It’s true, we are in murky waters now that the digital world has arrived. It’s no longer acceptable to say that your dog ate your homework. In the corner of the web, students are now whispering, “Hey… can I hire someone to teach my online tutoring course?” Folks, it’s going to be a wild trip.

This is a rabbit hole that we can dive down without using fancy words or language. Straight talk? It’s no secret that life is an endless circus, and most of us are juggling too many things at once. Many students have jobs or families that exhaust them, while some are just tired from school.

You can find services to assist you in saving the day. What if you need an outstanding essay on Hamlet? There’s no need to worry. Do you struggle with algebraic equations? There’s nothing to worry about. No problemo.

We must not forget the ethical elephant. Yep, I’ve said it. Do you think it’s okay for your schoolwork to be passed on like the baton of a relay? The grey area is thicker and more complicated than granny’s sauce. One side of the argument is that people believe delegating work to others can be a good thing. After all, if they are able to get some help and still win in the end, it’s worth doing.

On the other side of that coin you can see the opposite – honesty and hardwork are in the shadows, staring at you with a stinky eye. As much as grades are important, education is also supposed to focus on personal growth. It could be costly to miss learning opportunities.

But let’s be fair for a moment – everyone doesn’t have the budget to pay an academic hired gun. If this happens, classrooms could be turned into battlefields in which only those with money win.

Let’s bake your noodles – isn’t this all just the result of an educational system playing catch-up to our fast-paced world? This desperate behavior could just be an SOS signal from students overwhelmed with outdated textbooks and unrealistic goals.

Did you think of the tech that is at play in this mess? Opening Pandora’s Box only to discover another Pandora’s Box within – the possibilities are limitless! Students may be lured by technology designed to facilitate learning, but it could also encourage them on less…honorable pathways.

The two paths that we can take are very different. One leads to a more interactive and inclusive education, while the other is dominated by shortcuts.

We need to think about this. Maybe what we really need isn’t judgement or quick solutions, but real conversation on how we can transform the way we teach and learning so that students don’t feel like they only have one choice: throwing money in their troubles hoping for them to disappear.

Conclusion (yeah, I know I’ve said “no fluff” but be patient with me): navigating this choppy water requires more than pointing fingers, or sticking your head in the sand. It calls for creative solutions and open dialogs. Maybe even a dash of humor. Because, really, what good is it if we don’t find a way to laugh while trying figure things out?

When someone whispers, “Can you pay someone else to complete my online classes?” Asking why people feel this way is a better approach than jumping onto moral high horses. It is important to listen, and not just because we are uncomfortable.