Cheating is supposed to be looked down upon. It’s said to be blameworthy: something we should never engage in. Does it not go against every moral we’re taught as children? Does it not completely undermine the work of those who don’t cheat, to the point that their own, honest work is a waste?

Most would say it does, but the reality of cheating shows the opposite. It goes so far as possibly encouraging it.

Think about the last time you witnessed cheating- saw it, heard it, or engaged in it. We’re including anything from simple homework to a classwork quiz to a major test here. Now, think about the last time you saw cheating getting penalized. If you’re anything like myself, the ratio is no less than ludicrous.

In my experience of high school, in certain weeks cheating happens every single day in one of my four classes. Other weeks, it occurs two to three times throughout the five day week. Despite this, in my high school experience I can remember four times when I’ve seen that cheating have real repercussions- perhaps to make the teacher’s or school’s success look better. In fact, the act is almost encouraged; teachers leaving the room during a testing period, giving breaks between testing periods of the same test, never checking the class’ actions, obtaining their tests from online, it goes on and on.

The simple fact of the matter is cheating is prevalent in the high school; everybody knows that. And one could argue that cheating does no harm- I mean, nobody is physically or emotionally getting hurt, right? Yes.

But that doesn’t mean it’s harmless.

Cheating doesn’t allow for any true, genuine learning. It doesn’t prepare students for the future. It doesn’t honor one of the only codes in the school and it only advocates for further rule breakings and sabotages the work of those who don’t participate.

But is cheating actually bad? Yeah, morally, you say yes. But it seems as though those who are cheating are coming out on top. So in society, it’s actually being reinforced as beneficial.

For example, in an AP class where the curve of a test allows only six As in the class, and three people in the class are thoroughly cheating to the point that they receive an A they wouldn’t have received otherwise, three other people are deprived of their otherwise well-deserved As.

Nothing is done about the matter, and it’s done. As given. Over. Those three kids are the winners.

If the school wants students to respect their ‘important’ rules, somebody’s got to implement the rule. Make different tests. Change the seating arrangement. Don’t walk out in the middle of a test. Scan the class every ten minutes for talking or texting. Don’t use the exact materials year after year. I mean, just try. Otherwise, alternatives to a real education will continuously be found, and that’s not doing any soul any bit of good.