Academic Honesty

Although this should not have to be written, or read, it is now required reading for all my students.  

I wish to put to a quick end any mistake on your part as to what academic honesty is, and what is allowed.  We will all be "on the same page" about this material, and from the one starting point, we will all progress through this school year.  Cheating is not allowed in this class, or any class.  Cheating is when you use someone else's work as your own.  This could be for a grade or not.  I know you already understand that you can't copy during an exam, that's the simplest example I could think of.  Cheating is also when you collaborate too closely, that you copy word for word or ideas of others in homework, or on a lab report.  

Working together is something that I will encourage.  Doing your own work is something else I will encourage.  They are not one in the same.  You are not permitted to copy answers or conclusions from each other, or other sources.  You need to do your own thinking, and your own writing.  Of course your measurements and mathematics will often be similar because lab partners will have the same numbers, but explaining yourself should not be a shared effort.  You must do your own math, and your own reasoning and conclusions.  Use your partner to check your math work and catch your silly mistakes, but do not copy.

Cheating is not acceptable.  Plagiarism is not acceptable either.  When you copy the work of others, even your friends, you are cheating for personal gain.  Academic dishonesty is not a character trait you want to develop.  You may sometimes think that a grade is more important than your own integrity, but it is not.  You may be tempted to cheat, and all people get tempted, but do not do this!  You will be happier knowing that you did your best, and that you always did your own work.  If you cheat your way to a few more points, or even a lot more points, what does it really gain you? 

If I catch you there will be maximum suffering allowed under the rules & regulations of Vestal High School.  

For starters, if  I catch you cheating you will receive a zero score for that particular assignment.  I will speak to your parents.  I will speak to you.  I will write you up and push to have a maximum penalty assigned by the grade administrator.   

If you are unprepared to be tested you should talk with me.  Sometimes you might have a legitimate reason to need another day and I might grant that to you.  Other times I might not and you will have to take your academic lumps because you did not adequately prepare like you were supposed to.  You will need to take that as a personal lesson as to why you should get more organized. If you decide to cheat, you're taking your chances.  If you get caught you risk your whole self academically.  A low grade is not always welcome news, but if you deserve it then that's what you deserve.   

Cheating means taking the work of others as your own.  This includes homework, lab reports, tests, and any other assignments.  This means copying from your friends as well as from the internet, books, texts, etc.  Write your own words, do your own math, come to your own conclusions.  When you "collaborate" too closely, it's not collaboration, it's cheating.  Check your work with your friends, don't share the burden by doing every other problem and trading for the rest of the answers.  Do not copy the work of your friends, classmates, teammates, etc. 

I hope I am diligent in watching for any inappropriate behavior and I do not want to place a burden on you to be my watchdog, but if you see cheating and I don't, please let me know about it.  You can do this anonymously, and you don't have to tell me who was cheating.  I will be even more diligent in keeping my classroom academically secure.  This is not your job, but we all need hold the standard high.