The honor code has recently become a standard aspect of the educational system,

found in nearly every school across the nation. Its establishment mainly serves as a method for

reducing cheating within schools. However, many students tend to undermine the honor codes

set regulations and continue to violate them, regardless of the proposed consequences. In

response, schools should revise the honor code to create a student majority that prioritizes

academic integrity.

Instead of simply enforcing an honor code, schools should take efforts to instill a

collective student culture that sees value in academic integrity. Students will cheat regardless of

whatever forced system is in place. For example, a reported 157 students at U.Va were caught

cheating in their classes although a heavily enforced honor system had been set in place

(source D). As evident in this situation, students will violate the established honor code

regulations regardless of the possible repercussions. An honor code will not change the efforts

of these students because there is always the possibility of not getting caught. Also there are

more than 2,000 students in each high school nationwide, and far more enrolled at each

college. This makes monitoring each and every students actions highly improbable. It is nearly

impossible for the administration staff at each school to monitor each students actions.

However, if a student culture is established that values the effort each individual puts forth into

their work, cheating will be looked down upon and greatly reduced. Rather than enforcing a ton

of rules regarding academic morality, schools should focus on altering the school environment

to create more one-on-one interactions between teachers and students when learning so that

each student can develop a greater sense of self-confidence in oneself. With this confidence
and sense of belief within each student, a desire to do better on their schoolwork can develop

and instill a culture that looks unfavorably among cheating.

Possessing a value in the effort put forth in ones work is very important. Unfortunately,

this value has greatly decreased in recent years, leaving a widespread trend of disinterest to do

well independently on given assignments. As long as there is a window of avoiding conviction,

there will always be cheating. However, if schools focus their efforts on creating a mass

majority who do want to do well on their work, without outside sources, they can greatly

reduce this plague of plagiarism.