Ethical Question

Author: Ashley

7 May

The semester is coming to a close and that is always a stressful time for students. I usually walk to my Calculus class with a friend, we happen to share two classes in a row. Anyways, he is struggling in the class and since the semester is ending, deadlines are approaching and all the work is really starting to pile up.

I’ve been trying to help him as much as I can, not that I’m a math wiz or anything, but I can usually point him in the right direction. During the class we had 3 projects. I’ve gotten A’s on mine. Yesterday on the way to class he offered to pay me to do the final project for him. UG!

I’ve already finished mine, and it’s math so not like there is a lot of essay along with it. It would be almost no extra work to do a second one. I have to admit… I was tempted. I know this kind of thing happens all the time. And really, it’s money well spent for him since if he fails the class he will have to take it again. So a few dollars for a quick A is worth it. But in the end I declined. He paid for an education, and if I had agreed to his proposal I would then be allowing him to pay to avoid the education. We had a half hour before class, so I offered to sit with him and help in the places he was stuck. We went over it and he knows what he needs to do, it’s just a matter of sitting down and doing it. He deserves the knowledge for which he paid.

So what would you have done? Would you have taken the money?

pic by: wellohorid

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A new semester

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5 Responses for "Ethical Question"

BayouJosh May 7th, 2009 at 12:05 pm 1
Great job, exactly what I would have done also. Like you said, he knows what he has to do, he just has to do it. If that’s really the case, then not doing it is simply laziness. It would have been unfair to the rest of the students in the class who maybe don’t have the funds to buy their ‘A’’s, especially if the project is graded on a curve.
Kate May 7th, 2009 at 3:07 pm 2
Good for you! I think that says a lot about your character and I would have done exactly the same thing. After all, to quote The Power of Small, “our smallest actions often have outsize impact.” So if you had taken him up on his offer, who knows what unsavory things might have happened!
stephanie May 7th, 2009 at 3:07 pm 3
good job not taking the money. your honesty shouldn’t have a price.
Mrs. Money May 7th, 2009 at 5:06 pm 4
… how much money? just kidding! I think you did the right thing. I think it’s weird he asked you in the first place!
Miss M May 12th, 2009 at 8:04 am 5
I never paid or was paid for work in school, I think it’s wrong. I’ll happily fail on my own if that is what I deserve. I think you made the right choice, you would have questioned the decision for years to come. Money is nice, but at the end of the day your honor is more important.