Recommendations and Plagiarism
Of course since the school year is winding down and new schedules are being made for next year, there are students who suddenly want to "do their best" and prove to me that they can get all A's on tests & quizzes and turn in all of their homework. Um... it's mid-May. It's a little late for that. There are no course recommendations that I am changing for next year. If I do change them, it's to drop some kids that have slipped immensely down to a lower level than I recommended in March.
Had another student issue today: Plagiarism.
I have to report this student to the vice principal, but I'm not going to do it until I go through the rest of classes' papers.
The kids had to do a health journal, as we were discussing health issues and vocabulary. For the first 5 of 6 journals, they were allowed to use their textbooks, notebooks, dictionaries - anything other than a human being - to check their grammar and spelling. One girl decided that by "use your textbook" I meant "copy word-for-word from the textbook." Um... wow. "Do you really think this is okay?" I asked her. "Well, you said we could use the book..." Um... no. Did I mention that this was a level 2 Honors class? Why on earth would it ever be okay to copy several passages from a textbook verbatim? Ugh. She started crying when I told her I have to report her for plagiarism and that it will probably be noted on her transcript. It may also eliminate her chances of being in the National Honor Society when she's a junior (she's only a freshman). I hate to have to do it to her, but once you let one person go, they think it's okay to do it again. I told her that I don't want her to think that I think that she's a terrible person, but she has to know that this is not right and that there are consequences for it. It's a good thing her class doesn't meet tomorrow, so she doesn't have to face me until Thursday. I'm prepared for the silent treatment. C'est la vie.
It's tough to be a teenager.
Had another student issue today: Plagiarism.
I have to report this student to the vice principal, but I'm not going to do it until I go through the rest of classes' papers.
The kids had to do a health journal, as we were discussing health issues and vocabulary. For the first 5 of 6 journals, they were allowed to use their textbooks, notebooks, dictionaries - anything other than a human being - to check their grammar and spelling. One girl decided that by "use your textbook" I meant "copy word-for-word from the textbook." Um... wow. "Do you really think this is okay?" I asked her. "Well, you said we could use the book..." Um... no. Did I mention that this was a level 2 Honors class? Why on earth would it ever be okay to copy several passages from a textbook verbatim? Ugh. She started crying when I told her I have to report her for plagiarism and that it will probably be noted on her transcript. It may also eliminate her chances of being in the National Honor Society when she's a junior (she's only a freshman). I hate to have to do it to her, but once you let one person go, they think it's okay to do it again. I told her that I don't want her to think that I think that she's a terrible person, but she has to know that this is not right and that there are consequences for it. It's a good thing her class doesn't meet tomorrow, so she doesn't have to face me until Thursday. I'm prepared for the silent treatment. C'est la vie.
It's tough to be a teenager.