At Roseville High School, many teachers have identified cheating as a huge problem that lacks consistent enforcement and consequences. Currently, punishment for academic dishonesty varies from teacher to teacher.

     “As a staff we feel this is happening quite a bit on campus,” said social science teacher Marie Criste. “We need a strict, more specific way to address this serious issue and to provide consistency because with inconsistency there’s cracks.”    

     When English teacher Michelle Cole found that two of her students were openly copying homework in another class, she turned to other teachers for advice.

     “I had never come across such blatant cheating,” said Cole. “I emailed other teachers and asked about their policies, which opened a big can of worms. Cheating is an issue we’re aware of but as of yet there is no policy or uniform idea and we really need a school wide policy for cheating.”

     The RHS student planner, while encouraging honesty, does not address the consequences of cheating leaving it entirely up to the preference of the teacher.

     Some RHS teachers have only begun an initial discussion on whether or not it is necessary to have a uniform policy and what might be included in such a policy. Math teacher Scott McCullough conducted an email poll on whether teachers think that cheating is a problem at RHS. Of the teachers that responded to the poll, 96 percent believed that cheating is a problem. 

     The administration is currently considering a uniform cheating policy among RHS teachers.

     “[We are] looking at how we want to approach it,” said assistant principal Matt Pipitone. “[There have been no formal discussions other than some informal e-mail discussion.”

     Spanish teacher Maria Pitts has already taken many measures within her classroom to prevent cheating and believes in a unified policy.

     “Students’ cell phones are to be turned off,  in their backpacks in the corners of the room and if they’re caught with a phone during a test I will send it up to the office and they will receive a zero with no chance to retake [the test],” said Pitts. “We definitely need to have a unified policy so that everyone knows what the repercussions are.”

     Other schools in the district implement various disciplinary policies for cheating. Granite Bay High School has developed a “cheaters list” so that teachers can keep a closer eye on those who have been previously caught. Punishments at other schools vary from receiving zeroes to partaking in 8-10 hours of community service or suspension from school events.

     “Behavioral punishments can be more powerful than getting a zero, but stronger consequences can be construed as unfair,” said Criste.

   �� According to Criste, cheating comes down to a character issue. Teachers want students to want to do what is right.

     “It is our job as teachers to mold students to become responsible citizens and uphold morals and values,” said Criste. “Cheating causes it not to be fair for the honest and we need to be able to provide an equitable, safe environment.”

      Cole shares these feelings.

     “Besides the fact that you are not doing your own work, it’s morally reprehensible,” said Cole. “As teachers it’s our job to prepare you.  If you cheat later in life you can lose your job and earn a bad reputation.”