<p>Get yourself some ice cream. It'll make you feel better. :)</p>
<p>^
why do all girls say that???? I swear! I if i go to a girl for advice. I hear that one EVERY TIME.</p>
<p>Well, it's probably too late now, but I would suggest that you DO NOT CONFESS under any circumstances. Pass it off as another student or group or students entering the classroom, changing the grade as a practical joke, and that the reason for you not saying anything is that you didn't want to rat them out. Of course, then the teacher will ask you who the kids were. Just say that you can't tell her. She'll probably just revert your grade back to the 88, and you'll get away scot-free.</p>
<p>Damn, what a great plan.</p>
<p>i guess the real question is, what matters more to you, saving your ass or honoring your soul?
if you're like the grimy posters who suggest "DO NOT CONFESS" or "SHE CANT PROVE IT," fine. try that option. maybe you'll get away without material punishment, but your reputation will remain besmirched in the eyes of your teachers/administrators forever. btw, chances are, she CAN prove it. from what i know, almost all teachers keep written records of student grades and just where they came from-- every test, quiz, essay, and homework grade you ever received is probably documented. she's going to see you changed your grade.
but even if you get away with it, is it really worth it? is the material lack of punishment worth all the dishonesty and dirty dealings? some may say yes. but if you really care about yourself, if you really have faith in yourself, if you really want to be a person you can respect, do what you think is right. some sickos think it's all about "winning in life," but one day, when you're separated from your spoils and treasures and left only with yourself, will you be able to stand it? people say life is a game, and the whole world is cheating and that the only way to keep up is to play by the winning rules, but really-- what's winning? making money? go to a good school to get a good job to make money? don't be so shallow. you know what the right thing to do is. the question is whether you're courageous enough to do it. know what's right, know you want to be right, and get there.</p>
<p>Personally I have never been in the same position as changing my grade, but I have been caught passing test answers during a test. Denying works in certain situations, but in your case I would just admit wats going on unless there is some loophole. It matters if you can live with yourself if you lie? Can you? Will you be alright if you get no punishment even though you deserve it? If you can see if your teacher keeps a written record and vehmemently deny that you changed your grade, suggest that maybe something was mistyped and nothing more. But if you can't live with yourself, go with the crying and apologizing. So it comes down to your personal view on your nature.</p>
<p>Northstarmom:</p>
<p>As a current college professor, I assure you that unless the teacher can prove this - and by proof, I mean some material witness, a keylogger, some feature of the grading program which records time of entry, or something of that nature - it can always be passed off as a simple mistake, typo, misprint, or mere error.</p>
<p>Proving plagiarism is one thing. You have the student's work in hand, and sources to back up your claim. This (may) me quite another; some grading programs are merely fancy spreadsheets, edits to which may be completely untraceable, depending on what was done and the exact nature of the program. Written records are one thing, but this computer grading application may be poorly designed - in which case the student stands a very real shot of denying it.</p>
<p>Lacking proof, the student could sue the teacher for slander if the student can prove the teacher did anything wrong. Of course, the teacher would be well within her rights to go behind the student's back and be crafty, but the student can minimize the negative impact of this if they are careful.</p>
<p>Life is about making tough decisions. The student is at a crossroads now, and it should be made clear that there exist two viable options. The student should begin making decisions for him/herself... and that includes deciding whether or not to do the right thing (confess) or gamble with their reputation.</p>
<p>if you were going to change your grade you should have also changed a few other random people's grades as well just so it looks like you didn't do it</p>
<p>true^</p>
<p>people in Oregon always think 2 steps ahead :D</p>
<p>please continue to cheat and lie. and when you are a researcher do the same and we will be able to make decisions based on your false research that hurts people; or better yet, when you're a surgeon and cut the wrong tissue, just lie- after all whose going to open the patient up again.</p>
<p>csProf is correct. I am in academia as well. High schools operate in a similar manner, it seems.
My d's HS recently was on national news over a cheating scandal. Essentially nothing happened. There was no physical evidence (camera recording, apprehending of students with material). A couple admitted to a thing or two and had to retake an exam. I think one or two got a zero on a midterm (these were caught with a cell phone with a phototest). The local university (flagship and hard to get into) routinely admits students that have cheating disciplines on their transcripts. The students had to write an "explanation". Another favorite at D's HS is to simply transfer to the HS across town if you are worried about dealing with the teacher that caught you. Parent lawyers also are effective at getting schools to back down (where's the proof is the defense).</p>
<p>Do I agree with these policies or outcomes? That is another matter that I will not get into. I'm not in the mood to be flamed.</p>
<p>panic, that is by far the most ridiculously hollow explanation imaginable. A group of students randomly walk into an open classroom, look at the computer, and realise the grading program is open? They change the grade of the person who HAPPENS to be sitting all alone in the room at the time? And this person did not protest or say anything when he/she saw a bunch of random people come in and mess with the grading program? And when it looks like the student cheated, a pretty serious accusation, the student did not immediately say that some random people came in and messed with the program, but for some reason waits a whole evening (just sufficient time to come up with an elaborate explanation) to repeat exactly the same information? Would anyone risk expulsion out of fear of 'ratting' on some random students? Teacher's aren't second graders you know. It will just reflect pathetically on the student.</p>
<p>In situations like this I honestly think the best way is just to admit things upfront. Whilst it was a huge mistake to change the grade, you are still in high school and most teachers will understand that you were in a situation of pressure and temptation and that you are still a child. In junior year you really should have been more mature about the circumstances BUT people do make mistakes and it's what you do afterward that counts. The difference will be whether you have the courage and integrity to honestly admit you've done something wrong and apologise. Most people will recognise and respect those traits in a person far more than one tainted action. If it really is a teacher that has/had a lot of respect for you in the first place, this should be even more relevant. The fact that she left you alone in a room with the grade program open obviously shows that she had a fair amount of trust instilled in you. You've now blackened that trust, but that's a consequence you'll have to live with, whether you admit to things or not. She quite blatantly knows you changed the grade so if you deny it, you'll lose even more of her respect. If you admit it, at least she'll see you've been honest about the situation. The fact you denied it in the first place will be a big blemish, though.</p>
<p>If you feel bad about what you did, then I suggest admitting it. Admins and teachers will see that you do feel remorseful. If you don't feel bad and you're just worried about the consequences, they'll be able to see that too. You've already said you feel you deserve whatever punishment she suggests, and you probably do. There'll be consequences whether you like it or not, it'll be a matter of whether you're a man about it.</p>
<p>Either way, let us know how you go. I think it's already been a day so this post's probably redundant but I thought I'd add my two cents.</p>
<p>"As a current college professor, I assure you that unless the teacher can prove this - and by proof, I mean some material witness, a keylogger, some feature of the grading program which records time of entry, or something of that nature - it can always be passed off as a simple mistake, typo, misprint, or mere error."</p>
<p>That is true. At the same time, while the teacher may not be able to prove that the student cheated, the teacher obviously was able to figure out very quickly that the student cheated. Even if there isn't enough proof -- without the student's admission -- for the student to be punished by the school, the student's actions have caused him to lose credibility with the teacher, and probably the rest of the teaching staff, his GC and the administration.</p>
<p>This will be reflected in how the student is treated through the rest of high school. This includes the student's getting weak college recommendations (something that's possible to do even if the student insists on seeing the recommendations beforehand), not getting nominated for honors and other opportunities, and having his/her work receive extra scrutiny.</p>
<p>Northstar your point is well taken if the student has no transfer options. One of our local cheats from several years ago transferred to the HS across town (at end of sophomore year) and is now attending Duke. I imagine this student had great recs from the new teachers who knew nothing about the cheating. I've also seen parents pull kids and put them in private or charter schools in order to save a top college admit. This isn't what I would do...</p>
<p>I assume you have already talked to the teacher, so what di you do? What did she do?</p>
<p>Your screwed... I hope the teacher likes you as much as you hope she does. Then you might just get away with a stiff reprimand in the best case scenario. In my school you'd get suspended if the case went up to the office, but many teachers deal with it on their own terms. I'd call her ASAP, apologize and hopefully this will be cut at the bud.</p>
<p>UPDATE:</p>
<p>I got off easy. I am suspended for two days. The vice principal said this will not go to my transcript and I am allowed to send teacher recommendations to colleges.</p>
<p>However, I am seriously screwed. I've always thought I had a decent chance at a top 10 college, but this suspension changes everything. How am I ever going to justify this? They will surely never accept me. I'm not even sure if my state college will accept me...</p>
<p>Okay, yes, I have wholeheartedly confessed and apologized to my teacher. I said to her that I will respect whatever consequences the administrator will place on me.</p>
<p>However, I cannot believe some of you people would suggest lying again to my teacher. I have lost enough integrity this week to sink even lower.</p>
<p>Just tell her you thought you heard sniper fire and your hand accidentally hit the computer's keyboard while ducking. It worked for HRC.</p>
<p>^ Um, no it didn't. Hillary was ridiculed and lost credibility</p>