Member Since: November 30, 2006
Answers: 1
Last Update: November 30, 2006
Visitors: 1146
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I am almost positive that one of my professors is changing our answers on tests so that we get better grades. Let me start from the beginning....
After the class took the midterm exam, I was looking over my answers and I noticed that some of the writing was kind of funny. I thought, geez I must have been really tired when I took this test, and I let it go. Then, some of the other people in the class started whispering about it. Apparently someone had changed some of our answers to the correct answers before the tests had been graded! We all assumed that a student aid or graduate student had done it.
What's the problem then you might ask. I got a better grade so I shouldn't complain, right? Well, I try my best to be a good person and the fact that that had happened made me feel sooo guilty. It stressed me out to no end. I don't need to get a great grade in the class. With the corrections my score had been boosed from about a 70 to a 90. I didn't need the extra points. All I have to do is pass the course.
I didn't want to be the tattle tale and ruin everyone's day by possibly making the entire class take the midterm over again, but I couldn't deal with the dishonesty I was feeling. Later in that day I went to talk to the professor about what had happened. I liked her and I thought that telling her was the right thing to do. She seemed very understanding and told me to just keep working hard and that she would take care of it. I felt so good after I did it and knew that it had been the right choice. Well, nothing was done about it and I began to wonder.
We took another test and when I was handed my test back I got a "Great job!". When I noticed that the same thing had happened I almost cried. Nobody else in the class seems to mind, but it is tearing me apart. Now everyone is almost positive that it is the professor that is doing it. It's almost the end of the semester and I worry now that we'll all have to take the whole course over again. I can't afford to do that! I have just enough time to fit all the classes in that I need to graduate.
I think I know the reason why she does it (if she does). She isn't allowed to make her own tests or assignments for us. It has to be the same for everyone that is taking the class. The head of her department makes everything and she is often confused on what to teach us and what to tell us to study. I think that this is terrible and that a professor should be able to teach the way they want. Boosting our grades like she does (or allowing it to happen) is her way of giving us a curve.
It makes sense and it seems like a good thing, but if it's supposed to be the same for everyone taking the class, then my class is getting a very unfair advantage! Yeah, there needs to be some change, but it should be done in an honest way! There are so many better ways to have handled that. I believe that the professor is retiring after this semester so I don't think it would affect much in her life if she was found out.
Should I tell? I think I probably will anyway. I don't want to have to live with this for the rest of my life. If I do, who should I go through? The head of the department or someone higher in the college? She doesn't let us keep the tests and I have a feeling that if she were being investigaed for this that they would mysteriously go missing. With no proof, can anything really be done?
I give a lot of advice, but now I need some myself. I have no idea how I would answer this question if it were asked by someone else. Am I doing the right thing? I doubt anyone has gone through something similar to this and can offer an experience based answer. I shouldn't have to deal with this, I'm a student! I should be the one that's cheating if anybody! HELP!!
~sizzlinmandolin, (20/f) (link)
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I'm a student at a military academy. We have an honor code, which states "We will not lie, steal, or cheat, nor tolerate among us anyone who does." This idea of honor is a pretty big deal with everyone here, and I'd like to think it helps in issues like these.
Cheating is defined as anything that gives you an unfair advantage over anyone else. I think you've already established that you're getting better grades than you should, which gives you an advantage over people taking the same course with other professors. You have to take action to stop it.
I would not advise going to your University leadership first. You always try to solve issues like this at their lowest level. In this case, you have to talk to the teacher. You should encourage her to fix the grades to better reflect what students in your course deserved without aid.
If she doesn't change anything, then you might want to consider going to someone higher up.
If you're still on the fence about doing anything, consider this. It's obvious you have a sense of integrity, or you wouldn't feel so guilty about this. By taking action, you would strengthen that integrity, which would make it easier to make the right choice next time. However, if you don't do anything, there's a chance you'll let the next occurrence of cheating slide. By doing this, you surrender your integrity, and you allow your professor to surrender her own integrity.
Trust me, your and your professor's integrity is far more important than any pension.
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Rating: 5
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Very good points, thank you. I never thought of approaching her again, that's a good idea.
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