Based on 41 community votes, the most popular answer to “Do I Expose a Professor Who's Sabotaging a Student?” is “Report the professor to administration” — chosen by 63% of voters.
Category: education • Theme: Justice for Others vs Protecting Myself
I recently started as a graduate teaching assistant, eager and maybe a bit naïve. Last month, I noticed something off about the way one of the professors, who supervises my section, was grading a particular student. This student, who always participates thoughtfully and submits work on time, received unusually harsh feedback and was even failed on an assignment that clearly met the rubric. I overheard the professor once make a dismissive comment about 'that kid who thinks they're so clever.' Now, the student is at risk of losing their scholarship because of these grades. I've been losing sleep over it. My position is precarious—this professor wrote my recommendation, and is well-connected in the department. Reporting or confronting them could end my shot at a future here, or at least mark me as 'difficult.' But staying silent feels like a betrayal, not just to the student, but to what I thought education stood for. I know how hard it is for students from underrepresented backgrounds to get a fair shot; to stand by and watch someone be sabotaged just feels wrong. But I also feel overwhelmed—I'm not even sure the student would believe me if I told them, and if I escalate, it could backfire on both of us. Every day I see the student come to class, trying so hard, not knowing why they're being targeted. I feel like I'm carrying a secret that's eating me alive. If I speak up, I risk everything I've worked for. If I don't, someone innocent pays the price. What would YOU do?
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