The era of online school due to the COVID-19 pandemic has brought many challenges to students, including maintaining each individual’s work ethic and determination. Some students have excelled in the at-home school setting, while others have struggled to do so. Art teacher Erin Allen is currently teaching through the challenges of online school. “Cheating is much more prevalent due to the virtual nature of instruction, which has very little to no supervision,” said Allen. 

Allen feels that  students who have cheated during the home phase of learning will suffer more consequences in the long run. 

“The material being taught is for  the student’s betterment. If the student chooses to cheat, they are only stealing answers, not knowledge,” said Allen. “Students who do not attain the knowledge will truly suffer in the long run, as they approach cumulative testing, the next level course of instruction, and life or college after high school.” 

Allen also believes that the act of cheating reflects out of one’s own work ethic. 

“Truthfully, cheating springs out of laziness and a pattern of ‘ease’ to which they have been conditioned,” said Allen. “Some lack the wisdom and grit to be responsible for their own intellectual growth and thus, they choose not to exert the effort.” 

Allen also believes that cheating can be difficult to detect. 

“Cheating virtually can be hard to spot and, even if detected, can be hard to prove.  Without proof, nothing can be done,” said Allen.