Should cheating students be pardoned?

Teachers are critical of a new school board policy in eastern Newfoundland that allows cheating students a second chance to write a test. (CBC) Students who cheat on tests in Newfoundland and Labrador can now dodge an automatic zero and re-write their assignment or test - a policy change that already has CBCNews.ca readers in the province talking.

So far, most agree that the new rules, brought down by the region's largest school board, will enable cheating and send the wrong message to students. About 76 per cent of those polled agreed that the laxer rules are "outrageous."

The top comments at this time are from unimpressed residents of the area:

• "Congratulations for removing the one remaining piece of accountability left in the school system. Your report card would say: "Doesn't understand the consequences of their actions," said The Rural Lens.
• "As a father of two kids in junior high, I agree, this new policy does nobody any favours, especially when a lot of these kids will be moving on to post-secondary education after high school where the cheating policy is automatic expulsion from the institution, without refund," said waveoverwave.
• "Are they serious? This is to me a "set up" for failure! You will have the students that cheat and rewrite the test with more time to study and gets a higher grade than the person who studies all night long," said njm767.
  

A few contrarians stepped out to defend the change. 

• "I believe if a kid is caught cheating, he or she should indeed have an appropriate punishment, but for some kids who struggle at the best of times, the punishment should not be allowed to be so severe as to contribute to much larger long term problems, especially for kids who might already be marginalized and having a hard time," said lennyfromtherock.
• "Story says the parents will be notified. This is completely in line with letting the parents handle the discipline. It's the parents' responsibility to instill values and make sure their kids abide by them," said Calgary Newf.
  

Please help us expand the conversation to include more views from CBC community members across the country.

When it comes to academic dishonesty, is it better to be punitive? Do you think students will take advantage of the new system? Should other provinces follow suit?

(This survey is not scientific. Results are based on readers' responses.)