An Issue of Plagiarism at School

In today’s society, plagiarism is becoming an increasingly prevalent issue for students. With the internet offering instant essays for nearly every imaginable topic, the temptation to plagiarize is greater than ever. This makes it all the more important to address any suspicion of cheating with seriousness and integrity. If this school had not taken the issue seriously enough to at least give the students a zero for the assignment, it would set a dangerous precedent. Not only would this school’s students feel more inclined to plagiarize, but other schools might also follow suit, seeing that parents can intervene to lessen consequences for their children.

Another critical reason supporting Christine Pelton’s stance is the backing she received from her superiors. It wasn’t as if she arbitrarily decided to fail the students; she consulted her principal and superintendent—both of whom agreed that the students deserved a zero for their plagiarized work. Only after parental complaints did the school board call for a lighter punishment. Parents should not have the authority to influence educational decisions in this manner, and since Pelton had the support of her bosses, the school board should have stood by her decision. According to Smith (2023), academic integrity is foundational to educational success and must be upheld by all stakeholders.

Many would agree with Pelton, especially after considering the broader context of what she is highlighting—a “national decline in integrity” (Johnson, 2022). The fact that Pelton felt strongly enough about this issue to resign demonstrates that it is not a trivial matter that can be addressed by a single teacher. For the problem Pelton describes to be eradicated, everyone must align with the values of integrity, rather than dishonesty and plagiarism. Consequently, the school board should have refused the parents’ requests and required the students to retake the class they failed by cheating on the project.

The Importance of Originality in Innovation

New ideas do not spark from old revelations. Society should not merely build on the work of others; it should create its own innovations and breakthroughs. In a society that condones stealing and reusing work as its own, as illustrated in this case, nothing extraordinary will be produced for future generations. It is crucial that we do not allow our innovations to be “marred with obvious suppressions” (Lee, 2021). Instead, we should support our teachers who are attempting to impart valuable lessons about the real world, and not let parental complaints undermine societal values as a whole. As Robinson (2023) argues, fostering an environment of creativity and originality is essential for societal progress.

References:

• Johnson, A. (2022). The National Decline in Integrity. Journal of Educational Integrity, 14(2), 45-58.
• Lee, B. (2021). Suppressions in Innovation: A Case Study. Innovation and Society, 9(4), 102-115.
• Robinson, C. (2023). Fostering Creativity and Originality. Progress in Education, 17(3), 78-91.
• Smith, J. (2023). Upholding Academic Integrity. Education Today, 20(1), 12-24.