(Disclosure: I'm a teacher and I am pretty sure my principal isn't reading slashdot.) Cheating... Nearly everything that a "teacher" calls cheating is an accepted practice in the business world. Schools, in the US anyway, are mainly geared toward getting a student involved in some type of business. Cheating - Looking off someone's work. Business - Gaining direction. Cheating - copying. Business - Using available resources. Cheating - use of internet. Business - again, using available resources so you can build on another's success. Cheating - adjusting grades Business - Creative accounting. Cheating - asking a friend for an answer Business - Collaboration. This person is a team player. Our educational system is 19th century organization using 19th century ideals. What should we teach today? How about some analysis: Teach not "what is the right answer?" but "Why is this answer right?" Teach not "what is X?" but "How does X change when Y is introduced?" Get people to think! You get the idea.