As academic pressures rise, cheating has become a very frequent and controversial topic in high schools, especially in The Columbus School. While some students see it as a shortcut, others insist it’s a response to overwhelming stress and unrealistic expectations from class.
To fully understand academic dishonesty, there are three main points of view: the student who has cheated under pressure, the one who chooses to stay honest, and professionals who explain the reason behind this behavior. Together, they help uncover why students cheat, its effects, and what schools can do to manage the root causes of the issue.
Many students who cheat aren’t doing so because they don’t care about learning, instead, they feel trapped by high expectations and the pressure to succeed no matter what. Helena Garcia, who admits to cheating in the past, said it wasn’t a lack of values but a response to overwhelming stress.
“I felt like the only thing that mattered was my GPA,” Helena Garcia, a senior, said.
It has become a common issue. Learning is a constant competition, and as more people use sources like ChatGPT to cheat, it is normalized, making it less regretful to follow others’ negative footsteps.
“Yeah, I did. I saw other students cheating, and no one seemed to get caught. It made it feel like it wasn’t that big of a deal,” Garcia said.
This feeling of helplessness is more common than many realize. As students face academic overload, with more and more APs, some find themselves making decisions they never thought they would be able to do.
“I didn’t have enough time to study, and I panicked. I looked up some answers on my phone. I told myself it was just one time, but it didn’t stop there,” Garcia said.
Psychologists say that as students stress and stress more, it piles up, and students can lose sight of long-term values.
“Anxiety can make students feel like they have no other choice. When under extreme stress, their ability to think rationally is impaired, leading to impulsive decisions like cheating,” Miguel Suarez, psychologist, said.
Even though it is less common each time, some students are persisting and making the much harder decision to study their way through school.
“It’s frustrating when you know someone got a better grade by cheating, but in the long run, I know I’m learning the material, and they aren’t,” Pedro Florez, a senior, said.
Many times, students aren’t rewarded for effort, but by perfection, which, in fact, is impossible for humans. We all make mistakes, and schools should be aware of that.
“I don’t think schools always handle cheating well; some teachers don’t do anything even when they know it’s happening,” Florez said.
Even when students cheat, they are not proud of it and many times admit they are not learning the topic, and they make themselves more stressed than when they began.
“I feel like I cheated myself out of actually understanding the material. Plus, it made me anxious; I was always worried about getting caught,” Garcia said.
On the other hand, supporting teachers can also make a big difference. By encouraging resilience, over-perfect scores help students feel safer to try their best and even fail, without needing to be dishonest.
“I encourage questions and give students opportunities to improve their grades through revisions,” Bradford Stretton a high school teacher said.
As mentioned previously, with the increase in technology use and tools of artificial intelligence, many teachers are now designing assessments that are harder to cheat on and easier to engage with.
“Open-ended assignments, discussions, and projects make it harder to cheat and help students learn better,” Stretton said
Students’ parents are also aware of the student crisis and are emphasizing the need for understanding over punishment.
“I think punishment alone doesn’t fix the problem. Schools should focus more on prevention, like teaching students better study habits and time management,” Angela Patricia Muñoz, parent, said.
Cheating can be mitigated with the right support, students won’t feel the need to take shortcuts.
“Make sure your child knows that honesty matters more than grades. Let them know they can come to you if they’re struggling instead of resorting to cheating,” Muñoz said.
Even if anxiety is one of the biggest reasons for cheating, not having a good schedule or good time management is essential for preparation for exams.
“The most common reasons are pressure to maintain high grades, fear of failure, and lack of time to study properly,” Suarez said.
Trustworthiness is one of the biggest pillars of character. Honesty must be reinforced in school, but more importantly, for when we go out into the real world.
“I’ve been talking about it since day one. I also explain why honesty matters, not just in school but in life,” Stretton said.
Together, the school and students can build a relationship of trust and mutual help, where everyone benefits.
“Students need to act with integrity, but teachers also need to create an environment where they don’t feel like cheating is the only option,” Stretton said.
Looking for help and speaking up when needed is the final key to breaking an ongoing cycle of dishonesty, cheating, and no actual learning. It is not all about the grades.
“Make sure your child knows that honesty matters more than grades. Let them know they can come to you if they’re struggling instead of resorting to cheating,” Muñoz said.