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Having integrity in one’s work is a value that will follow students far beyond the halls of St. Margaret’s and well into adult life, as students discussed in small groups earlier this year.
“Going to school is your job right now,” explained Director of Studies ViAnn Farmer, who led the discussion and was assisted by Honor Council member Seh-Young Kim ’09. “If you can be honest here, you will be honest later in life.”
Most often, people do not intend to compromise the integrity of their work, she explained. However, problems often arise from a seemingly unrelated culprit – inefficient time-management. “When you don’t manage your time wisely, it’s tempting to take the easy way out,” Mrs. Farmer continued. “But having integrity in your work is about taking the ‘hard right.’”
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Students discussed tips they can follow to ensure they maintain integrity in their work:
Use knowledge as a gauge. While getting help on homework from a classmate is fine, students should ask themselves “how thoroughly do I understand this topic?” Having the right answers but not understanding the work means there is still some learning to be done.
Start assignments early. This way, students can ask teachers to review assignments beforehand to ensure information is properly cited.
Talk after, not before. Remember that discussing a test with someone who has not yet taken it strips both parties of the opportunity to demonstrate their wealth of knowledge.
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