Last but not least: Dear children, we were no better

The triumph of modern communication technologies among young people poses a number of new challenges for those responsible in the education sector. Cell phones in particular, which have become a constant companion of the younger generation, are proving to be an increasing problem. In addition to disruptive use in class, they are also increasingly being used to cheat in exams. According to the American non-profit organization Common Sense Media, around 35% of middle and high school students are already misusing their cell phones for such purposes. Particularly alarming is the fact that almost a quarter of schoolchildren do not seem to have any problems with this practice and do not consciously perceive it as cheating. We like to think back to the good old days when the cheat sheet was actually a piece of paper - which we stuck on the ruler, on the inside of our skirt or wherever. And, get this: we didn't have any problems with this approach either, let alone consider it cheating. So, dear children of today: don't listen to us when we complain that you're getting worse, nastier and more unscrupulous. We weren't a bit better. Only the technical possibilities have changed.