Cheating is a major issue in many schools, and ours is no exception. In general, there are two main reasons people cheat — to pass or to get ahead of someone in class rank. The latter has become a huge issue and is commonplace in the graduating class and the superseding ones as well.
The administration needs to take action to combat cheating and implement a new policy to disqualify those who are found cheating from receiving the privileges of the Top 10%.
It’s impossible to know how many students cheat every day, but with the emergence of artificial intelligence, it has become easier than ever for the academically dishonest to plagiarize and misuse online resources.
Even when this cheating is caught, oftentimes the student is simply given a zero on that assignment and a slap on the wrist. They can still pass the course with an A, they can still earn college credit, they can still be named valedictorian.
It is unfair to those who don’t cheat their way through school to be ranked lower than those who do. I fail to see a downside to the administration taking a hardline stance on cheating.
When you use AI on your OnRamps quiz or copy answers off the internet, the integrity of your rank is gone. Every time you get into a Texas college through auto admission or fill in that you were in the Top 10% of your class, I hope you realize that you may have just cost someone who works hard for their grades a chance at attending their dream school.
A policy where students do not receive a rank provides a reasonable incentive that would likely decrease the amount of cheating, particularly around the top students of the class. Without rank, students could not receive the privileges of being in the Top 10% such as automatic admission, academic recognition or a graduation cord. However, it would still allow them to graduate with a high GPA, pass their classes and potentially receive college credit if they fix their ways.
Simply put, such a policy would reward students who are honest and try their hardest in advanced courses to earn the top spots they deserve, but still allow those who exercise poor judgment to not be excessively held back.
I call on Director of Secondary Curriculum Jordan Thiem and the rest of the administration to implement a new policy combatting the rampant culture of cheating in Azle.