Don't Be Ashamed to Be A "Snitch"
Last night, I walked into my son's room to say goodnight. I found him with a black sharpie and a pack of stencils. He had used them on a white t-shirt, which now read, “Vicky is NOT a Snitch.” Vicky is not his friend's real name but the one I'll use to relate his story.
High school administrators accused Vicky of starting a fire in the girls’ restroom. She denied it and told them she was innocent. The administrators found new evidence that pointed to another student as the perpetrator of the crime. Vicky says they did not get the information from her. The administrators at this point went off track in their zest for a confession. Instead of telling the accused student that they had a witness, they told her that Vicky was the witness against her. In doing this, the administrators were able to get a complete confession. The guilty student immediately started her campaign of retaliation against Vicky both at school and via social media.
The school administration failed to protect the alleged whistleblower. It doesn't matter whether or not they got the information from Vicky. They still threw an innocent student under the bus to get the confession. This has created a chilling effect on the entire student body. When other students hear of this story and see the retaliation Vicky is experiencing, they will all think long and hard before reporting anything to the administration. Students will most likely decide not to report what they witness.
It is sad that negative stigma surrounding “snitching” still exists in today's society. Students should be taught there is honor in doing the right thing. The School administration had an opportunity to create an atmosphere of Honesty Without Fear. Unfortunately, they instead created an environment that is hostile to whistleblowers.
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