We have all dealt with that specific professor who may not seem very affable, or at least does not seem to make an attempt to be as receptive to the diverse group of students they have in class. There is also that professor that directs their topics to a certain demographic in class, which ultimately ends up misguiding the rest of the class. As a student, that can be extremely difficult, as we all are trying to exceed in class.
Sometimes, we feel it is our obligation to accept all the theories or ideas a professor brings to the classroom, as well as to speak the truth we all know that professors sometimes can come across as daunting figures; however, we must show respect and veneration. The question is, when is it okay to speak up and let our voices be heard? What rights as students do we have and how can we possibly utilize them to our benefit? Those are all questions that are going to be answered today, as we go through the topics and comments a professor must avoid stating in a professional academic environment.
I can only speak from my personal experience; just like you, I am also a student. As most of you know, we are not directly in charge of the schedule that in certain occasions is given to us. When it comes to choosing classes and professors, most of the time, we don’t have control and we end up taking classes that may not be our preference. That’s not really the issue, though. The issue is when you find yourself stuck with a professor who is a total jerk. Sadly, we all encounter that type of unfair professor at one point in our college experience. It is our obligation to do our best to excel and always give our best effort, but just like we have obligations, we also have rights. A professor must be very careful when covering the topics on their agendas. A professor must never recur to racial or sexist content or remarks to try to prove a point. Although it sounds like an obvious and logical point to many students, most professors ignore this rule and end up falling into a precarious and delicate situation. Sometimes, professors don’t understand the impact their comments have on a student. The truth is that like any other person, we have values and morals that have been ingrained in our lives from an early age, and nobody should try and reinforce their personal beliefs in us.
As shocking as this may sound, there have been many cases in which a professor openly exposed their opinion on gender patriarchy. Yes! Gender can be a delicate topic, as we all have strong opinions in regards of which gender is the strongest. A professor must at any cost avoid giving their personal view, or at least try to be as objective as he/she can when trying to give a conductive and constructive lesson. The truth is that I personally had to face many sexist and racial remarks in school. Honestly speaking, it is not very nice to feel segregated by a professor just because you may not understand the history of a specific culture, or just because your religious beliefs do not meet his, or simply because you are a woman.
Just like you, I’ve had to face a professor who has a misogynous personality and self-centered views, as well as an egotistical attitude. It may not be easy, as we often feel that our job is to strictly agree with the professor, who we believe is the one to have the ultimate right answer. The truth is that as students who are paying for an education, we have the right to disagree with and challenge the professor. Let’s keep in mind that we are all different. This means we all have different belief systems and different ways of thinking. It should not be the reason we receive a bad grade or bad report. If you are feeling uncomfortable or feel that the professor’s behavior or attitude is inappropriate for the setting, you must speak up by directing your complaints to the head of the department. Keep in mind that professors serve as resources to better learning. You must never allow them to become dictators in a classroom.
