Is Cheating in School in this Case OK?
 

I work at the learning center in my college. It is a place where people can bring essays or math problems and I am payed to help them with the work. I proof read essays and do a lot of math. I was hired because I was the only math major who wanted to do this. So far we have had a few cheaters here, but the last 2 weeks it was just too much.

There is a lady in a wheel chair that is very nice and always kind to most people. The last 2 weeks we have caught her cheating TWICE. Not once, but [censored] TWICE.

The first time she cheated she had to do a presentation and was going to write it like a script then she was going to read it for the class. Well one of the guys who works here notices the writting is just a bit too good. Then she says, "I need to pick a song to go with it."(It was for a music class) The problem is that at the bottom the paper says which song should be played. So she stole it off the internet and didnt even read it.

Then this week I read one of her papers and most of it was plagiarized from some article written by some expert. She wouldnt quote him and would just steal whole sentences.

Its depressing because one of the guys that works here was all pissed off and actually was pissed at her, but she is in a wheel chair and a bit slow. I mean its sad. Something about watching the tutor basically tell her cheating is wrong and pretty much go after her seemed so damn sad. Its like come on man, I think life has done enough.

So what should I say here? Tell the dude who got angry to cool off because she is in a wheel chair or to side with him and be angry at her for the senseless cheating? She will probably come back for more help and its inevitable I will have to pick a side.

Re: Is Cheating in School in this Case OK?
 

Id have no sympathy.

Re: Is Cheating in School in this Case OK?
 

So what, just because you're in a wheelchair you can be a cheat? [censored] no.

Call her on the carpet.

Re: Is Cheating in School in this Case OK?
 

You should do what is required by your employer - the Learning Center - and what is required by your school. I'm sure that there are Deans of Something that can help you with this.

It probably doesn't involve gossiping with co-workers but more likely speaking to your supervisor and possibly her and her professors.

Re: Is Cheating in School in this Case OK?
 

Let it go. Shes probably never going to be anything in life anyway. Let her feel like shes a good college student.

Re: Is Cheating in School in this Case OK?
 

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I work at the learning center in my college. It is a place where people can bring essays or math problems and I am payed to help them with the work. I proof read essays.

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Ugh



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So what should I say here? Tell the dude who got angry to cool off because she is in a wheel chair or to side with him and be angry at her for the senseless cheating? She will probably come back for more help and its inevitable I will have to pick a side.

[/ QUOTE ]

I hate to sound like a dick, but maybe working in a college learning center isn't the best placement for you.

Re: Is Cheating in School in this Case OK?
 

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Let it go. Shes probably never going to be anything in life anyway. Let her feel like shes a good college student.

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That's [censored]. As the parent of a disabled child I think this attitude is disgusting. I also think it's disgusting that she deserves any sort of special treatment.

She's in a wheelchair, she's not incapable.

Re: Is Cheating in School in this Case OK?
 

Just leave her work on high shelves.

WHEELCHAIR WHEELCHAIR WHEELCHAIR WHEELCHAIR WHEELCHAIR WHEELCHAIR WHEELCHAIR WHEELCHAIR WHEELCHAIR WHEELCHAIR WHEELCHAIR WHEELCHAIR WHEELCHAIR WHEELCHAIR WHEELCHAIR

Re: Is Cheating in School in this Case OK?
 

I am a math major and I dont think we get points off if our posts have some errors.

Re: Is Cheating in School in this Case OK?
 

Most disabled people want to be treated like everyone else. So bust her ass for cheating.

Re: Is Cheating in School in this Case OK?
 

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Id have no sympathy.

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Somehow I'm disinclined to put any stock into your opinions on academic ethics.

Re: Is Cheating in School in this Case OK?
 

No, it's not OK. This is what I would tell her:

Why don't you just do your own work, get whatever grades you earn, but actually learn something in the process? Personal growth is the only thing that you'll ever get out of college, since a good job is fairly unreasonable. You're a cripple. It sucks, but it's the truth. You'll have a hard enough time in life without avoiding learning.

Re: Is Cheating in School in this Case OK?
 

Sometimes people genuinely dont understand the difference between plagiarism and research

Re: Is Cheating in School in this Case OK?
 

Once you go wheel, there's no other deal for the win?

Re: Is Cheating in School in this Case OK?
 

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Id have no sympathy.

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Somehow I'm disinclined to put any stock into your opinions on academic ethics.

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Why's that?

Re: Is Cheating in School in this Case OK?
 

Just tell her what she is doing is wrong and leave it up to the professor to catch her. Do you think the professor will not do the great detective work that you did?

Re: Is Cheating in School in this Case OK?
 

yea, just do your job as if she wasn't in a wheelchair.

Re: Is Cheating in School in this Case OK?
 

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I am a math major and I dont think we get points off if our posts have some errors.

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ok but you did say you proofread essays right?

Re: Is Cheating in School in this Case OK?
 

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I am a math major and I dont think we get points off if our posts have some errors.

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I think that Chesspain's other point was with the way you were handling the situation.

Re: Is Cheating in School in this Case OK?
 

It is your job to find this stuff out, so yeah, its your job to bust her for cheating.

The fact that she is handicapped is neither here nor there.

Re: Is Cheating in School in this Case OK?
 

also, wow. i can't believe you would honestly "take it easy" on her just because she's in a wheelchair. hold a door for her? sure. look the other way when she cheats? wow.. don't you see how unfair that is to everyone else?

Re: Is Cheating in School in this Case OK?
 

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Sometimes people genuinely dont understand the difference between plagiarism and research

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This is true to some degree. I think the most important part of your description of this woman is that she's a little slow. The wheelchair element merits absolutely zero special treatment for academic work - zero.
Not sure what you mean by slow, but if you think she might just not get it it could help her if you gave some guidance on what is expected of her, and what is not kosher. Describe academic dishonesty as an expellable offense and completely unacceptable. Show her how to cite her sources, then theoretically she can copy all she wants and put it in her bibliography.

Re: Is Cheating in School in this Case OK?
 

I go thru great lengths to never be caught when I cheat. As an cheater this wheelchair problem really upsets me.
1. she obv. sucks at cheating
2. You are treating her different, just because she is in a wheelchair.

All I hear is how wheelchair people wanna be treated as if they are infact real people. So do what you would do to any normal person and have her kicked out of school.

Re: Is Cheating in School in this Case OK?
 

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Most disabled people want to be treated like everyone else. So bust her ass for cheating.

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Re: Is Cheating in School in this Case OK?
 

I think a lot of people are missing the part about her being 'a bit slow.'

Unless you meant she just couldn't work her arms fast enough to get herself around I think you should have a talk with her and make sure she understands what plagarism is and now to avoid it. Maybe she just isn't clear on the guidelines?

Re: Is Cheating in School in this Case OK?
 

Ok the slow thing I should explain it in more detail. She talks slow and moves slow. The best way I could describe it would be if you took a breath after every word. Something like this:

Hello....my.....name.....is.......

She also thinks very slow. So its not just a speech problem.

As far as proof reading essays goes I do that sometimes, but its not the same as writting in a forum. I think its great that you guys actually proof read your posts a bunch of times and make sure all words are spelled correctly before posting, but I dont really do that and wont anytime in the near future. If I make a couple of mistakes here and there so be it.

I guess part of me could understand her frustration. I have never been that ill, but according to my co-worker she used to be normal up until she was in a car accident that left her as she is now. I mean she has to write a bunch of stuff and she cant really understand the language too well plus her mind and body dont help her, it must be very hard.

I forgot to mention that her english is very poor. It is obvious she is able to communicate better in spanish.

Re: Is Cheating in School in this Case OK?
 

I reassessed my earlier position.

I now realise i dont know it is your job to bust her for cheating.

Are you the guy there to help her not need to cheat, or are you the guy there to bust her?

Obviously the answer you give to that question dictates your actions quite clearly.

Re: Is Cheating in School in this Case OK?
 

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Are you the guy there to help her not need to cheat, or are you the guy there to bust her?


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Interesting question. I am the guy there that always tries to help people do work the right way. If that means it takes a while so be it. A lot of people dont like the fact that sometimes I will make them rewrite paragraphs that dont make any sense. I like to believe I help people so that they dont have to cheat, but not everyone wants that kind of help.

Re: Is Cheating in School in this Case OK?
 

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The best way I could describe it would be if you took a breath after every word

[/ QUOTE ] http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/malcolm/ga.../malcolm12.jpg

Re: Is Cheating in School in this Case OK?
 

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It is obvious she is able to communicate better in spanish.

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it's obvious you have a clear bias when it comes to this person. just think of how fair you're being to everyone else if you let this slide.

Re: Is Cheating in School in this Case OK?
 

Politely ask her if her cheating in the past is the reason she's in the wheelchair today.
Suggest you think crippling somebody's legs is a fitting punishment for cheating.

Re: Is Cheating in School in this Case OK?
 

Accuse her using her wheelchair as a clever ruse to elicit more sympathy from these tutors at the learning center. Then to dramatically prove your point, stand her up and kick the wheelchair out of the way.

Re: Is Cheating in School in this Case OK?
 

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Accuse her using her wheelchair as a clever ruse to elicit more sympathy from these tutors at the learning center. Then to dramatically prove your point, stand her up and kick the wheelchair out of the way.

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http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/8...sobchakdc1.jpg

approves.

Re: Is Cheating in School in this Case OK?
 

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No, it's not OK. This is what I would tell her:

Why don't you just do your own work, get whatever grades you earn, but actually learn something in the process? Personal growth is the only thing that you'll ever get out of college, since a good job is fairly unreasonable. You're a cripple. It sucks, but it's the truth. You'll have a hard enough time in life without avoiding learning.

[/ QUOTE ]

Knowing is half the battle. Yo Joe!

Re: Is Cheating in School in this Case OK?
 

Look at this guy. Discriminating against disabled retards.

Re: Is Cheating in School in this Case OK?
 

having slow people unfairly graduate diminishes the value of your diploma, just a thought