Mama Didn't Raise No Snitch

       Whether it be our own actions or witnessing others doing it, we've all seen it. Cheating. It's societally been viewed as a terrible and downright vile act to do, but you won't generally won't see many students breaking a sweat when doing it. After all, what's guilt when that gorgeous grade gets you to where you wanna be? I mean, in the competitive area (or should I say arena) of college applications, it's only survival of the fittest. Watch out for yourself or fall down into a role where others won't spare you another look. And not even just society, but also friends, family, and even yourself. These intrusive thoughts screaming at the idea of failure are probably all any student who cheats hears when they might pull out the good ol' Chat GBT when they want just one answer to a difficult question on a homework assignment. But it's just like the psychology of the foot-in-the-door phenomenon explains, someone may do small acts of cheating that probably wouldn't get a second glance from a teacher, to a large move that would probably get them sent to the principal's office. Except, instead of another convincing them to do this, it's themselves, because of course your biggest enemy is none other than yourself.

 

    Obviously, with the rise of cheating comes the pressure on schools to prevent it. But in all honesty, some of these efforts have made me laugh out loud from how genuinely stupid they are. You're seriously telling me some schools just expect students to snitch on their classmates, and willingly for that matter? Have those in charge never been a student before? Or have they spent so long out of school that they've forgotten the idea of loyalty among kids, or even just the blatant hatred of those who will out someone for nothing other than getting to see someone fail? Mama didn't raise no snitch isn't a well-known saying for nothing, and you'll rarely catch students actually telling on someone. Also, another problem with expecting students to report cheating is the lack of understanding of how much students really don't care when it doesn't apply to them. Unless someone cheating will impact them by messing up a curve or taking a top spot that wasn't earned, students will generally leave others to do their own thing. And honestly, who can blame them? Especially with the unachievable expectations from colleges to join and lead every club ever while also taking a million APs at the same time, nobody has the time (nor the mental capacity and energy) to recount a story of another partaking in academic misconduct. That's why, maybe, just maybe, instead of schools depending on expecting students to betray friends and foe alike, just incorporate small traditions and practices that reinforce ideas of academic integrity??? Just a thought.