Parents prepare their children for high school and beyond by having informational talks about drinking, drugs and even sex, but why not about cheating, too? Cheating is prevalent in America's high schools, colleges, and universities. Oftentimes students merely cheat because of the pressure that they have on them in order to succeed. They cheat because they see others do so including their favorite athletes. Some cheat because they are bored or simply lazy. Whatever the case for cheating, academic dishonesty leads to several behaviors even if someone is not caught.

Consequences of Academic Dishonesty

Let's face it, everyone knows that cheating is wrong. However, in today's classroom, academic dishonesty is even easier, more frequent, and causes more problems than ever before. If this cheating trend continues, both our children and our kids could be in serious trouble in the future. This is because oftentimes cheating is rewarded. Sometimes the highest-achieving students (oftentimes cheating to get to that position) are given scholarships or are accepted to college honors program, where the pressure to succeed continues. Most likely, the cheating trend will too. These students are admired for their excellence and thus must keep up this façade, which leads to continuous acts of academic dishonesty after high school. Cheating also causes mistrust, which can continue for a lifetime--not just in the classroom, but in the workplace and even in relationships.

This cutting-corners mentality can be carried into adulthood where individuals may slack off at their job, which many consider a form of cheating as it is “stealing” from the company who is paying you for your time. This generation of cheaters has developed a mindset that if you get away with it, it's not wrong. This simply is not true. The Broken Window Theory believes that “small acts of disobedience” leads to much more serious crimes or offenses. This means that academic dishonesty is the broken window of American schools that develops into a “nobody cares” attitude about cheating or even just breaking the rules, which can lead to breaking the law.

How a Student Defense Attorney Can Help You or Your Student

If you or your child has been accused of academic dishonesty in their high school, private school, college or university, it's time to hire expert legal counsel to represent you. Student defense lawyer Joseph D. Lento has the expertise needed in order to represent clients in New Jersey, New York, and nationwide who are suffering from an honest mistake or lapse in judgment. With years of experience and the resources needed in order to successfully represent his clients through investigations, disciplinary hearings, and appeals, he works diligently in order to protect his client's rights throughout the entire process. Contact him today in order to discuss your situation and to have any questions answered.