In my language and literature class we read a small story on cheating. The story was called “So Much Unfairness Of Things”. It was about a boy named P. S. and how he struggled with trying not to give in to cheating on his Latin exam.
P.S. goes to a school in Virginia call V.P.S. or otherwise stands for Virgina Prepetory School. It is a very old boarding school for boys. The story began with P.S. waking up on the day of the exam. Then we met P.S.’s best friend Charles. He borrowed some toothpaste from Charles, which P.S. was known for doing. Then he eventually went down to take the exam.
The boys waited and chatted nervously awaiting the exam. Then when the teacher Dr. Fairfax walked in the all feel silent. Then he passed out the test and they all began to work. During the test P.S. knew he was going to struggle but he just wanted to pass so his father wouldn’t be disappointed. He was able to translate the first paragraph pretty well but then he couldn’t do anymore. But then he realized that the paragraph he couldn’t translate was in his desk. He thought nervously for a while about what he should do. He knew if he didn’t cheat he would fail the test, his father would be disappointed, and he would have to take the test again. But if he cheat and got caught he would be expelled. Finally he made the decision that he was going to cheat. P.S. opened up his desk and took out the paragraph and copied it down.
Later after the test he was so upset with himself he wasn’t sure whether he should tell on himself or just let it be. Then P.S. was called down to the head master. He was sent inside and was basically told that he was expelled. His father came to pick him up and to my surprise he wasn’t mad at P.S. at all. They then loaded up the car and left.
I found this story very interesting. I thought it was very well written and had a lot of surprises. My favorite thing about it was how you never knew what was going to happen. I kept you on the edge of your seat. Something that confused me though was that the whole time P.S. was so scared of his father but his father was actually okay with the fact that his son was kicked out of V.P S. I Then was able to connect with P.S. I have been afraid of doing badly on an exam, not because I would be ashamed but because my father would be disappointed. I think the lesson we learn from this story is that you parents are going to love you no matter what happens to you. And that it is best not to cheat because you should be honest with yourself.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Protection Outweighs Privacy
A growing number of high school students maintain facebook or myspace pages to express themselves or connect with friends. While facebook can be an effective means of communication or self-expression, it can sometimes be hurtful, disruptive, or otherwise harmful. Facebook pages can also reflect poorly on the student and the school he or she attends. For that reason, a growing number of schools are monitoring their students' facebook or myspace pages, causing a firestorm of controversy. Schools should have the right to monitor their students' webpages, because schools have a duty to provide a safe learning environment for all those who attend the school, and they also have a valid interest in protecting their own reputations.
The content of a student's webpage could potentially damage a school's reputation. For example, if a student athlete posts a picture of himself doing drugs, that picture reflects poorly not only on the student athlete but on the school he attends. A student athlete is a representative of his or her school. So if that athlete were to post a picture of himself doing something wrong, that could damage the school's reputation. Schools have a right to protect their reputation.
Schools also have a duty to protect their students from harm. To fulfill that duty, school have always had to monitor their students' conduct at school. New technology gives students new ways to cause mischief and harm. They can threaten or taunt their classmates or damage their classmates' reputations by what they say on their webpages. To prevent that damage, schools now have to monitor their students' electronic conduct to ensure that it is not harming other students. Also, since Columbine, school have had to be more vigilant about ensuring that students are not are threatening to engage in harmful conduct or giving clues that they will do something dangerous at school.
Schools also need to be able to enforce their own codes of conduct. Monitoring facebook or myspace pages is simply a tool to help ensure that students are not violating school rules, for example by drinking alcohol or doing drugs. A picture of a student openly violating school rules sends a message that the school can't enforce its own rules. Schools need to be able to take reasonable actions to ensure that rules are followed.
The thought of being watched and spied on can be upsetting to students. But students have to understand that schools have the students best interest at heart. They are trying to protect the students and the school and makes sure they can supply the best learning experience possible. Reasonable monitoring is necessary to meet that goal.
The content of a student's webpage could potentially damage a school's reputation. For example, if a student athlete posts a picture of himself doing drugs, that picture reflects poorly not only on the student athlete but on the school he attends. A student athlete is a representative of his or her school. So if that athlete were to post a picture of himself doing something wrong, that could damage the school's reputation. Schools have a right to protect their reputation.
Schools also have a duty to protect their students from harm. To fulfill that duty, school have always had to monitor their students' conduct at school. New technology gives students new ways to cause mischief and harm. They can threaten or taunt their classmates or damage their classmates' reputations by what they say on their webpages. To prevent that damage, schools now have to monitor their students' electronic conduct to ensure that it is not harming other students. Also, since Columbine, school have had to be more vigilant about ensuring that students are not are threatening to engage in harmful conduct or giving clues that they will do something dangerous at school.
Schools also need to be able to enforce their own codes of conduct. Monitoring facebook or myspace pages is simply a tool to help ensure that students are not violating school rules, for example by drinking alcohol or doing drugs. A picture of a student openly violating school rules sends a message that the school can't enforce its own rules. Schools need to be able to take reasonable actions to ensure that rules are followed.
The thought of being watched and spied on can be upsetting to students. But students have to understand that schools have the students best interest at heart. They are trying to protect the students and the school and makes sure they can supply the best learning experience possible. Reasonable monitoring is necessary to meet that goal.
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