Why is there so much cheating going on at TJ and the teachers/school administrators do nothing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The VAST majority of students care little about "STEM" and learning, most are here for one of 4 reasons: 1.Their parents are forcing them to attend 2.They would be bullied at other schools 3.Their lives consist entirely of studying 4.To get into a good college. Speaking of schoolwork: the amount of cheating here is RIDICULOUS. Kids care more about getting into college than learning, and this shows in the amount of rampant cheating we have at TJ.

My DS, a bright kid genuinely interested in science and math, is a freshman at TJ. Most of the kids he's met so far fit this description - they're at the school because their parents are making them go so they'll get into a good college. He's disappointed as he thought he'd find a more intellectual environment with kids who like to sit around and discuss physics, computers and Dr. Who. Instead most of them seem to be trying to find ways to game the system so they can get the best grade with the minimum of work.

[Anonymous]

"most of them seem to be trying to find ways to game the system so they can get the best grade with the minimum of work"
I think if they can figure out how to do this, it is an excellent skill. I think older kids should spend a lot of time on one or two things they really love, but for the rest, you only need to get good grades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"most of them seem to be trying to find ways to game the system so they can get the best grade with the minimum of work"
I think if they can figure out how to do this, it is an excellent skill. I think older kids should spend a lot of time on one or two things they really love, but for the rest, you only need to get good grades.

and I think it's this attitude and an achievement culture that promotes this kind of gaming over knowledge goes a long way towards explaining what's wrong with America today. There really is no way around the work.

[Anonymous]

There was a major cheating incident in physics class last year but the school hushed it up. In fact, no one hears about cheating cases since they are either ignored or if any actions are taken, no one knows.

[Anonymous]

Here is the link to the article that says teachers ignore cheating:

http://www.tjtoday.org/4390/opinion/teachers-need-to-enforce-tj-honor-code/

[Anonymous]

It's not just TJ. Cheating is everywhere. This brings me back to my college days at a highly ranked school when I was finishing up my degree by taking a physiology lab. Most of the students were pre-med. Prof discovered students were cheating and gave them a chance to confess. More students confessed than he originally suspected. All still passed the class and went on to graduate and I'm sure became doctors. Doesn't that make you all feel secure?

[Anonymous]

sour grapes troll

[Anonymous]

I think the former principal of TJ resigned due to a cheating incident and that could be why the new principal wants to keep the cheating incidents quiet and not crack down which would bring more scrutiny and publicity.

Stuyvesant High School principal also resigned few months ago due to a cheating incident there that happened in May as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the former principal of TJ resigned due to a cheating incident and that could be why the new principal wants to keep the cheating incidents quiet and not crack down which would bring more scrutiny and publicity.

Stuyvesant High School principal also resigned few months ago due to a cheating incident there that happened in May as well.

She didn't resign because there was a cheating incident, but because she made remarks suggesting Asian students were more likely to cheat. There's a difference. But I agree Evan Glazer is big on projecting a happy face externally.

[Anonymous]

There were so much cheating on the math tests by the TJ Math Team members and the school would not do anything and finally the math team itself had to crack down and impose punishments but this cheating on math tests is still going on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There were so much cheating on the math tests by the TJ Math Team members and the school would not do anything and finally the math team itself had to crack down and impose punishments but this cheating on math tests is still going on.

So depressing, particularly when you consider some of these kids will go on to top colleges. Small wonder to find so much corporate fraud and scientists fudging research results. It does catch up with them eventually.

[Anonymous]

At UVa, an Honor Code violation results in expulsion. Maybe TJ should consider a similar policy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At UVa, an Honor Code violation results in expulsion. Maybe TJ should consider a similar policy.

A good idea, but knowing the parents in this area they'd spend too much time in litigation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At UVa, an Honor Code violation results in expulsion. Maybe TJ should consider a similar policy.

A good idea, but knowing the parents in this area they'd spend too much time in litigation.

What if the kids and the parents had to sign a copy of the Honor Code and agree to abide by it? The school could make sure every teacher talks to the kids about what constitutes cheating and be very clear that it will not be tolerated. Sometimes high school aged kids really don't understand what is cheating and what is not, so the school should spend time teaching this. When a teacher uncovers cheating, there need to be immediate consequences so the kids realize that it is not worth it to cheat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At UVa, an Honor Code violation results in expulsion. Maybe TJ should consider a similar policy.

A good idea, but knowing the parents in this area they'd spend too much time in litigation.

What if the kids and the parents had to sign a copy of the Honor Code and agree to abide by it? The school could make sure every teacher talks to the kids about what constitutes cheating and be very clear that it will not be tolerated. Sometimes high school aged kids really don't understand what is cheating and what is not, so the school should spend time teaching this. When a teacher uncovers cheating, there need to be immediate consequences so the kids realize that it is not worth it to cheat.

Agreed.