It is very important that parents and students understand the expectations for academic honesty. All student work should be the work of that student. No copying or plagiarism is acceptable. If quoting others in academic material, students must cite their sources. Give credit where credit is due. The Language Arts teachers will review the proper way to do this. All students must follow individual teacher test rules for what is allowable. This ensures that a student’s success is based on honesty. If a student breaks these rules, a cheating contract will be sent home, along with a referral.
Cheating Policy
Westborough Middle School considers cheating or academic dishonesty a serious violation of school rules. Each student is expected to be responsible for his or her own work. How do we define cheating or academic dishonesty?
- Receiving or providing information during a test or for a test given in an earlier period.
- Using material on tests when the teacher has not given permission to do so.
- Violating the teacher’s testing rules and procedures.
- Using somebody else’s writing (word for word—or almost word for word) and saying it is your own. (Plagiarism). Or using somebody else’s ideas and saying they are your own and not giving credit.
- Using or copying another student’s assignment to turn in as your own work.
- Allowing other students to use your work on assignments with the exception of specific group, lab, or collaborative projects.
There are other actions which may be considered cheating or dishonesty. The above list contains the most common ones.
Common Questions
What is collaboration?
Working together in groups or projects means that you help each other think through problems and questions together and figure out solutions. It does not mean that one person gets an answer and everyone copies it down.
If I give my friend my homework to copy because she did not do her homework, is this cheating?
Yes. You are allowing your friend to turn in your own work under her name and take credit for work she did not do. This does not help your friend learn the material, and it hurts you too.
If I am absent, can I copy class notes from a study buddy?
Yes. The teacher gave the same information to everyone for everyone to use.
Why would a cheating offense mean that I might be on probation or be removed from a school leadership position?
Student leaders are role models for others just like adults are models for appropriate behavior. They represent the school to others. Westborough cannot support academic dishonesty.
Common Sense
Don’t leave your papers out in view of others that they might copy.
Keep track of your work.
Copying answers does not help you think for yourself or figure out a problem. You’ll still have to show what you know on the tests.
Help a friend think through a problem. Giving an easy answer does not teach them anything.
