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The Waking
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I feel my fate in what I cannot fear.
I learn by going where I cannot go.
We think by feeling. What is there to know?
I hear my being dance from ear to ear.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
Of those so close beside me, which are you?
God bless the Ground! I shall walk softly there,
And learn by going where I have to go.
Light takes the Tree, but who can tell us how?
The lowly worm climbs up a winding stair;
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
Great Nature has another thing to do
To you and me; so take the lively air,
And, lovely, learn by going where to go.
This shaking keeps me steady. I should know.
What falls away is always. And is near.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I learn by going where I have to go.
--Theodore Roethke
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Joy's Updates - Straight from the Horse's Mouth.
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Sunday, September 12, 2004
Cheating
I've been having a problem in my honors English class with cheating. First of all, four boys turned in their summer reading list folders with exactly the same information in them. The fonts were different for each of the four books, so I called them out in the hall to point this out. Eventually they admitted that each wrote about one book and then made copies for the others. I said I guess they should make 25 on the folder since they only did one-fourth of the work. I told them I appreciated their admitting what they did and said I'd let them get the grade I gave them (not 100 but an A). I told them I wouldn't be able to vote for them if they were nominated for Boy's State or outstanding students since they cheated and also showed them what their grade would have been with the 25. I pointed out what that would do to their GPA and explained that I was giving them a break this time but to consider what a zero would do.
During the next test, I moved the boys away from each other, and one of them failed the test. I commented that I knew one was the tree and the others were mistletoe - parasites living off the knowledge of others. They thought this was funny and joked about it. I decided to talk to some others in authority which I don't generally do, but I didn't see any attitude from them that made me feel better. I talked to one of the assistant principals and their coaches. The football coach said his player's attitude was good and that he apologized. He didn't to me, though. The basketball coach said his boys laughed it off and said everyone cheats, so he made them run while the others played which was about 3 miles. They weren't laughing then.
I talked to them privately out in the hall about talking to their coaches and the assistant principal and gave another speech about cheating. As soon as I finished and they were back in the room, I gave a 50-point quiz on The Old Man and the Sea, one of the summer reading list books. When I was grading the tests, I noticed that the two basketball players missed the same answers that "the tree" did on his, so I gave them all zeroes. When I returned their tests, they tried to talk to me about it. I told them I'd already said everything I had to say to them and that I was totally irritated with them since they cheated right after I'd talked with them again. They tried to say they didn't cheat and pointed out that I'd watched them. (sheesh) I told them I didn't watch them but trusted them instead and that this is what happened.
These kids all know what goes on with each other, so I thought this would be the end of it. But noooo! I can't beleve how blatantly they cheat, the little remorse they have, and how it continues no matter what.
I'd told the boys they were going to have to take their tests in ISS (in-school suspension). The reason I'm doing this is that public humiliation goes a long way. At least I hope it will. I told the assistant principal that I could move them in the room but that this way others would see them and know I was serious about cheating. I also said I'm not going to make separate tests every time because I'm not going to make it harder on myself because they cheat. I will make separate tests now and then, though.
This is so frustrating. Unsurprisingly, this is worse in my honors class than regular since grades are so important. I tried to give them a break but that was a mistake. No more! They interpret being nice as weakness. Apparently, they also must think I'm just stupid.
Have any of you read The Cheating Culture? Those who say we shouldn't teach values in school, don't realize that we do it all the time when we try to instill honesty, hard work, respect, and other such ethics.
8:18:00 PM
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