Cheating and Failing in School

“Focus on Ethics Can Curb Cheating, Colleges Find” (Feb. 15), focused on college students, outlines anti-cheating tactics (ethics classes, skits, cute slogans on No. 2 pencils, “de-stress” days with free ice cream--oh, boy!). “Fears of Failure Hit 8th-Graders” outlines the intense pressures that may compel students to cheat in the first place.

The eighth-graders are faced with being held back a grade, not making it into high school and being ridiculed by their classmates. The collegians are confronted with not being able to get into grad school or even find a job. All school applications and many job applications ask for grade-point averages.

Of course cheaters face the fear of being caught, but often desperate times make it seem worth the risk. As long as students are judged solely on what grade they got rather than what they learned, cheating will continue to be a part of the school experience.

KEVIN DAWSON

Sunland

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Bravo to the Los Angeles Unified School District! As an eighth-grade social science teacher I am glad to see that the students interviewed are now seeing that the possibility of being held back is not such a wonderful thing. Social promotion has long been a bane to public education, because it is a signal to students that they have nothing to fear from failing eighth grade; that they will be shuffled along to high school no matter what.

But now, as the reality of peer criticism and embarrassment becomes a factor to consider (by students who themselves admit that they are lazy), the time spent on watching television, playing with a Gameboy or cruising a mall may suddenly be put to studying--what a concept! Obviously there are the special cases, i.e. lack of reading glasses, non-English speakers, etc., but for the majority of eighth-grade students in Southern California this is a much needed wake-up call.

DAVID FORSTER

Redondo Beach