Did I do the right thing?

Question

I'm a first-year teacher, so as expected I've been second-guessing EVERYTHING I've done in my classes for the past month. Yesterday I was giving a test (Algebra - mostly sophomores and juniors) and while walking around the class I noticed that one student had a piece of paper in his desk with all the necessary formulas for the test. I didn't specifically see him using it as a cheat sheet. But it was positioned so he could glance down and see everything on the sheet, and I didn't see how it could just be a page of notes because all of his other stuff was UNDER the desk - that was the ONLY thing positioned in such a way to make it easy to read without being detected. I took the sheet away from him and gave him a zero for the test. Now his parents are all upset, and saying that I WANTED to give him a zero. I don't feel like I'd be helping him by allowing him to get away with it, though. Should I give this kid another chance?

For the record, this is a kid who is typically not a problem at all, and makes fairly good grades. I was very surprised to catch him doing this. So it's not like we're talking about a regular troublemaker here.

Answer 1

I've been teaching for 4 years now and in my second year - the same thing happened to me. You did the right thing. We both know that the paper was positioned that way for a reason! As teachers -aren't we supposed to be teaching responsibility, pride in your work and respect for yourself and others? How will that student ever learn these things and become a moral person if he gets away with this? I believe I am a fair teacher though as well. I really think you should discuss the situation with him and tell him that he is cheating 'himself' out of 'his own' education. He should be making better choices. You could offer a re-test - though I wouldn't grade it full value. I think he needs to understand that if he were in a University - he would be expelled - no questions asked! You wouldn't be 'giving in' if you did give him that second chance. As for the parents...well - that's the way it is. They need to know that it was their son's choice - you did not encourage him to cheat on a test. There is no excuse they could possibly give you. Does your school have a policy on cheating? Pull it out if they do and make sure your principal backs you up on this. DON'T BE BULLIED BY THEM! It happens all the time to us and it's wrong! Stand up for what you did and be strong. Think of the kids that actually studied and worked hard. You owe it to them to be fair as well.

Sorry I rambled. I had a tough day too and I'm tired!!! :) We do it because we love it - that's for sure!

Answer 2

Stand your ground. Also, make sure you document the whole situation and file it with an administrator. That way, the next time the kid cheats, you can prove that it is a regular occurrence. If the parents are truly upset, I suggest having a conference with them, the student, and an administrator - department head/principal/vice principal - anyone with power and authority in the school. Explain your and the school's cheating policy, give the student a chance to talk, give the parents a chance to talk. If the kid owns up to it, and seems genuinely sorry, offer him a chance at half credit if he writes a well-researched essay about academic integrity or does some other huge assignment. Or just let him keep the zero - he earned it. Whatever you decide, be firm, but diplomatic - remember, you'll have to deal with this student AND his obnoxious parents all year, and you want them to be on your side, especially if and when their kid is getting in trouble.

Answer 3

No, I think you did the right thing. Go to your principal and let him/her know what the situation was and is.

I would talk to the parents. Tell them that you are very surprised by his behavior as well. That you believe the student is smart enough to not to feel like he has to result to cheating (even if you really dont). Ask them if there is a reason the student may have not had a good chance to study or may have felt pressured to do well on the test. Just completely give the student any excuse to cheat. Regardless of what they say, very calmly and sympathetically say that you believe he was cheating and you must give him the zero. But offer to help him set up a schedule for him to study or give him tutoring, etc.

I had to do this for plagiarizing my first year. Luckily I had some very kind coworkers who quickly told me to notify the principal even before I talked to the parents about it (I emailed them before I even gave the paper back to the kid). I have a very supportive principal who backed me up as well.
I also did the "I'm really sorry, but according to the Student Handbook I have to give him a zero", so it took a bit of the blame off me. I printed out the article the student copied (word for word) as well. I told the parents that it was better for him to learn these lessons now that later (upper elementary student), but you can play that off as better here than in college where he could get expelled for it.

Answer 4

Congrats to you on standing up for what's right as a first year teacher. You absolutely did the right thing. I have had so many cheating instances in the last 23 years and my first impression after reading your question was this:
If this student had been someone who had been caught cheating before, would you give him a second chance? If the answer is no, then why give this kid a chance? Why are they any different...the offense is the same.
I have been through the same as you. A parent calls and tries to fight for the child. Well, what did the student say? He's old enough to speak for himself. If you have the stamina to do it, stand your ground. If not, maybe meet halfway and give him half credit on a retake.

Answer 5

No second chance. Kids know the rules about cheating. If they take the risk and get found out, they must accept the consequences. Many other kids in the class who didn't cheat would probably also like to take a second shot at the test; it's not fair to give the cheater a second chance.
Did you explain to the parents that he had a cheat sheet in front of him?
.

Answer 6

It doesn't matter if this is his first offense or his fiftieth- he cheated, you caught him, and his parents need to get over it. I have a strict no-cheating policy with my THIRD GRADERS. You did the right thing. No teacher WANTS to give a child a zero- grades are earned by students, not given by teachers. You giving him another chance should JUST be "allowing" him to redo the assignment without cheating. The zero should still stand. Hopefully you have gone over your policy on cheating at the beginning of the school year, and hopefully you've got a great administration that will back you up. :)

Answer 7

This is about the most blatant example of cheating that I have heard of. Sounds like the kid wasn't even trying to hide the paper with the formulas! Stick to your guns - its not fair to the rest of the kids in the class for this kid to get special treatment. They had to earn their grades by studying, not by cheating. I would talk to your principle about the situation and make sure that he/she will back you up with the parents. One option you have, provided its not against school policy, is to give this kid an extra HARD assignment to help him make up some of the points he lost on the test. Good luck - I don't envy your position!

Answer 8

Dont fall for their pressure. You have to make decisions like this all the time. The kid most probably went home, told his parents what they wanted to hear.

Find an administrator, explain the situation, let him/her know that parents may be coming to see them. Next time the parents talk to you, stick with it, and inform them that he WAS caught, he shouldn't do it again, and the grade sticks.If they press it, tell them they certainly have the right to visit an administrator. Your admin will back you up. fairly common. Do not accept their rationalizations. listen, and be firm.

you will:

hear how he has been perfect every year
how it is you who are the problem
never been in trouble.
etc etc

all great, but a high schooler knows what clear your desks mean.

good luck to you.

Answer 9

No, don't give the kid another chance. You definitely did the right thing - cheating is a major thing and even if he didn't cheat at that point, he set himself up in a position where he could have cheated if he wanted to.

Saying that you "wanted" to give the kid a zero is absolutely stupid, why would you want him to be in your class another year? ;o}

Answer 10

Stick to your guns and don't back down. If he thought he could get away with it, he would do it every test, so you showed him that you are the teacher and you are in charge of the class. Maybe next time he will think before he cheats. don't be intimidated by this young man or his parents. I am quite certain if it came down to it that your supervisors would back you 100%