Oct. 24

Oct. 24, 2006 - 1:45 - 3 pm
Today's science time was entirely spent discussing and exploring moral issues that students face. Mrs. Seamons is very concerned with some of the students in her class and their complete lack of honesty. She began the discussion by asking students to respond in writing to 8 questions:
1. Who is someone you admire that is living today?
2. What is it about this person that you admire?
3. If you see someone cheating, what is your responsibility? Why?
4. If you were riding in a car that the person you admire was driving and s/he hit another car but drove away, how would you feel about this person after this incident? Would this person have done something like this?
5. What does it mean to tell the truth?
6. Think about the last time you told a lie. How did you feel?
7. Who looks up to you as an example?
8. What kind of adult would you like to be?
After the students responded to these questions, Mrs. Seamons directed the discussion as each question was talked about in class. It was interesting to hear the responses. The students were open and seemingly honest about their responses. After school I spoke with Mrs. Seamons about the discussion. She said it was inspired by some things that have happened this quarter that disturb her greatly. She and Mrs. Swasey, the other 6th grade teacher, are very concerned with the dishonesty that is going on in their classrooms. I've thought a lot about this issue and how I will handle cheating in my own classroom. I know every student is different and will require individual treatment, but I will address it everytime I know it has happened. The first thing I will want to know is why the cheating occurred. Discovering the motive I think goes a long way toward solving the problem. If I can help students address the underlying reasons for cheating, I hope to help them understand that the cost for cheating is too great a price to pay for such meager returns. I don't know if I will be successful but it is an issue that I feel very strongly about.