Cheating policy working in western Nfld.

A school district official in Corner Brook says a new cheating policy being used in eastern Newfoundland has been working well in western Newfoundland since it was adopted years ago.

Under the new policy, teachers can no longer fail students for cheating or not passing in work on time.

The Eastern School District distributed new rules in October that call on teachers to no longer enter a mark of zero for a student caught cheating, but to instead arrange for a new test.

Some parents and teachers in eastern Newfoundland fear the policy condones cheating and encourages laziness.

Jeff Thompson is the director of programs for the Western School District where the same policy has been used for more than two years.

"I believe it's a misguided discussion. In fact, I would argue that academic dishonesty, right now, is being addressed in a more substantial and formalized way with our new policy, than it has been at any time in our history," he said.

Thompson said any extra work that teachers have to do in the short term will pay off in the long run.