Cheating. Everyone knows what it is, and you’ve probably done it.  Whether it be a quick glance onto someone’s paper, using an electronic device to answer a question, or even something as simple as copying your friend’s homework,cheating has become such a common thing nowadays.  But, does that make it right?

Technology makes the biggest impact on cheating. Does technology make that big of a difference? We interviewed some teachers to see what they had to say.

“I think cheating IS getting worse because of technology,” says Mary Davis, the drama teacher,  “One- if teachers are having students use phones for a class assignment, it’s hard to monitor what they’re actually doing. Also- I’m sure that kids are taking pictures of tests and sending it to friends over text over groupme. Technology is one of the best tools for teachers, but I wish there was a way to monitor the usage better!”

“I think cheating is definitely getting worse in school. I think the ease of access to things like smartphones makes it very easy to cheat,” as stated by history teacher and baseball coach, Caleb Rogers.

According to Thomas Patterson, the World History teacher, “Too many students are taking advantage of their cell phones to cheat in school. Students are using text messages, snapchat, and other apps that relay important info to their friends.”

There are many excuses to why students cheat, but the pressure of getting good grades is the most common reason for students everywhere. Some students, however, are just too lazy to do their own work.

The New York Times reports, “The habit of cheating starts mostly in middle school, and will continue on from there. Just over 60 percent of students reported cheating on exams and 90 percent admitted to copying another students’ homework, and peaks during high school, where about 75 percent of students admit to having committed acts of academic dishonesty.”

Many students argued that technology is NOT the problem and that people can cheat without technology just as much as they can with it. We interviewed a two students at Bob Jones to see what they had to say about the situation.

“To be honest, I think cheating is getting worse,” says freshman Katie Eggenberger, “I definitely think that technology has an impact on cheating because they’re focused more on their iPhones rather than their work.”

Kristin Alley, a senior, has similar views, “I don’t think cheating is getting better, but I haven’t noticed it going on. I do think that technology makes information easier to access, and I think that it is a situation that needs to be addressed.”

But has anyone ever thought, are teachers to blame? Or is it just the students?

There have been many ongoing debates about this topic, and no one has come to a clear answer.

“Some of the teachers are to blame,” as stated by Eggenberger, “but, the kids need to do their own work.”

“I think the decision is up to the student, but the fact that teachers are putting a lot of pressure on students isn’t helping the situation,” says Alley.

“Since a lot of teachers aren’t willing to adapt to the changing technological world, cheating will continue to be easier to get away with it,” according to Rogers.

Cheating can get you into serious trouble such as detention, a failed grade, suspension, and in some cases, expulsion. Unfortunately, some students are not getting caught.