Lessons from ‘copying’

Copying is viewed as a poor learning habit. The teachers in schools often remind students about the consequences of copying especially during examinations. But in one form or another, copying continues, and sadly, it is even commercialized in some circles.

In this regard, it is good to know that there are three categories of students. The first category of students memorizes by rote learning for the sole purpose of passing the exams; the second category understands the concepts but they do their exams by engaging in copying; the third category of students fully understands all the concepts and they write their exams in their own words. Even if they feel compelled to copy, they make some changes in the language and in the style of writing the exam.

This does not mean that all those who study by rote learning or use book language are not good or do not have the ability to work and study hard. Sometimes, underperforming or ordinary students fulfill their responsibilities in their study well. In some cases, the performance of an ordinary student can be better than the topper. It would not be wrong to say that even ordinary students can perform extraordinarily well in their studies.

This is possible if a weak student is taught in a way that the student can easily understand. Secondly, if the student gets embarrassed somewhere, his feelings get hurt and so he tries to persevere in his study and make up. The stronger the perseverance, the better aware the student becomes of his need to study. A serious student studies for a long time without considering the time spent on hard work and dedication. This changes his way of learning and understanding.

There is a story in which a boy studying in an English-medium school was weak in English and the teachers did not pay extra attention to him. The boy either mostly used book language to complete his homework or copied the study material from the internet or from a source information from his parents. When the teacher asked him to tell the truth, he would tell him what he did; sometimes the teacher would get angry. The boy was saddened by this, decided to improve himself and started putting in more efforts, and began to make improvement in studies. Gradually, he became capable of doing all study-related work and his homework without any help from others. He was quite happy when he was asked to write an essay which he did very well. The teacher, on the other hand, seeing his style of writing, asked him: “Where did you copy this from?” The boy replied that he wrote it himself. But the teacher was infuriated, looking at the boy with suspicion instead of motivating him. This was a new challenge for him, especially as the teacher began giving him low marks, despite his answers being correct. Even though subsequently he changed himself, he could not change the suspicious mindset of his teacher.

Similarly, there will always be problems in our life, and to deal with them, we should always be ready with our own solutions. Then one day, stories of your success and mine, too, will be popular and will also change many lives.