the
student, for he alone must choose
the course of his own actions.
Teachers Speak Out
In addition to the student re
sponse, teachers were also asked
for their input.
Mrs. Jeneece Smith, guidance
counselor, comments on cheating
as being “totally unfair to a stu
dent who doesn’t cheat.” She
points out that the valuable time
spent studying by the honest stu
dent is a reflection of his
character just as cheating is.
ICT/VICA and FBLA Winners Represent Sr. High
ICT/VICA
Congratulations to the ICT/
VICA students winning
honors in the District VI VICA
Contest. Janet Brown captured
first place in the job interview
category. Beth Fitzgerald placed
second in the prepared speech
competition. Both are presently
eligible for state competition.
Jackie Hopkins competed in the
Miss yiCA contention and Phyllis
Wilhoit in the Extemporaneous
Speech contest. Jo Glover,
Tamala Burr, and Tim Brooks
served as voting delegates.
Todd Hopkins also deserves
recognition for placing third in
the Graphics competition.
FBLA
An outstanding performance
by Donna Laton placed her first
in Shorthand I on the State level.
Competition on the National level
awaits Donna and we wish her
great success.
Aretha Sellars was elected as
the District VI Chairperson. She
will be in charge of the District VI
FBLA Conference for the coming
year.
Describing the cheater, Mrs.
Smith states, “Students that
cheat are lazy or not willing to
put their minds to the task.”
Mr. Morrow, Spanish instruc
tor, views cheating as “one way
of rebelling, or trying to beat the
system, and in some cases of
avenging themselves against the
teacher.” Stressing that cheating
is not a moral issue, Mr. Morrow
believes that “all students are po
tential cheaters . . . because I be
lieve that most behavior, es
pecially in the teen years, is a di
rect result of what is acceptable
to peers.”
Teachers were asked what
causes students to cheat. Clearly,
aln^ost all agree that the student
who cheats has not taken the time
to prepare himself adequately.
One teacher replied, “Making
choices is a constant way of life.
If a student chooses other activi
ties instead of studying or getting
extra help from the teacher when
he doesn’t understand, then he is
faced with the problem of unpre
paredness.”
Another common reply was the
pressure placed on them by par
ents and thems^ves to make all
A’s or a passing grade. The stu
dent’s “unpreparedness” places
pressures upon him which cause
him to choose between cheating
and failure. Quoting one teacher,
“The way in which a student
copes with daily pressures is a
measure of his mind, body, and
character.”
■Moonbeams
A Date To Remember
The Junior-Senior Prom is scheduled for May 17. “Badge”
will provide musical entertainment for this special occasion to
be held on the terrace at Stanly Technical College. “Stairway to
Heaven” has been designated as this year’s theme.
Taking A Break
Pat Parker was honored as the Student Lion for April, and
Scott Herring as Rotarian.
Applause, Applause!
The Columbia Scholastic Press Association has awarded
The Full Moon a superior rating in its annual newspaper con
test/critique.
Half Moon
The younger half of the journalism class assumed positions
on this issue. They are: Tammy Dwight, editor-in-chief; Lori
Thomas, news editor; Kenneth Russell, feature editor; David
Moose, sports editor; Shari Robertson, back page editor; Lydia
Williams, business.
Coming Elections
Petitions are due May 5, for those who plan to compete in the
upcoming student council elections. Campaigning week will be
May 6 through May 12. On May 13, an assembly will be held for
the candidates to present their skits and speeches. The require
ments for candidacy are: all candidates must have at least a B
average, 100 signatures on the petition, and a teacher recom
mendation. The president should he a rising senior, the vice-
president, a rising junior, the secretary, a rising junior, and the
treasurer, a rising senior.
DECA Winners
More than 2,000 student leaders and faculty advisors in mar
keting and distribution attended the Thirty-Sixth Annual State
Leadership Conference of the North Carolina Association of the
Distributive Education Clubs of America on April 17, in Ashe
ville. Representing the Albemarle DECA Club were: Pat Par-
T Hunsucker, Tammy Alexander, Debra Tucker, and
Jeff Burleson. Tammy Alexander and Jeff Burleson served as
votmg delegates during the conference. Pat Parker received a
performance award in General merchandising as Owner/Man-
Hunsucker won the Performance Award over the
200 participants. She was also first runner-up in the selling event
and was given state recognition at the Awards Banquet. Stacy is
presently one of the top 10 in this state.
Debra Tucker succeeded in winning the Performance
Award for Food-Service on the Owner/Manager level at state
competition. She is now eligible to enter the National Competi-
uon m Miami, Florida in June. Debra was presented with a
trophy and plaque for our school. These awards provide out-
standing students with the opportunity for advanced study in
Marketing, Management, and Merchandising. Congratulations
co an.