I thought it was an interesting read! I used to be a teacher and I absolutely think that academic dishonesty is a big deal. We had a plagiarism policy that was if a student had been caught plagiarizing, they received an in school suspension and a zero on the project. I fully support it being both a disciplinary issue as well as an academic one. Cheating resulted in a zero. I understand the opinion that it is more of a disciplinary issue than academic, hence the suspension with allowing a student to make up work approach, but I don't think that is very real world. I think we live in a society where kids already feel a pretty substantial sense of entitlement, and that is not good for our future or theirs! If students are taught, that they can be dishonest but it won't affect their grade, I wonder how that will carry over with them in the work force. You and I know that if we are dishonest in our jobs, our intentions or known intellect don't get us out of a full range of consequences. It is the duty of my employer to make sure that all of her employees act with integrity and honesty, and if we don't, there are no do-overs. There are no, "Well, this didn't show me what you are truly capable of, so why don't you try that again?"  I definitely think that sadly, parents have stepped away from parenting and teaching values and morals, so it is left up to the teacher. Teachers also have to teach students how to make it in the real work. I think it is doing students a great disservice to teach them that in the real work, character isn't just about the quality of work you do, but also the way you carry yourself and your integrity. Workers who get the job done without integrity aren't, as far as I know, the type of employee anyone wants.