I can almost understand a situation in which someone passes off someone else’s work as their own, for whatever misguided reason. But to turn around and get self-righteous about it when exposed? Completely beyond me.

Elaine, I did understand, and I’m thrilled that you and other teachers or parents take the time to teach kids how to do their research using the tools of other sources, without copying them. That’s not an innate skill. The internet makes everything so accessible, why wouldn’t a kid assume everything is for the taking?

Deborah, I’m with you–it is shocking to see how easily some people lie. But it’s reassuring how many examples there are out there of honest, ethical people for kids (and adults) to model themselves after.

Michelle, that’s so wild that you found out someone copied your work! And I understand the dual reaction–cool that someone liked it so much, but grrrr for ripping it off.

And thanks for that Question Brainstormer you linked to. I love any sort of teaching that involves kids getting to make decisions and form their own conclusions. I wonder with all this test-oriented schooling whether that gets to happen as much as we’d all hope. But how much more satisfying for a child to get to use his or her brain for critical thinking instead of just memorization.

I also agree with Elaine that we need to teach kids about it. However, I think that if somebody is dishonest they will do it anyway. I suspect that the university professor, who taught ethics, was well aware that it was wrong to copy Hildy’s entire article.

Like Elaine, I also had students who copied and pasted from internet articles. It was usually obvious that they had copied someone else’s words. I would search for one of “their” sentences in Google and find the original source. I agree with Hildy’s conclusions about plagiarism. With my students, I did not focus on punishing them. Rather, we discussed how their choices kept them from learning and making sure they understood the importance of doing their own work.

My first year of teaching, a 6th grader handed me an encyclopedia article printout for her research report. I was shocked, but as years went on I came to feel that we ask students to regurgitate facts that other people have already written about extensively. They may as well just print out an encyclopedia article! One fateful day I heard Joyce Valenza speak at a conference, and it changed my thinking and teaching. If students have to actually think about the information they gather by making decisions and forming opinions & conclusions, they learn the same skills and facts but in an original, meaningful and interesting way. It is also less likely that plagiarism can and will take place.

Off the soapbox now (sorry)…After reading Hildy’s article I tried the link at http://www.copyscape.com and was surprised to find that another librarian had copied MY Virtual Library website WORD FOR WORD. In the past people have contacted me and asked if they can use images or links, and I appreciate them asking. I really don’t mind if they use it and most of them are nice enough to put a link to my site giving credit for what they used. But this person never asked or acknowledged where it came from and it feels very weird. On one hand, it’s nice to know that someone liked what I did enough to use my words and layout. On the other hand, THEY COPIED MY STUFF!

I appreciate that Hildy shared her story. And the link to Copyscape. Try it!

Of course, for plenty of kids, not getting grounded for their grades is satisfaction enough. Sigh.

Elaine, I like your idea of having the kids do the work right in front of you–in part because I think learning to research without Googling is (still) a valuable skill.

Alkelda, I like your point about kids being called upon to state opinions about things they haven’t had enough life experience to have opinions about yet. How true!

Diana, I’ve certainly had that gut-clench moment (or two) myself–”Did I make this up? Or did I read it somewhere else?” We all like to think that our thoughts are our own, but there are so many influences out there.

Miri, not to be too much a goody-two-shoes here, but where’ the satisfaction in getting by in school through CliffNotes and posted answers? But maybe not everyone feels that way.

Herb, you make a strong, and ethical, point: “We either respect all Intellectual property rights or none at all.” I generally opt to support artists by purchasing their work–even to the point of buying a book rather than getting it from the library–but yes, I’ll confess I’ve enjoyed some copied movies in my day. That’s really not cool.

Patrick, I’m sure you’re right about that–it’s too much trouble to track, and even more trouble to do something about. But again, I’m one of the people who enjoys those YouTube and other downloads, so I can’t rightfully complain.

And Katie, can you imagine? Wouldn’t your guts just have been pudding when you saw all the yellow lines? Ugh.

I agree with Alkelda, I have more sympathy for young kids who may not always realize what they are doing.

The Viswanathan scandal scared the crap out of me, as it scared the crap out of a lot of my writer friends. We’ve all written lines where we’re like, wait a second, that’s what Luke says to Leia on the deck of the Death Star! But you know, we realize it and erase it, or turn it into a Death Star joke. But it’s scary to think that you may NOT realize…

By the time one gets to college, a system for citing one’s sources really should be in place. Oh yeah, and an inner ethics compass, too.