Cheating in school

Gina Davis was shocked when she got the call from school. The teacher 1 (tell) her that her daughter 2 (cheat) in a test. What was even more shocking was the fact that her daughter was only eight! ‘Before this 3 (happen), I 4 (talk) to my daughter about cheating,’ says Gina. ‘I 5 (explain) what it meant to cheat and why it was wrong.’

Young children don’t understand the difference between right and wrong in the classroom. ‘Before they 6 (start) school, most kids 7 (already / cheat) when playing games and 8 (understand) that it was wrong. But it’s difficult for them to then apply that understanding to school situations,’ explains child psychologist Barbara Rey.

‘This 9 (not / be) a problem before they 10 (introduce) exams and testing,’ says Davis. ‘Now every child is feeling the pressure to get the best grades.