Stop plagiarism (2)

I am writing in reference to Otong S. Djuharie's article Building Professional Teachers in The Jakarta Post of Jan. 15, 2000. The article startled me because I recognized the greater part of it as parts of the book Teaching by Principles: An Interactive Approach to Language Pedagogy by H. Douglas Brown, published by Prentice Hall, Inc. in 1994.

The two writings have no significant differences between them. Their essence, style and vocabulary are nearly 100 percent the same.

It is evident that plagiarism has taken place. I am strongly disillusioned that it could happen in a prestigious newspaper like The Jakarta Post.

As a student I am intensely concerned as plagiarism has been committed by a university teacher who should imbue his students with moral values and intellectual integrity.

I hope there will be no recurrence of such matters. Let us agree among us to eradicate the disease of plagiarism that is said to have taken epidemic proportions in this country in the past few years.

SHAFWAN A. PURWARA

Jakarta

Note: We thank both letter writers for their information. Because of the great number of articles submitted to us for consideration, it is not always possible to ascertain whether any of them have been plagiarized.

--Editor