Based on 41 community votes, the most popular answer to “Do I Expose My Professor’s Unfair Failing of a Student?” is “Report the professor to administration” — chosen by 49% of voters.
Category: education • Theme: Academic Justice vs Personal Risk
I’m a teaching assistant in my university’s biology department, and this semester has been brutal. One student, let’s call him "the sophomore in row two," struck me as genuinely passionate, asking good questions, turning in work on time, and genuinely trying. But our professor—who’s usually strict but fair—seems to have it out for him. I’ve overheard snide comments about the student’s background and "laziness," which don’t match with what I’ve seen. Last week, while grading, I saw the professor fail this student’s lab report with harsh feedback that didn't line up with the actual work. When I gently raised this, the professor shut me down and reminded me I should "know my place." If this unfair grade stands, the student could lose his scholarship—and maybe drop out. I feel sick thinking about it. But, if I raise the issue formally, I could lose my TA role, burn my reference for grad school, and make myself a pariah in the department. I could try to support the student behind the scenes, or say nothing and hope things sort themselves out, but the guilt gnaws at me. I keep imagining what I’d want someone to do if I were in his place—but I’m terrified of what standing up might cost my future. What would YOU do?
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