Mich. bill would make helping cheaters illegal

Sen. Charles Ehlmann, R-Missouri, is sponsoring a bill that would recognize cheating as a misdemeanor, meaning anyone who helps a student cheat could face a maximum penalty of six months in jail, a $500 fine, or both.

The bill, which is in Senate Education Committee, was introduced in January and would apply to people who sell term papers to college students or take a test for a high school student. Ehlmann said although it hasn't been voted on yet, he believes it has the support to pass the committee.

"I have some friends in academia who really think this is beginning to become a problem," Ehlmann said. "We need to have a criminal penalty."

But some Michigan State University professors and students say passing the bill would only make cheating problems worse.

"That is ridiculous," said Louis Romano, a retired MSU education professor who continues to research student motivation. "I think kids today are much more difficult to handle, but let's not condemn them."

Romano said sitting down with a student and talking about why she or he cheated, not who helped the student cheat, is much more successful than any other type of punishment. He said this allows teachers to meet the needs of the students.