Objective:
The middle school youth will develop a greater understanding of why cheating is destructive and how we are called to act as Catholics.
Overview:
In Jesus Christ, the whole of God’s truth has been made manifest. “Full of grace and truth,” he came as the “light of the world,” he is the Truth. “Whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.” The disciple of Jesus continues in his word so as to know “the truth [that] will make you free” and that sanctifies. To follow Jesus is to live in “the Spirit of truth,” whom the Father sends in his name and who leads “into all the truth.” To his disciples Jesus teaches the unconditional love of truth: “Let what you say be simply ‘Yes or No’” (CCC 2466).
Some individuals believe that in order to get ahead in life they must cheat. Although there is no good reason to cheat, the most common arena for cheating for middle school youth is school. Young people know cheating is wrong, but still cheat anyway. Some cheat because they fear if they do not get good grades they will get in trouble with their parents. Another reason cited is because of increased competition to receive scholarships or get into a good school, early adolescents cheat to get an advantage. A number of young people report since they are inundated with afterschool activities and do not have enough time to do homework or to study for tests, they choose to cheat. For others, school is an incredible challenge and cheating presents an effortless way to get passing grades.