Plagiarism is a topic that is always discussed in specific ways. It’s outlined in school policies, and teachers explain the consequences and moral implications. The messages we as teachers convey about plagiarism by setting out the rules are important, but they are also incomplete. This open letter format is my attempt to continue the conversation with openness and hopefully some humor. 

This is the second entry in a series discussing plagiarism. You can read Part 1: An Open Letter to Students Dispelling Myths About Plagiarism.

Most of you don’t have cause to know this, because most of you do your best not to plagiarize, but I am very strict about plagiarism. I take plagiarism seriously because I believe that as a teacher it is my job to prepare students for their futures, and I know that academic dishonesty, and really any deceptive behavior, can create huge problems for students in school, in college, and in the workplace.

Part 1: Helping Your Children Reach Their Full Potential

Writing as one who has faced many challenges in life: low self-esteem, being bullied, sometimes being the bully, succumbing to peer pressure, and the uncertainty of not knowing what “I want to become when I grow up,” I am certain that I would not have achieved confidence and success in life without the support of my family and the unending humbling from God’s grace. 

The constant motivating force in my life really boils down to how God has been in control every step of the way. It is my desire to share what I’ve learned as the second of four children in order to shed some light on how children might be guided to grow up to be proud of who they are. 

Li’l Billy is working on a quiz or test when the Internet cuts out, and he gets locked out of the quiz automatically. Suddenly, from the living room, “Moooom!” Li’l Billy needs the quiz or test unlocked so he can finish it.