Cheat not!

CEBU, Philippines - The Palm.  Few hours before the exam, the student writes in very small letters all probable answers on the palms of the hands.  Because one can make a list of important dates, names, abbreviations of elements and their atomic weights on the small surface of the palm, this style is commonly used for exams in History, Biology, and Chemistry.  Though old school and very predictable, many still use this style of cheating and still go unnoticed. The cheater checks on the teacher, whether she is sleeping or reading something or giving instructions to a particular student.  Then the student can pull out his palm behind the test paper for the answers.  When noticed, the cheater can always rub his/her palm to the side of the arm chair or against his pants or her skirt so that there is no evidence. But sometimes, the truth is just too powerful: ink can remain on the palm.    

The Eagle-Eye.  Very common but very hard to do specially if the teacher is on a mobile mode.  Very hard really as the cheater can miss the answer because the target test paper is also moving.  All the more if the classmate’s handwriting is bad so the cheater cannot make sense of the correct answer. Since this is done mostly without the consent of the seatmate or the seatmate of the seatmate(because the seatmate is not a friend), the cheater will have great trouble asking for the answer.  Good if the seatmate is a friend who doesn’t care so his or her wrong answers can be copied anytime.  But careful, the teacher also has eagle-eyes!  Although eye movement is very hard to notice specially when the cheater’s nose is on the test paper (because all the examiner sees are the heads) sometimes the cheater forgets the technique and accidentally moves his head together with his eyes.  Waaah!  Test paper confiscated.  Deportment goes down.  Possible expulsion from the school.

The Ostrich.  This is utilized only when the eagle-eye is no longer applicable and the cheater is really in dire need of answers.  In times of great need, all the parts of the body will automatically conspire, like stretching the neck a little bit over the shoulder of the one seating in front.  This is very dangerous on the part of the cheater because sometimes the neck locks up on one very long answer, especially in objective essays,  and it stays that way for a while.  The cheater will be unaware that the teacher has become wiser. And not only the teacher but the classmates, as well.  No explanation will suffice and the classmates will be laughing to their hearts’ content even if some of them did cheat too.  Most students are not aware that a little stretch of the neck will move the head and chest.  When the chest moves, the shoulders also move.  When the shoulders move, the entire upper body will have to move too.  One foot is even pushed hard on the floor so that the entire body won’t fall over. Well, too many movements will lead to a downfall.

The Open-Bag.  This one is really an attempt at finding new ways and means to cheat if the styles that I mentioned have failed.  With an open bag, the discovered cheater can always say he/she did not know it’s open and so there is a big chance that he/she can get away with it.  However with this style, the cheater will have a difficult time finding the right book or notebook to open inside the bag once the test starts because to do that he will have to check on the teacher from time to time.  He sees to it that the teacher is not watching once he bends down to open the pages of the book or notebook for the right answers.  And this has to be as fast as possible.  The cheater is usually caught when she/he is jolted by the sudden voice of the teacher informing the whole class about a typo error on a particular page of the test paper or when the teacher suddenly stands up to check on the class.  Surprised, the cheater loses hold of the book which slides out of the bag.  Question: If the book is Mathematics and the subject she’s proctoring is Mathematics, what do you think will the teacher think?  In most schools, bags are placed on the platform right under the blackboard during exams. However, during weekly quizzes bags are just placed in front of the student which really is a big tempation. 

The Socks.  This is a creative modification of the palm style which a neophyte cheater can find very effective.  Like the palm style, the cheater writes down everything he needs on the skin of the feet and covers it with socks and pants before the exam.  Again, the usual “check-on-the-teacher style” just to make sure the road is clear before the race.  If in case, their eyes accidentally meet, cheater is always ready with a smile.  When the teacher is not looking, the cheater will immediately pull his/her foot up then pull down his/her sock.  With heightened sensitivity to movement and sound(specially the teacher’s movement), the cheater is always ready to put the foot down anytime he hears a movement. Exam is over, one of the classmates who witnessed the wrong deed stays behind to tell the teacher about it.  Upon learning about the dishonesty, teacher runs after the cheater in the corridor and insists he/she pulls off the socks.

Now let’s go straight to the point.  Whichever style is used, it still cheating. Whether one gets caught or not, it is still cheating.  By cheating, you try to twist the truth to your own personal interest.  You try to pretend you know it even when you do not really know it.  You try to fool the teachers and yourself.  You try to fool your family and you try to fool the world.  Cheating is destructive.  It destroys you by destroying your image in school and in the community.  Do you think you can cheat your way through life?  I don’t think so.  So now, another school year is ahead of you.  If you cheated last year, why not put an end to cheating for good this year?  You already know why students cheat.  Your teachers never grow tired of reminding:  “Lazy students cheat.”  Meaning, if you were lazy last year why not give your studies a boost this year? 

If you can promise yourself not to cheat this year and you try hard to keep it, you’re already on the right track and the future will unfold bright for you, automatically.  Yes, automatically!

You want this country to improve?  Start with yourself.  Remember what Jesus said: “For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.”   

Just study hard, all right?  (FREEMAN)