Response to Colleen Wenke's essay "too much pressure" about cheating in school

In Colleen Wenke's essay, "Too Much Pressure," Wenke argues that cheating is a rising problem in college and especially high school that must be solved. She cites statistics indicating that the frequency of cheating has increased over the past few generations and attributes the problem to high levels of pressure on students to succeed, be accepted to competitive colleges, and earn a high income when they are adults. Overall, her arguments are weak. While she …

…it took place, it almost seemed that to dispel cheating would be to cut through the very fiber of modern American society. Wenke laments that in the "old days," no one cheated, and mourns the decline in children's' morals in an idealistic manner, but that is all. The result is just the annoying feeling that cheating is a problem that must be accepted, as it cannot be solved and certainly seems to be getting worse.