AITA for reporting a teacher and getting her in a lot of trouble?

Shirley Stafford Hours
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In a small-town high school, where everyone knows everyone’s business, a choir room buzzed with tension. An 18-year-old senior, once a shy freshman, now stood as a dance instructor, leading her peers with newfound confidence. But her show choir teacher, T, cast a shadow over the harmony. Known for gossiping and playing untrained therapist, T’s unprofessional antics pushed the student to a breaking point, sparking a bold move that rippled through their tight-knit community.

The drama unfolded in a school of just 500, where whispers travel fast. The student, grappling with her parents’ divorce, faced T’s accusations of rudeness, despite her efforts to lead fairly. When T abandoned class to counsel a crying peer, leaving everyone waiting, the senior decided enough was enough. Her choice to report T ignited a firestorm, leaving her wondering if she was right or reckless.

‘AITA for reporting a teacher and getting her in a lot of trouble?’

I (18F) was a senior in high school, in a show choir class with a teacher called T (35F). I have taken this class for 4 years, and this year I became one of three dance instructors with two other girls, which means we lead class and teach the dances, while T teaches the music.

T and I have not ever gotten along well, I’ve always found her unprofessional because she gossips about other students’ personal lives and talks bad about other teachers. She is the only teacher who has ever found me disrespectful. My main issue with T is that she chooses to act as a therapist to her students, taking them out of the room for up to 50 minutes,

leaving everyone in her classes to sit and wait until she comes back. She has no training in this, unlike the counselors that we have working in our school, who she chooses not to send students to. This year while I was an instructor, T pulled me out of class within the first week to say that I was being rude to the other students and that all of the 25 girls wanted to drop the class and had told her that.

My other instructors agreed when I asked them that I had been a little rude, so I apologized to them, the class, and T. A week later, T pulls me out again and says that I’m still being disrespectful to the girls, and that if we have to have this talk again she will remove me as instructor.

I had actually developed a system with the other instructors that I would tell them my opinions and if something negative had to be said, they would announce it so it wouldn’t seem as harsh. This had been going well, but T didn’t think so. T stated that she was keeping a close eye on me and any other slip ups would get me removed.

The final straw came when T left class one day for the entirety of the period, talking to a crying girl instead of sending her to a counselor. If T was supposed to be watching me, how could she do that in the hallway? I wrote an email to the principal and asked to see him. He called me in and I gave the whole story, and he was outraged.

I told my other instructors about the email, and soon enough T knew, and asked to see me in the hallway during class. I politely told her multiple times that I would gladly speak to her after class with the principal if she had something to say, but instead of waiting, she started airing her grievances in front of the whole class.  I packed up and went to see the principal again to tell him what happened.

He hadn’t gotten to talk to her yet, but that afternoon he did, and she got screamed at for about an hour.. However, a lot of my friends say that I’m an AH because T has done so much for me by making me instructor. When I started that class, I was very shy and didn’t sing much, but I got more confident over time and they say it’s because of her.. AITA for reporting her and getting her in trouble?

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EDIT: I have answered INFO comments below that explain more about what happened and the behavior that caused me to get yelled at. I would like to add the info that my parents were getting a divorce at the time, and I was emotional and realized that, so I realized I was lashing out but did my best to not take it out on other people.

I was also 17 at the time and was still only a high school girl, so I would appreciate kindness and not calling me a heinous b**ch over this situation. EDIT 2: For those asking why I didn’t bring my concerns up before my “position was threatened”, we live in a small town of about 10,000 people, and a high school of 500.

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I still had to have another semester there, and I live in the same town with her, and would likely run into her at other events or just in public. I didn’t want to jeopardize my life by calling her out my sophomore year and being forced to spend two years with someone hating me,

and having my favorite class taken away because I made a complaint. These events all happened to coincide, but I didn’t feel threatened. This position was not something I particularly cared about, and I offered to step down but the girls said it wasn’t necessary.

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This choir room saga reveals the delicate balance of authority and professionalism in schools. As Dr. Linda Sapadin, a psychologist specializing in workplace dynamics, notes in Psychology Today, “Teachers who blur professional boundaries risk undermining their authority and creating favoritism.” T’s habit of gossiping and acting as a therapist oversteps her role, potentially harming students who need trained support.

The student faced a tough spot: accused of rudeness while navigating personal stress. T’s absence during class, especially while supposedly monitoring her, highlights a lapse in responsibility. Data from the National Education Association shows that 60% of teachers feel unprepared to handle students’ mental health crises, underscoring why T should have referred students to counselors. Her public airing of grievances further eroded trust.

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Dr. Sapadin advises, “Clear boundaries foster respect.” The student’s report, though bold, was a call for accountability. Moving forward, she could benefit from direct, private feedback to teachers, while schools need clearer protocols for mental health support. This case reflects a broader issue: educators must prioritize professionalism to maintain a safe learning space.

For students in similar binds, documenting incidents and seeking administrative support, as the student did, is key. Schools should train teachers to recognize their limits and lean on counselors. This approach ensures students feel heard without escalating personal conflicts.

Take a look at the comments from fellow users:

Reddit’s choir of opinions didn’t hold back, serving up a mix of cheers and jeers. Here’s the unfiltered scoop from the crowd, buzzing with support and a dash of shade:

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yourlocaltutor − NTA. It was extremely unprofessional of her and the instructors have to open their eyes. Sure she may have given you the instructor job, but it came at the cost of her being a d**k to you and not even taking her role as a teacher seriously. Her gossiping and lack of presence in the class just makes matters worse.. You did the right thing OP.

[Reddit User] − NTA. She behaved unprofessionally and undermined teachers and councillors expecting that everyone would keep mum about it. She had it coming.

ogdeloon − INFO: what’s the story about you making the girls in class want to drop/being rude to them? I had a terrible relationship with my theatre teacher, which was my biggest hobby, for similar reasons. She stuck her nose in all the personal issues and gossip of the theatre department, picked sides and favorites.

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So I get that side of it and understand the frustration. But this sounds like...more than that? I mean, you don’t like that she leaves you alone to rehearse (even though you have a leadership position,) so you reported her for leaving you alone after she called you out for having a bad attitude. Is that a fair assessment?

TheyCallMeMidlight − NTA. Who does she think she is? She was totally disrespectful and it also seems she singled you out.

handsume − Dude you really think the principal was screaming at her? I'm pretty sure this is what you want to happen to a teacher you hate. It's a nice little fantasy.

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turtleimpossible − NTA. Your teacher sounds extremely overbearing and unprofessional. While she might have done a lot for you - motivating and supporting students is literally her job- she has also overstepped so many professional boundaries. And that needed to be addressed.

[Reddit User] − I’m going to say ESH bc the teacher is an obvious AH, but you must be a huge AH too if you are causing 25 girls to want to quit

findingreddit − YTA - I know you don’t say it, but it sounds like you were holding a grudge because she called you out for being mean. You realise she was saying it to protect the other students but also to help you improve. If a whole class and all the other instructors thought you were being mean & those other instructors had to say things for you - that needs to be a wake up call for you. That’s far from normal.

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theduchess288 − NTA - It was the right thing to report T, she needed to be reprimanded for how she is dealing with students and her 'counselling' sessions. If a support system is already in place at the school then she should be following that not doing it herself. Whilst she may think/want to help those upset students she is doing this at the expense of the rest of the class which just isn't fair.

Also yes she might have helped you to become an instructor, but that doesn't mean she owns all your successes. Your confidence growth is ultimately all down to you :). So keep listening to feedback from the students and other instructors so you can keep developing positively and learning!

FFBTheShow − INFO: what were you doing that she interpreted as being rude? I'm curious because it almost seems as if there's a part of this story missing. It seems really odd to me that the prof would behave this way, and if you were the one to tell the principal what happened and the principal didn't have time to talk to the prof to vet her side of the issue, it sounds like this account of the issue would be biased.

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These Redditors rallied behind the student’s courage or questioned her motives, with some wondering if a grudge fueled her report. Others saw T’s behavior as a clear violation of trust. But do these hot takes capture the full score, or are they just adding fuel to the drama?

This high school drama sings a universal tune: navigating authority and accountability is no easy feat. The student’s bold stand against her teacher’s unprofessionalism sparked debate, showing how personal and professional lines blur in tight-knit communities. Her growth from shy freshman to confident leader shines through, but the fallout leaves her questioning her choice. What would you do if you found yourself in a similar situation? Share your thoughts and experiences below—let’s keep the conversation humming.

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