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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

Long term cheating in 17yo's new class

13 replies

Sgtmajormummy · 28/10/2015 10:46

This is a moral question with parental interference issues, too. Sorry if it's long.

DS's old class was split up this September and 11 of them were put into another group. It turns out that for the last three years the class have been preparing written tests (on a certain section of the course) at home, pretending to write for an hour and pulling them out at the end of the test time.

This is for a minor subject on the curriculum and the teacher is an older, demotivated teacher who forgets the specific title he dictates to the class! Hmm Obviously all the written papers are on the same subject and he takes that as what he must have asked them. So far the students have all followed this system and have received very good marks, having spent three hours WITH THEIR BOOKS preparing a 1 hour written test! Win win, according to them.

Now with DS and his classmates in on the secret not everybody agrees. Their next written test is in 3 days (Saturday school here). If the dissidents, about 6 including DS, write an essay on what the teacher asks (and WILL forget between then and the day he corrects them) they will be penalised for their honesty and the tricksters will get full marks. If they bow to the majority they will be colluding with a dishonest system.

Last year I was the parents' representative for DS's class (never again, plus that class no longer exists), but the parents will be meeting AFTER this test to nominate one for this year. If I were, this would go straight to the Head, but DS is also saying "let me handle this, it's a class matter". Obviously they're putting pressure on him via Whatsapp to join in the deceit.

They're 17, it's a minor subject, but it goes so strongly against everything we've tried to teach our children about hard work and integrity! I was very proud when DS said "It takes more time and effort to cheat than it does to learn the facts in the first place!". But I want justice! Should I just step back?

OP posts:
Original poster
Sgtmajormummy · 28/10/2015 11:07

Just to say, we live in a country where cheating the system for personal gain (some call it corruption) is a national pass-time!
I'm just asking your opinion on this specific case, though.
Thanks in advance!

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Original poster
Sgtmajormummy · 28/10/2015 11:09

Too many "just"s, sorry!

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IguanaTail · 28/10/2015 11:12

I would write to the headteacher about it. It's morally bankrupt. At 17 they all look for an easy way out.

CarriesBucketOfBlood · 28/10/2015 11:17

Ok, I get the 'national pastime' attitude towards cheating, I did university in a similar environment.

With this in mind, I would probably let your DS decide what to do. He seems to be leaning towards the honest route, which I think is very admirable. I think you should support (and guide) him to this decision, but ultimately not report the whole class.

Writing this down, I actually can't think of a justification for not reporting the cheating, although I suppose it may make your DS very unpopular. If the culture is anything like what I experienced, the school would just cover the whole thing up, probably set the exact same essay titles and make the students rewrite, which would obviously be useless.

Regardless, your DS seems to have made his mind up to be honest and I think that his is the most important decision here.

Original poster
Sgtmajormummy · 28/10/2015 11:30

It's tricky...
And anonymous letters to the Head are not my style, either.

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GreenSand · 28/10/2015 11:47

Would a half way compromise be to do the student decided title, but under the test conditions? So they have all done the same essay, but under different conditions. That would give everyone the chance to see how the land lies??? But reading back, it seems you have WhatsApp proof of the cheating. Would going to the head with the proof be productive or just classed as interfering (by either you or DS?)
Good on your son having principles in the right place.

IguanaTail · 28/10/2015 12:18

I assume the other parallel class has assignments fairly set? Does this impact on how the whole cohort is marked?

slug · 28/10/2015 12:48

Can the students ask for a written copy of the essay title from the teacher? Or could they record or photograph it if he puts it on the board? If they have phones, they could record it as he dictates it to them, they can always ask him to repeat it, and then they have proof of the original title.

Clare1971 · 28/10/2015 13:00

Personally, I'd speak to the head. He could investigate without involving your son. I work in education and I hate this kind of thing. It doesn't do the kids any favours in the long run and just because it's a national pass-time doesn't make it right. Might change my user name to good2shoes now.

Original poster
Sgtmajormummy · 28/10/2015 13:32

I get the impression that if I start a scandal the teacher in question will heave a great world-weary sigh and say he "KNOWS" it's happening, but if they've all written a good essay in their own handwriting they've assimilated enough information to satisfy him whether it was written at home or at school.

You can't teach teenagers for 25 years and NOT realise they'll cheat at every turn....... Can you?

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SeveredHeadsDragOnTheFloor · 28/10/2015 13:40

As your son has asked you to let him deal with it, I would let him deal with it.

Original poster
Sgtmajormummy · 28/10/2015 21:24

I've spoken to a couple of parents of last year's classsmates and they're astounded too. I've just wryly said to them: "Well, we know who's going to be dodging tax in five years' time if they carry on like this... See you at the parents' meeting!"

Over dinner DH and I advised DS to get his teacher to write the title of their essay in the class register and on the board (mobiles are locked into the teacher's desk at the start of the school day) and to do the one hour classroom task as expected. That way if some other parent reports this situation to the Head, DS is beyond suspicion and only the previous class will be involved in the fallout. In other words "Keep your nose clean!" Angry.

I'll keep you updated.

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Original poster
Sgtmajormummy · 01/11/2015 13:28

They had their test yesterday and the questions dictated were covered by what all the class minus 6 had written at home. Not surprising as there was so little to study.

WhatsApps saying "So what was all the fuss for, Sgtminor?" were flying around and it only strengthened the cheaters' position. Getting away with it is NOT THE POINT!

It turns out this teacher is also the "class welfare coordinator", so the one they would go to with problems of bullying, cheating etc. Confused

I met one of the cheaters' parents on Friday. They only found out about two weeks ago that this has been going on for three years, probably because their son was afraid the situation was about to come out. They said they don't want to cause a scandal because the teacher has their best interests at heart, the course is nearly over, this subject only serves to increase their average marks...

I felt like asking them: "Have you seen the film where the paedophile priest takes an interest in a lonely black boy and his mother puts up with it to keep his marks high?" (Phillip Seymour Hoffmann in "The Doubt", a verrrry disturbing film, but we're not living in the 50's FFS.)

I am so angry and disappointed about this situation. But, as requested by DS, I am keeping a low profile.

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