Reasons I am glad we homeschool: Cheating

by Andrea Hermitt | More from this Blogger

10 Dec 2008 08:48 AM

Reports of an increase in students cheating has caught America by surprise.

Sixty-four percent of students cheated on a test in the past year and 38 percent did so two or more times, up from 60 percent and 35 percent in a 2006 survey. In addition, 36 percent of students admitted to using the Internet to plagiarize an assignment compared to 33 percent in 2004. Despite such responses, 93 percent of the students said they were satisfied with their personal ethics and character, and 77 percent affirmed that "when it comes to doing what is right, I am better than most people I know."

In my state of Georgia, college money hinges on grades and so if students don't keep up a certain grade level they will not be able to go to college. It is apparent that students everywhere are cheating due to pressure. Besides scholarship pressure, students also feel pressure from parents, and from themselves. As homeschoolers we have unique opportunities to take a lot of pressure off of our kids. We get to figure out just how much pressure a child needs to succeed, and apply it in small amounts, backing off when the child feels stress. In most cases, we don't have to deal with high-stakes testing, nor are we bound to teach 40 chapters of science in 30 weeks according to a state curriculum. We let children move at their own speed, and will let the year bleed a bit into the summer if necessary.

In addition, we have the unique ability to teach values first and academics second. We get to teach students that honor is more important that a number on a piece of paper and reassure them that if they don't understand something, that they can try again until they get it.

Read: Are we apathetic about student ethics?

Other reasons I am glad we homeschool

Learn more about Andrea Hermitt

Andrea Hermitt is a native New Yorker currently residing in GA. She has been married for over 16 years and has two teenage children.

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