Igros Moshe (YD II #103) Question Can a teacher to tell a student to inform on misbehavior of other students?Answer: This is a repulsive and disgusting thing because it minimizes the seriousness of lashon harah. If this is merely to chastise them for the sake of Heaven because this might improve their behavior then it is possibly permitted. However that is only when the student volunteers to tell the teacher the information but not when the teacher commands him to tell. We are not on the level that this information can possibly be considered as given for pure motivation (for the sake of Heaven) even for adults and surely not with children.
Igros Moshe (YD IV #30.1) Question The teacher's request that students inform on other students is obviously because the teacher thinks the information is needed to benefit the students so why is that disgusting and causes lashon harah to be minimized? This is what the Chofetz Chaim permits Answer I had written this would be pernitted if done for pure motivation but this is true only if the informer spontaneously gives the information but not when the teacher commands it and because of the fear of punishment. In addition it should be possible to correct the misbehavior without demanding the serious sin of lashon harah to know the identity of the one who misbehaved.
What about doing it anonymously, slipping the teacher a note?
ReplyDelete