Cheating at schools is as inevitable as communicating with peers or having a lunch. Irrespective of their knowledge, students have always been cheating for a number of reasons. Cunning and smart individuals always try to outfox their teachers implying new inventive ways of cheating, and for less successful individuals it is the only chance to make their academic achievements look at least satisfactory. Eradication of cheating is a very ambitious step, but elimination is more realistic perspective.
Zero-tolerance policies gather heated disputes involving educators of all ranks. Some of them consider that these methods are the relic of the past and cannot be further applied to ensuring efficacy and safety of the learning environment. But on the other hand, implementation of solid discipline and draconian measures in respect to unfaithful students may provide both preventive and pedagogic effect. Clearly, when students are aware that the effort of cheating will have the tough consequences if revealed, the number of all those willing to try will reduce several-fold.
Teenagers may be characterized as a social category which will inevitably jump at the opportunity to obtain something without putting efforts to achieve this aim. Carrying this credo to the adult life is harmful not only for children themselves but for the society in general. It is impossible to imagine the community made up of individuals who expect to get something for free, and educators shall do their best to eliminate the mere idea of cheating in their classes. Showing students that unfaithful practices will do them more harm than benefit will help to raise disciplined and law-obeying children. And zero-tolerance policies remain to be the prior tool to securing discipline.