AITA for causing my former tutor to lose the majority of her clients?

Imagine a high schooler, hunched over her desk, sweating over an essay about John Proctor from The Crucible. With her grade teetering on the edge, 17-year-old Sarah books sessions with Pam, the town’s go-to tutor, expecting guidance and wisdom. Instead, Pam strolls in with a prewritten essay, urging her to copy it like it’s no big deal. Shocked, Sarah cancels the next session and spills the tea on Nextdoor, sparking a viral firestorm that torches Pam’s client list.

This isn’t just a tale of a bad tutoring session—it’s a modern-day morality play. Sarah’s post exposed Pam’s shady shortcut, but at what cost? With Pam losing 80% of her clients in a tough economy, Sarah’s left wondering if her petty streak went too far. Readers, buckle up for a story that’ll make you question where honesty meets consequence.

‘AITA for causing my former tutor to lose the majority of her clients?’

Handing a student a prewritten essay isn’t tutoring—it’s a shortcut to academic disaster. Sarah’s decision to call out Pam on Nextdoor was bold, driven by betrayal and a gut sense of right and wrong. Pam’s push for plagiarism wasn’t just lazy; it risked Sarah’s academic future. Her viral post, while petty in tone, served as a public service, exposing a scam that could’ve harmed more students.

Academic integrity is no small matter. A 2021 study by the International Center for Academic Integrity (ICAI) found that 68% of high school students have engaged in some form of cheating, often due to pressure or opportunity. Pam’s actions fed into this cycle, offering a cheat code instead of skills. Dr. Donald McCabe, an ethics expert, once said, “Integrity is taught through example and accountability” (Academic Integrity). Sarah’s post held Pam accountable, but it also sparked a debate about fairness.

Pam’s loss of clients reflects the market correcting itself—parents want tutors, not paper mills. Sarah could soften the blow by offering Pam a chance to explain privately, but she’s not obligated to protect someone who misled her. Moving forward, Sarah might suggest schools vet tutors more carefully to prevent such scams, ensuring students get real help.

Here’s what the community had to contribute:

The Reddit squad rolled in with pitchforks and applause, serving up spicy takes on Sarah’s tutor takedown. Here’s the unfiltered scoop from the digital peanut gallery:

Redditors hailed Sarah as a whistleblower, slamming Pam’s plagiarism scheme as a scam deserving exposure. Some saw her post as a lifesaver for parents wasting money, while others noted the irony of Pam’s popularity. But do these fiery comments capture the full story, or are they just cheering the drama? One thing’s clear—this tutoring fiasco has the internet buzzing.

Sarah’s story is a wild ride through ethics, pettiness, and consequences. By exposing Pam’s plagiarism push, she protected others but tanked a tutor’s livelihood in a tough economy. Was it justice or overkill? Maybe a private talk could’ve softened the blow, but Pam’s actions set the stage. What would you do if a trusted mentor betrayed you with a shortcut that could cost your future? Share your thoughts below!