NEW: The History of Cheating on Exams
About this Event
On July 13th, we present : "The History of Cheating on Exams" by Prof. James Elwick, PhD.
Join us for an evening that rewires how you think about exams, expertise, and what it really means to “know” something.
Why do people cheat on exams? The easy answer is moral failure. The more interesting one is "value".
This lecture asks bigger questions: Why do we trust credentials? How do institutions construct expertise? And what happens when those systems come under pressure or change shape over time?
In this talk, James Elwick uses historical cases to show that today’s concerns about cheating and AI are part of a much older story about how societies decide who to trust.
In 1870s Ontario, the introduction of standardized written exams for teachers was quickly followed by cheating scandals and examiner misconduct. Rather than exceptions, these cases reveal something deeper: the early instability of systems that turn grades and degrees into forms of “currency.”
By stepping back 145 years, we see that debates about cheating are really debates about trust, authority, and how expertise is made believable in the first place.
💡 About the incredible Professor Jamie Elwick
James Elwick is a historian whose research focuses on how expertise is created, tested, and recognized over time.
His work spans the history of science, education, and professional authority, with a particular interest in how systems of evaluation shape who is trusted as an expert.
📅 Date: July 13th, 2026
🕡 Time: 6:30 – 8:30 PM
📍 Location: Civil Works
🎤 Speaker: Professor James Elwick
🎟 Seats are limited!
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
CAD 37.61
