A friend cheated on a test. Should I tell the teacher or keep it a secret?

Response by junior Abby Tsao:

Being a freshman in high school can feel overwhelming. Your class is transitioning from middle school to high school, where grades actually start to matter. This can cause academic pressure and bad judgment calls. When faced with the dilemma of whether to report a friend for cheating on a test, the decision often comes down to personal values, particularly loyalty, uncertainty, and fairness. 

Loyalty to a friend is a strong value in any relationship. Reporting a friend for cheating can feel like a betrayal, especially when there is not a 100% certainty of whether it is true or not. It is possible that what you may have thought to be cheating was just a mistake. Your friend might have misunderstood test instructions or was overwhelmed by stress and panic. In this scenario, jumping to the conclusion of cheating without fully understanding the situation could cause unnecessary harm to your friend and your relationship. There is a slight chance that the friend’s actions were unintentional, which is why there might be a fear of  reporting them to the teacher.

Furthermore, your uncertainty extends to the context of their life. It is important to consider that something might be going on in their personal life that caused them to act out of character. They might be struggling with personal issues or facing academic pressure that led them to make this immoral choice. In these situations, their actions might not reflect their true values but instead a momentary lapse of judgment. Reporting them could make the situation worse, especially if they are already dealing with something difficult. Loyalty to a friend in this case is to give understanding and support instead of escalating the situation by involving the teacher. 

Some may argue that, regardless of the situation, cheating is unethical and should be reported. By not reporting the friend, it may seem as if you’re condoning this dishonest behavior. This could, in the end, harm both the friend and the academic community. Cheating overlooks fairness and integrity in the learning environment. Disregarding the behavior risks letting it happen again without consequences. From this point of view, loyalty shouldn’t come at the expense of academic honesty, and reporting this incident may prevent further unethical actions. 

While it is true that cheating undermines fairness, it is equally important to consider the context and the possibility of misunderstanding or external pressure. A single instance of cheating doesn’t necessarily define a person’s character. Rushing to report without understanding the full situation might lead to undeserved punishment. Loyalty and empathy for the friend should not be dismissed for the automatic response of reporting to the teacher. Instead of jumping to conclusions, it might be more compassionate to first talk to your friend directly so they can explain themselves and take responsibility on their own. 

Ultimately, the decision not to report a friend for cheating means giving them the benefit of the doubt and offering support through difficult circumstances. It may seem like I’m leaning towards not reporting to the teacher, and I am. However, it is up to your own personal values and what you believe in. I don’t have the full context of your situation, and may be unaware of crucial details. Making the choice on your own will limit the feeling of guilt for whatever you decide. I wish you the best of luck, as no choice is ever wrong. Everyone has different principles that they use to evaluate their decisions.