Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Jason Powell: We've all read the recent research reports that indicates that up to 70% of high
school students cheat at some time during their secondary school journey. Recently,
the CBC has also indicated that those that cheat in high school are also going to cheat
in life. Now obviously research like this has significant implications for the post
secondary education system and have some educators on high alert ready to stop the rampant cheating.
Now research like this can also create an optic for some for viewing the world as "a
glass half empty". I assure you all it is all not that bad. Now, although I do not condone
cheating inside or outside of the academy, it is important to understate the obvious.
As educators, we have a wonderful opportunity to transform and guide the moral development
for learners who are enrolled in our programs. See for me, teaching parallels parenting and
just as our children didn't come to us with requisite attitudes, values and attributes
required of society neither do the learners enrolled in our programs on day one. Accordingly,
as I stated before, it is a wonderful opportunity for educators to reframe and reshape the moral
development for learners as they transition to honest and contributing members of society.
The last thing that we need to do as educators, is condone our property a culture of slaughter
amongst the learners of our programs, especially on day one of each and every program. Learning
takes time as does parenting. We have to, and must afford the learners that time just
as we do our children. Now, I don't mean to go off on a rant here, but with the latest
literature propagated and circulating about the cheaters in our society I felt it important
to underscore the obvious: we as educators have an understanding and a responsibility
to afford those learners the time required to be contributing members of society. We
must continue to look through the world as the "glass half full" as opposed to the "glass
half empty". That's my rant.