FHSTheFlash The Flash Volume 46, Issue 5 April 2006 | Page 4

4 Technology Technology vs. Tradition By Sarah Zalewski ‘06 Flash Staff Reporter Using blockers, cover sheets, or different tests are often what teachers use to stop cheating; but now there’s a new nemesis for the cheating world: the Internet. Students can buy papers online, text message answers to each other and also use the Internet to search for an- swers. Since the teachers don’t know what the students are doing on every computer, it’s becoming more and more difficult to find out, let alone to stop the cheating. Some schools have an idea on how to stop online cheating: make it legal. Technology is advancing more than anyone ever imagined. It’s used in everyday life from driving a car to work to sending and receiving emails from friends. Now it’s being used to cheat. A few schools nationwide are now permitting cheating off the Internet by legalizing it. According to the Scholastic News Service, “teachers at these schools argue that Internet skills are necessary in today’s world. It isn’t cheating, the teachers say, because we’ve changed the rules to allow it.” While some schools now allow the legalized cheating, other schools have found more flexible test taking strategies like taking tests with a friend or a group so that one can get multiple answers and a better chance at a higher grade. There are people who are against cheating and see it as a destruction of morals and a demolition of principles. These people are the ones Whose space? By Amanda Dupure ‘07 Assistant Editor Over 50 million users are proof; MySpace is an addiction that has seen explosive growth among teens today. It’s taking over cyberspace in record time with it only being in existence since January 2004, and not surprisingly, a larger percentage of Fraser High School’s students have one of their own. MySpace is a website that features personal profiles that anyone 14 years of age or older can feature themselves on. MySpace accounts are free and are most commonly occupied by teenagers and adults into their mid twenties. According to the website, MySpace makes it possible for users to share photos, journals, and interests with a growing network of mutual friends. Anyone can own an account by just signing up on-line. Along with its popularity, comes a number of dangerous aspects of the website. MySpace can potentially invite predators and identity thieves into homes. A number of occurrences have taken place due to users not taking their on-line security into serious consideration. Although the site does warn users not to post any identifiable information, a number of users don’t abide by the guidelines suggested. “I know that MySpace can be dangerous but I made sure not to post any personal information,” said freshman Veronica Kieffer, “I think that by using common sense you can avoid any problems with the website.” Underage preteens are slipping past the rules by simply lying about their age in order to occupy their own page. Being a public site for people even outside of the country, personal information is dangerous to have on the site. The site also provokes cases of harassment and stalking. Naïve users welcome themselves into cases like these by supplying personal information that leads right to them. Just like the site states “a little common sense goes a long way.” Schools have been banning the site from being in use by their students with the argument that the site is inappropriate. Most of the sites do consist of provocative and seductive aspects that may not be suggested for young users, but it is being examined whether or not this ban is even actually legal. MySpace employs a number of workers who monitor the site 24 hours a day. They also work with law enforcement agencies to keep form any confrontation having to deal with predators on the web. There have been seven recent cases where sexually assaulted teen girls admitted to meeting their attackers on MySpace. who are fighting for the tradition that “you get what you deserve.” According to the Scholastic News Service, “the skills of intelligent surfing and analysis, some argue, are just as crucial as rote memorization. The new rules of cheating aren’t being accepted by all, as most in academia view the change as an erosion of principles.” There is a zero-tolerance policy for cheating at Fraser High School and anyone who does it and gets caught will be punished accordingly. “I feel that it is immoral and is setting us up to fail later in life. Teachers are supposed to help us to learn not teach us to cheat,” said Jamie Mucaria ‘06. There are many consequences to cheating. Here at Fraser, when someone cheats, they lose credit for the quarter and it affects their overall G.P.A. Other disciplinary actions can be taken towards avenging cheating in hopes of teaching a cheater his lesson on why not to cheat. “If cheating was legal then the whole purpose of morals would diminish,” said Rebekah Tacoma ‘06. Either way, it’s a choice. Some schools have chosen to accept cheating and “legalize” it in order to move towards technology and its new uses, while other schools have chosen to keep the tradition of doing one’s own work, and getting the deserved grade. Is it worth the risk to cheat and is it okay to legalize it? Should cheating still be unallowed and students work for their grade? Some schools say that if you can’t fight them, join them. Well, how about, if you can’t fight them, try harder. The FLOWER BOX Flower Shop For beautiful corsages for prom! Located conveniently on 17900 Thirteen Mile Rd. Roseville, MI 48066 In the Rosewood Plaza Telephone: 586-774-2001 Toll Free: