The Ends Justify the Means?

The idea that "the ends justify the means" is very dangerous because not only can it hurt others but it can also damage those who believe in that idea and take action to do it. Some people have a tendency to focus only on the outcomes since they seem much more victorious and glorious than the time they have to spend to reach them. This tendency might tempt one to cheat to get to good ends as quickly as possible. The movie, Cheaters directed by John Stockwell, shows how pursing only a good outcome hinders people from thinking rationally and eventually leads them to dishonesty. Having antagonism against unprivileged circumstances, the students and the new teacher at Steinmetz High School finally take wrong paths to grasp their glory. Dr. Plecki who is a is so passionate about his students' success, eventually becomes blinded by his own desire for glory and honor. Jolie Fitch, a student at the school who is also passionate about her education also loses her sense of morality in pursuit of her ambition. By demonstrating downfalls, Stockwell reveals the ends do not justify the means and even if a good end is achieved by inappropriate methods, people will eventually suffer from the untruthfulness that has been done.
Although the Steinmetz team and coach's intentions are right, their ways to achieve their dreams instead bring them disgrace at the end which proves that the good ends do not mean everything. The students at Steinmetz High School are in poor academic condition because they are underfunded by the government. It is obviously unfortunate and unfair them to not have the same opportunities as the students at Whitney High School get. Dr. Plecki, who comes to this under privileged school with passion to get the students into a higher level of education first starts the Academic Decathlon team with Jolie Fitch and empowers several students with higher dreams that they have never dreamt of. Dr. Plecki says, "I just want you to know what it feels like to