:: Running from the Thought Police ::

:: Thursday, May 20, 2004 ::

My Alma Mater Tests Student Body On Academic Honesty

Now that they've gotten their retreat program where they want it, my old high skool is now focusing on on something it's principle once spent two non-homilies (moderately long story) on: academic honesty.

The tests, administered Tuesday, were intended to measure students' attitudes toward cheating and plagiarizing in school. The students were not required to put their names on the tests.

"The purpose of the tests isn't to identify which students are dishonest," Assistant Principal Jim Brown said. "The purpose of the testing is to create a learning tool to determine and clarify the students' values toward honesty and academic integrity."

The testing and resulting follow-up are part of a requirement for the school's overall accreditation by the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. Benet, as well as other schools renewing their accreditation, must identify areas where they want to improve.

A survey of Benet students, alumni and faculty found that academic honesty was a significant goal to pursue.

"We didn't feel that academic cheating was any more prevalent at Benet than at any other school," Brown said. "We just wanted to see if we could find ways to prevent dishonesty if it existed."

As far as I know, I didn't cheat while at Benet and as I was out of the social loop I was by no means able to gauge its prevalence. It'll be interesting to see if the results of this assessment will come down the alumni news pipeline or if it'll be openly published at all.

:: The Squire 1:15 PM :: email this post :: ::
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