Personally: I have had one of my semester projects STOLEN!
It was never turned in for credit because all of the professors in the department were looking out for it, but it was something that was worthy of my portfolio and I am still bitter about it.
For the case provided: What I cannot understand is why the principal wanted partial credit to be awarded
plus lowering the value of the project. This only rewards wrongdoing. Instead, if the
pre-assigned weight of the project forces them to repeat the grade or the class, then they will indeed learn why cheating is wrong.
Educated, informed and decent young people are our first line of defense. If we sacrifice discipline, training and guidance, then what is the point of an Honor Code, grades? What is the point of even assigning projects and reports if we do not genuinely expect them to do their best and turn in
their own best efforts?
How can we then be upset at the Enron situation when we refuse to head off unethical behavior when we had the chance?