Young people today are under immense pressure to get good grades and have the best possible test scores. For some young people the academic pressure comes from trying to get into the college of their choice; for some the pressure comes from peers or parents; for others the stress and pressure come from within. Although academic pressures vary from community to community, most students begin even in middle school to report feeling pressure to succeed at any cost, even if it means cheating.
Thanks to developments in technology, cheating has evolved into sophisticated methods involving cell phones and the Internet. Ever heard of affordabletermpapers.com or Mathnerds.com? Teenagers sure have. Anyone can buy a term paper for the right price and get quick answers right in the middle of an exam.
As much as advancements in technology have helped the process of cheating, they are also aiding schools and teachers in finding out who is cheating.
In this one-session study, teenagers are encouraged to discuss where all this pressure is coming from, reflect on a Scripture lesson in which Jesus was tempted, and discuss case studies of teenagers who cheat and why they do it. Finally, they are encouraged to write their own honor code and to find other ways to reduce stress.