Full question:
A 6th grade teacher made the following assignment: 'Research a Greek god or goddess and design a poster about that god. Included in the poster must be: Name of the god or goddess as the title, what they are god or goddess over, symbols for the god/goddess, who they are related to, drawing or picture, mythological ideas about that god.' The 6th grade child copied and printed pictures and information directly from the internet onto a poster board. The child did not cite the source, in part, because the teacher's instructions did not call for it, and the child did not know to do so. Now the child is accused of plagiarism and has had her grade reduced to an 80 out of 100. Is this legal? Was the teacher justified in her actions?
- Category: Education
- Date:
- State: Tennessee
Answer:
The teacher likely has the discretion to lower a student's grade for plagiarism, as it reflects the effort put into the assignment. Plagiarism can occur even if the student did not intend to steal ideas or misrepresent another's work. In schools, these matters are typically handled internally, and the determination of plagiarism is often subjective.
Legally, courts generally review such cases to ensure that the student's due process rights were respected during any disciplinary actions. This includes whether the student received written notice of the charges, was informed of the grounds for potential penalties, had a chance to present their case, and was informed of the outcome. The specific procedures may vary by school policy.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.