Cheating is not something a whole lot of teachers want to see their students do in order to pass a test. Though in terms of punishment, some are in favor for harsh punishment. One study found that a majority of academics believe that essay mills (people who write essays for the students) should be made illegal. 41 percent believe they should be criminalized. (Study International Staff, www.studyinternational.com, 2019).

While physical punishment is one way to prevent students from misbehaving. It is an ineffective and wrong way of doing it. It is a form of abuse to both the psyche and the physical body. As a negative effect, it undermines the relationship between the teacher and the pupil. It also seems to send out the wrong message. (Goodman, soapboxie.com, 2017).

To be honest, I can go either way on this, I never really got a harsh punishment since I don't cheat, nor do I get caught on cheating (if I do so anyway), it all depends on how severe the action was in the matter. If they paid someone to write an essay for them, then they do deserve a harsh punishment. But if they were to copy someone on a test or have a little answer sheet with them, then no, go right at it, just don't get caught.