[Niamh.]

Plagiarized Report

You are head of a student council at a high school, and are faced with a difficult decision regarding a grade-twelve girl’s risky, last-resort choice. This girl is an honor student. All through her academic years, she has obtained straight A’s, has many friends and has never been disciplined by the principal. However, near the end of her grade twelve year, she fell ill with the flu and fell way behind in her school work. She missed three weeks of class, which resulted in her having to rush a report that would be worth 40% of English, a required graduation subject in her curriculum. She was so desperate about the report that she went online and passed off a report she found on that subject as her own. Her English teacher caught her and has referred her to you. If you enter on her academic record that she plagiarized, she will likely not be eligible to be accepted into St. Steven’s University, a school she has dreamed of attending all through high school and needs in order to fulfill her academic and future dreams.
What would you do?

[Kate!]

Overlook it. Without hesitation, that's my decision. People resort to desperate measures in certain circumstances, and while what the pupil did was wrong, I personally wouldn't condemn her given her academic record and personal problems.

[Bollo]

If she was that desperate she should have gone to her English teacher before hand and explained the situation...as allowances can usually be made for such extreme circumstances i.e an extension given or asked to take into consideration her previous scores as an average if she really did not have time to finish the report. I'm afraid I would put it on her record, there is no excuse for plagiarism.... especially in English

[Roy Mars III]

Put it on her record. If she was dumb enough to just use a report from online she doesn't deserve to go to a good college anyway. Should have just asked for an extension or something

[Niall]

If she was such a model student, then I'd talk to her and tell her that she's been caught, but I'd give her the benefit of a doubt given her perfect record, and allow her to have some time to catch up. It's understandable given her situation. I'd probably do the same thing if it were me so I can sympathise.

[Ammi]

...hmmmm I'm going to think about this one for a while....
..I can't believe given her past record and her problems that something can't be done by both parties to try to make this situation right without just turning a blind eye to what she did

[Vicky.]

Put it on her record. Just because shes been straight A throughout the school years, thats no reason to let her cheat her way through the exams.

Couldnt I be sacked or something for covering for her anyway? :S

[MTVN]

I would definitely put it on record, she could have asked for an extension if things were that bad or she could take a year out before going to University and do it then, it's very dumb of her to think she can get away with that and I'm not risking my job because of it

[joeysteele]

I guess she could have asked for and likely got an extension. Like MTVN,I would have to have it put on her record, firstly for the integrity I would need to have in my position and in all fairness to all the others who did the work.
I would not like to do it but would feel there was nothing else I could do.It wasn't her fault being ill and missing weeks of work but she should have asked for assistance.

[arista]

"she fell ill with the flu and fell way behind in her school work."


But they have systems
to deal with it.



Its the Schools problem.

[Kizzy]

I would insist she rewrite it there and then..and stay with her for support.