Would you "tattletale?"

Question

Short version: would you tell your grad school professor that a student had been cheating on exams?
So, this might be a kind of juvenile question, but I am conflicted and am looking for some unbiased opinions! I am a grad student studying speech-language pathology and I love what I do! I, along with (the majority of) my cohort work so hard to get good grades and provide excellent care for our clients. We had a test yesterday that many of us spent weeks studying for. As I was getting up to turn in my test, I noticed a classmate with the study guide pulled up on her phone. Apparently another girl saw it as well. Now, I don't want to be a "rat" and I know the saying "snitches get stitches," but this girl plays games on her iPad during every class and doesn't seem to pay much attention to lectures. On top of that, ANOTHER student said they saw her doing the same thing during a different test. We are wondering if we should tell the professors or if we should keep our mouths shut. What would you do?

Accepted Answer

I strongly disagree with the other comments so far. The people who will be in the care of this cheater if she passes deserve better than an SLP who doesn't know the field, can't manage time, and takes shortcuts. It's absolutely unacceptable behavior, ESPECIALLY in academia, ESPECIALLY in a care-oriented field of study! Would you want a doctor that cheated in med school or a professor that plagiarized their dissertation? She should not pass a class she doesn't know the material of. Turning her in is the only right thing to do. 
I had crippling depression and PTSD at college, had to take time off, and STILL passed without ever cheating or plagiarizing. She is being plain lazy and disrespectful, and does not deserve to be there getting credits she didn't earn. Turn her in.

Answer

absolutely tell. academia doesn't respect or reward cheaters, nor should it.

Answer

I think the better question is do you want to allow her to get through the program and then work with clients and do a bad job at it, making those clients suspicious of others in your field?

Answer

I would be Anonymous about it like leaving a friendly tip to the professor and let him or her find out so that you are not affected

Answer

This is not an instance of being a “tattletale”. I am also so sick of this “snitches get stitches” mentality. In college courses it clearly states in multiple syllabi that cheating is punishable by being kicked out of the class or expulsion. The teacher depends on Good Samaritans who uphold an expectation in themselves and in others to ensure that all those who are receiving their diplomas are doing so honestly and fairly. This is not a place where you have done wrong and are trying to get a lesser punishment, which is “snitching”. Nor is it a playground scuffle that ended amicably where you are trying to start drama which is more akin to “tattling”.
Right now, this individual is not only harming herself by ensuring she isn’t fully aware of the material she needs to know, she will be harming future individuals by not being able to perform what is expected of her. That is simply unacceptable. This is why the professor needs to be told.
If she has test anxiety there are plenty of ways to take a test in a more comfortable environment, she just needs to fill out the paperwork at the school. There have been plenty of times where students struggle through things, and they still don’t cheat. They just take the bad grade with grace and try to do better next time. That is what you are supposed to do.
Tl;dr: tell your professor. It’s the right thing to do.

Answer

University isn't like grade school. You absolutely should tell the professor. Your cheating classmate could potentially make a bad name for your profession if allowed to graduate. Also, as others have said, the "snitches get stitches" mentality is utter BS. The only way for wrongdoing to continue is if everyone is silent. Silent observance of wrongdoing makes you complicit.

Answer

I would absolutely tell. It’s GRADUATE SCHOOL. If she can’t hack it, she needs to find a new profession because SLP’s need to know their shit.

Answer

Turn her in absolutely. I work really hard in college and deserve to be there. People like that shouldn’t.
There was a person who came into my class, showed up 4 times throughout the semester. After we divided the parts for a classifier video (our final), she shows up. It was my Deaf Ed focus course and it was ALL in sign. The entire dynamic was thrown off and EVERYONE was upset. I ended up giving up my part so that no one else would have to suffer. Again, another case of other people riding on the backs of others.
In the end, she didn’t pass the class.

Answer

I wouldn’t. Because it’s not my problem. When she gets out into the field and can’t get a job because she doesn’t know anything because she cheated, that’s going to be all on her while you go on with your life and she becomes irrelevant to you.

Answer

I would say something because that person is going to have the grades qualified for the field but when they actually get a job they won't be successful. I don't think the professor can do much about it besides talk to the person amd ask them if they really want to be doing this. Also it would be bad if a student left a bad example on your school and or professor. They might not be able to do anything because it's the persons money they're spending on the class and the professor is just teaching but I wouldn't hurt to try.

Would you "tattletale?"

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