<p>Do you think it is ever okay for a professor to tell a student that they are ashamed the student is a member of the college community (or something equal in nature)? Does it depend on the circumstance? What would you consider a proper punishment for the school to give to the professor?</p>
<p>This is related to me personally, but I just want to know what you all think of this generic version of my situation.</p>
<p>I don't think it's acceptable, but it also doesn't seem severe enough to merit much of a real punishment. Unless the professor has a history of doing things like this to students, they'll likely just get a verbal warning from somebody up above them.</p>
<p>Unless you have physical evidence of the incident, your college won't do anything. As unfair as it may seem, I would advise you to save yourself some trouble and keep your mouth shout. Be careful especially if you want to take more courses in that department - an action against a faculty member will likely ruin your reputation in the department (yes, professors talk to each other!).</p>
<p>The one big exception would be if the professor has a history of being condescending to students - in which case all of the affected students should act together.</p>
<p>I think it largely depends on one factor, which is how they would deal with a similar response. In other words, if a student spoke critically of them, accusing them of bringing shame to the institution by pushing an ideological agenda or obscuring relevant factual information, would their grades suffer? Would he demand they stop attending class? If so, then the professor cannot expect to be treated any differently, and ought to face action. In practice though, if they are tenured, you're not going to get anywhere.</p>
<p>It's not something I would do (and believe me, I've taught students that tempted me), but I do think that it is reasonable in certain circumstances for someone to do it. (Those circumstances occur regularly.) I would say (and have said) something to someone I knew said it when I didn't think the circumstances warrant, but I wouldn't think much beyond that was appropriate. Certainly not "punishment".</p>
<p>That said, enough schools go along with the "I pay your salary" mentality of students these days that it's probably extremely unwise to say something like that to a student.</p>
<p>It depends on the circumstances.</p>
<p>The statement would be inappropriate if related to something like the student's race, age, gender, disability, religion or ethnicity. If it's related to the student's being a cheater, plagiarizer, slacker, racist, unspeakably rude person, etc., it's probably fine.</p>
<p>You're right. I hadn't thought about it being related to membership in a protected class, but that would be unacceptable.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone. I just wanted some unbiased responses. There are more specifics that may or may not change some of your opinions, but for my own anonymity, and for the integrity of the situation, I won't give them.</p>
<p>oh boo on my internet for being stupid and posting this twice</p>
<p>I agree with northstarmom. Also, if it's in reference to political ideology, it's not particularly appropriate but is something to be taken in stride as there are always going to be people who disagree with you on politics and they are entitled to their opinion about it as well (and you shouldn't care if someone is ashamed of you for voting Obama/McCain/Hillary/Ron Paul/whatever). </p>
<p>Unless they were being particularly racist (not just toward you, but if they just generally insulted a specific group of people in front of you and you were offended by it ie "I'm ashamed of you for supporting interracial dating" etc), or the other things northstarmom mentioned, then it should just be tolerated.</p>