Students are often taught the importance of taking action in an ethical matter, but most of the time those around them, such as parents, teachers, and administrators, do not follow the their own advice. There is someone who will admire his teacher; students learn from the adults around them. This leads students to believe that it is okay to act unethically. Everyone is guilty of not doing the right thing; everyone has flaws and it is a bit naive to believe that we can have a perfect society where everyone is fair. However, it is still extremely important that students receive the education needed to prepare them for the world out there, and teaching students good ethics and character is a great way to start. There are two main problems in the classroom that affect students' academic performance. Cheating, which is extremely immoral, and pessimism, a bad trait, are two major problems that are often present in the classroom. Who isn't guilty of cheating at least once in their life? It is extremely shocking to think of all the cheating going on in schools. In today's world, cheating has become so common and almost acceptable. There are people who believe it's okay to cheat until they get caught and others who see it around them so much that it starts to seem normal. Whether it's for a better grade or simply because it has become a habit, students harm themselves and deprive themselves of an education. The truth is that cheating is widespread at all levels of education; in a survey of high school students, 78% confessed to cheating (Lee). Unfortunately, on some occasions students are forced to cheat. They are so concerned about... middle of paper ...... that an educator must present their message to their students. Students need that role model that will lead them to become good people. There are some students who have the necessary education at home to become citizens with good character and ethics, but unfortunately there are those who do not, and that is when the role of the teacher comes into play. On some occasions, it is necessary for teachers to become the parents that students need; as teachers we need to be prepared for this and many other challenges. Ethics and character are the best legacy a teacher can leave behind. Works Cited Lee, D. E. (2009). Cheating in the classroom: Beyond the police. Clearing House, 82(4), 171-176.Sheppard, J. W. (2004). Reducing the influence of pessimism in the environmental ethics classroom. Worldviews: Global Religions, Culture, and Ecology, 8 (2/3), 213-226. doi:10.1163/1568535042690826