Honor codes have been implemented in many schools to combat a variety of phenomena. While there is statistical evidence that implementing an honor code can reduce cheating, there is further evidence that indicates otherwise; Other evidence shows that honor codes are less effective than believed, and for this reason should be diminished. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay A study conducted at a public university showed that 88% of students believed that failing an assignment was a reasonable reason for an honor code violation. Added to this is a figure of 40% of students who had violated the honor code and were not caught. This shows that even the honor code system implemented in the university system does little to reduce cheating and for this reason should be dismantled. The willingness and willingness to do so is still there, leading students to neglect the honor code system and behave “immorally.” At the University of Virginia, where the honor code “is so well defined and controlled by an elite student committee,” (Source D) plagiarism has become a major problem within the school. This once again demonstrates that even when the honor code is rigorously implemented, it does little to nothing to enforce the written code of conduct, constraining, since the honor code system changes little of the integrity of the students , should not be implemented in any school system. This also affects the general honesty of the students. Source A contains a satirical piece that touches on this topic. The scene depicts a staff development meeting where they are briefed on the use of honor codes to prevent cheating; placed as a quote under the cartoon it states: "Recent research has shown that a spy camera can significantly improve the honor code." This statement calls into question student dishonesty, implying that the effective way to have a functional honor code system is to use spy cameras. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get Custom Essay Another factor that plays into the functionality of the honor code is whether or not other students who observe these actions are willing to abide by the rules enacted within the honor code. According to McCabe, a management professor at Rutgers University who specializes in student integrity, said: “Their success depends on a 'culture of academic integrity' that leads students to take enforcement seriously.” (Source C) referring to the success of the honor code system, he is keen to say that the system is partly determined by the whims of the students who choose to apply it. This means that if few students chose to apply this system, it would fail to support the honor code system. This poses problems, with many students fearing that “a mandate to engage with peers would create friction” (Source B) and that these relationships “could not easily be kept confidential.” (Source B) Students fear the social ridicule that would result from so-called “cheating” on a fellow student, so they miss the opportunity to give up on their cheating classmates. With the lack of student enforcement of the honor code system, it will fail to persist and do its job, so it should instead be strengthened to provide its resources elsewhere..
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