We all have had that one teacher that makes us wonder, “Why on earth are they teaching?”
Not all educators are created equal and some are just not fit to teach.
It doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t qualified, they may just not be the type of people that can interact with college students.
That is why students used to be able to complain about teachers without facing repercussions.
Well that is no longer the case.
A Florida appellate court ruled that the identities of students who submit complaints against teachers to public schools—including colleges and universities—are a matter of public record, and must be disclosed to citizens.
From now on when you file a complaint about a teacher, they’ll know it was you.
And we all know that in no circumstance will a teacher or professor take that personally and alter your grade, right?
Wrong!
There is a reason why federal laws protect whistleblowers from the repercussions they might face when revealing secrets about a corporation.
It’s so when there is fraud or work ethic violations, people wouldn’t be afraid to speak up about them.
Therapists are legally obligated to keep anything you tell them confidential so you will speak more freely.
You can call the police with an anonymous tip and not have the criminal you snitched on come after you.
Making instructive complaints raises awareness of issues and encourages those with authority to take the steps to solve them.
Professors have a considerable amount of power over their classrooms and students’ assignments.
There are professors who may not be above taking vengeance on a student academically.
Who’s to say they never really received your essay or your report?
They could always just dodge all that and simply fail the student even though in essence what the complainer did could benefit the class and possibly any future student.
It seems that many adults and lawmakers think that the only students who complain are those that are failing and don’t care about their education.
Maybe so for some but that isn’t everyone.
It’s funny how some adults forget so quickly what it was like to be a student.
They don’t remember that one teacher that was completely unfair and made their lives a headache.
Can they imagine not being able to complain when they were treated unfairly?
Teachers and professors are human. They make mistakes.
Some make more mistakes than others.
But if students are too afraid of taking on a teacher, we will never know.
Anonymity and confidentiality is the only way some people ever talk.
We have a right to remain anonymous and that should be protected.
