Cheating in School

There is no Italian term for cheating on a test. You can "look at notes" or "look at someone else's paper" or "ask a friend", but there's no term that carries the opprobrium that "cheating on a test" does in English. Nor is the act itself condemned in Italian culture. This has been a shock to me: I was always taught that cheating is a very serious offense. But, throughout Rossella's school career, many of her classmates have routinely cheated - and gotten away with it. At least Ross achieves her mediocre grades honestly. By her reports (and I don't think she'd lie about it), some of the kids considered good students get their good grades by cheating all the time. And sometimes their parents not only know about it, but condone it!

Given that the attitude is widespread and the practice sometimes brazen, I can only assume that the teachers also don't consider it all that important; at this level, at least, they aren't taking serious steps to curb cheating (though my husband, a university professor, does). Ross tells me that her current teachers are even helping some kids during the exams, perhaps to make their own teaching skills look good to the "inspector" overseeing the exam process. Of course they make sure not to get caught themselves!

Today's paper reports that, in a survey of high school students preparing for the maturita' exam, 55% plan to use their cellphones to cheat (you ask to go to the bathroom, then call somebody). Cellphones are banned from exams for this reason, but one furbo is quoted as saying: "I'll bring two: I'll give up one when they ask, and keep the other hidden." (NB: Many Italian kids own more than one cellphone, because they insist on buying the latest trendy model each year.)

Routine exam cheating is a small illustration of an attitude which causes much larger problems in Italy. It seems to be part of the culture that anything you do to get ahead is okay. Laws were made to be broken, and one should feel only contempt for the poor slob who actually obeys the law, pays all his taxes, etc. As Leona Helmsley famously observed, "Only the little people pay taxes." But she was American, and did eventually wind up in jail. Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi, on the other hand, continues to hold office while on trial - multiple trials! - for various forms of corruption. He roundly declares that this is all persecution by the judiciary, and that he will not step down even if convicted. And people keep electing him, because he keeps promising reforms, even though he has so far failed to carry them out.

Cheating (More)

Dec 4, 2006

On a recent train commute I was seated next to two young women who kept up a lively (and tiring) flow of conversation throughout the journey. I was tempted to comment when one spoke of her younger brother, apparently the spoiled darling of the family, who is studying for some sort of medical qualification.

“He never cracks a book. He says he doesn’t need to because he knows he can always copy someone else’s test.”

And this guy will go on to become a certified medical practitioner? I find that very scary. Perhaps Italians need to rethink their attitudes towards cheating.

your thoughts and experiences on this?