This may be one of the most disturbing posts to date.
The authors of this blog have been burdened with the information we are about to share from the moment it was received from someone associated with Robert Morris University and compared to the information available on the University of Pittsburgh’s website.
We have struggled with the knowledge that posting this will undoubtedly upset many of our readers.
We have struggled with the knowledge that posting this will undoubtedly upset many of our readers.
However, in previous posts we have shared the very serious deception the superintendent inflicted upon the school district; and we have shared the deceptive practices of the business manager.
We take the responsibility of publicizing the information contained in these posts very seriously.
You may recall that information contained in these posts was personally handed to former board member Ray Miller and current member Brant Miller. At that time, the Millers were asked to investigate, as surely more information would come to light. Along with the school solicitor, the Millers chose to “overlook" rather than address the concerns. This post will reveal some of the information that has surfaced, just as the Millers were forewarned.
Faced with no other option, we feel obligated to do the right thing and make this information known publicly. It is our hope that the right people will do the right thing for the district, community, taxpayers, students, and staff.
When we started this blog, we knew it would be painful for the public to see how far FC has moved away from truth, honor and integrity – a shift that started in 1998 when Dinnen was hired as superintendent.
This post will show that it does take only one bad apple . . .
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“Hiring just one employee with an unethical value system – someone whose sense of morality and justice does not match that of a high-integrity work culture – can corrupt an organization.”
Essentials of Business Ethics
Denis Collins
John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2009
p. xviiii
Last year, the FC senior English class had to write a paper for an assignment.
Three seniors were accused of plagiarism.
All three students were punished in accordance to FC policy as described on the Senior English “Class Expectations” webpage:
Plagiarism/Cheating
1. Plagiarism is against classroom policy as well as school policy. Anyone using information
from a source without citing that source will be given a zero for the assignment, a letter
will be sent home after a phone call to your parents, and the administration will file the
letter in the school files. A word of caution: Many colleges and universities will expel a
student for plagiarism.
http://www.fortcherry.org/17042052785548710/blank/browse.asp?A=383&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&C=55385
Fort Cherry School District holds its students to a high standard.
Let's take a look at just a few excerpts from papers submitted to universities by two members of FC administrative staff and see how FC’s standards apply to the leaders of our school, those our students are to respect and emulate.
These papers, or dissertations, were a requirement to receive a doctorate degree.
FC administrators are paid full tuition reimbursement, so these works were paid for by taxpayers.
Also, as a result of the doctorate degrees awarded upon completion of these dissertations, taxpayers pay each administrator a $5000 bonus per year in addition to their annual salary.
The two papers have been thoroughly read and compared. Although the papers are not exact duplicates, they are very similar in language and theme.
As you read the excerpts, think about this:
In understanding the expectations for dissertations, it is also important to address the circumstance in which two or more individuals work in a shared area of research. The expectation is that each individual will conduct independent scholarship and will prepare an independent dissertation. There is not an inherent problem with a number of individuals conducting research on a common problem area, but the expectation is that they will undertake and write separate pieces of work demonstrating their ability to contribute independently to scholarship.
REFERENCES:
Looking at these excerpts, it appears:
Paper 2 used the language and ideas found in Paper 1.
Paper 2 used 32 of Paper 1’s 49 references – that’s 65%.
Paper 2 failed to acknowledge the author of Paper 1 as a source.
Paper 2 used 32 of the same references as Paper 1 and used similar, if not exact, language throughout the dissertation, yet never gave credit to Paper 1.
What are the odds?
Remember, taxpayer money funded this work. . . is this really what we paid for?
More to consider while comparing the papers . . .
For your dissertation you will be encouraged to engage with more primary sources than you might previously have done for other assessments Using primary sources in your research can increase your marks - you will be demonstrating your use of original research in support of your answers and opinions.
Take extra care to record all the reference details for everything you find which is relevant. You will have to reference all sources fully or you could find yourself accused of plagiarism. Keep a record of the page number and details of every book, journal and website you see. For more information on referencing please see our Harvard Referencing Guide.
A standard definition of plagiarism concurs with the FC Senior English “Class Expectations” webpage as well as that of Pitt and RMU.
Standard Definition:
In an instructional setting, plagiarism occurs when a writer deliberately uses someone else’s language, ideas, or other original (not common-knowledge) material without acknowledging its source.
Fort Cherry’s Class Expectations:
“Anyone using information from a source without citing that source will be give a zero for the assignment, a letter will be sent home after a phone call to your parents, and the administration will file the letter in the school files. A word of caution: Many colleges and universities will expel a student for plagiarism.”
FC Senior English “Class Expectations”
http://www.fortcherry.org/17042052785548710/blank/browse.asp?A=383&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&C=55385
University of Pittsburgh:
Plagiarism is the appropriation of another person’s ideas, processes, results, or words without giving appropriate credit.
Robert Morris University:
The following constitute violations of academic integrity and will not be tolerated at Robert
Morris University.
Plagiarism: Plagiarism can be defined in many ways, from the unintentional failure to cite a
direct quotation in a research paper to the intentional attempt to defraud the instructor by putting one’s name on another’s work.
Plagiarism involves the incorrect use of sources and includes the following:
• Failing to cite source material that is quoted, paraphrased, or summarized in an academic project. Academic projects include, but are not limited to, papers, speeches, PowerPoint presentations, Web pages, and images.
• Signing one’s name to another’s work.
The title and author of Paper 1 do not appear anywhere in Paper 2.
The only vague reference to the author of Paper 1 is on Paper 2’s acknowledgement page:
Paper 2
Pg. xi
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Fort Cherry School District holds its students to a high standard.
This blog post is NOT making any accusations, but here’s a thought . . .
If the authors of Paper 1and Paper 2 were to submit their papers for consideration in FC’s senior English class, would they receive a passing grade . . . or would punishment be doled out???
Does FC hold its students to a standard that the administration, its top paid employees, cannot reach?
In June of 2010, when the board was looking to hire a new principal, a similar question was posed in an email to former Board President Brant Miller. (See May 13, 2011, post.)
No action was taken.
Perhaps now, with a new Board President and new board members, this board will do the right thing for the district, community, taxpayers, students, and staff.
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Disclaimer:
This blog is merely pointing out facts about two papers funded by FC taxpayers.
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Recent news articles addressing this very serious issue:
National:
Local educator accused of plagiarism
Local:
