Ideally, the teacher-student relationship at universities is characterized by trust. The "honor system", imposed by the teacher and the university, demands that the student be honest in all areas of school work. Thus, cheating on tests, plagiarizing in writing work, presenting others’ ideas as original, and turning in homework completed by someone else are all prohibited.
Violation of the honor system can result in a student’s failing a course, having a permanent record of the violation placed in the student’s school files, or even being expelled from the university. Many students are also aware that they can jeopardize their rapport(友好关系) with fellow students if they are dishonest. Students who cheat may lose the respect of other students, particularly those who study for exams and work independently. When leaving the Classroom while students are taking an exam, an instructor may or may not say, "I expect you all to abide by the honor system. " Even if the words are not stated, the student is expected to work alone and not to share answers.
Relationships between students in the classroom can be cooperative or competitive. International students should not hesitate to ask for help if it is needed. There are courses, however, where grades are calculated in relation to other students’ scores. Therefore, in classes where such a grading "curve" is used, students may be reluctant to share lecture notes or information for fear that their own grades will suffer.
There are other reasons for the presence of competition among students. A high grade point average is needed for entrance to superior graduate schools. Students feel pressure to achieve high grades when there are relatively few openings in graduate programs. In addition, when facing a competitive job market, graduates may be judged on the basis of their grade point average and faculty recommendations. Ultimately, it is the student who is responsible for succeeding in this competitive system.
The university classroom in the United States manifests cultural values through professors and students’ expectations and attitudes. Competition is an example of only one value. Educational practices such as the honor system and student participation indicate a respect for individual responsibility and independence. Alternative teaching methods show a cultural preference for innovation. The manner in which education is provided in any country reflects basic cultural and social beliefs of that country. Students are willing to observe the "honor system" because ______.