Dudes...

So I get a call yesterday from an advisee, who wants to see me (soon) regarding a class that she's in (taught by my dept. chair).

And she's a very likeable student--definately smart, although not as focused or driven as others. She's a B/C student, with the potential of being a true-A.

Anyway--she basically starts talking about how the dept. chair doesn't like her, that the chair makes her feel ashamed and stupid, and that she's "made an example of" every class session. So she wants to drop the class. And you know--I don't buy into student emotion; generally, I really don't care. So I certainly wasn't going to stop her from this choice, but her dropping the class was likely more to do with her own personal slacker-ness than anything else.

So I go into the office to find a drop form, and the chair sees her. And lets into her. Public shaming, belittled; the chair reacted personally. Instantly--all of the student's complaints were validated. She basically fled the scene and started sobbing hysterically in my office. Dammit--I hate it when students cry in my office.

And I'm really struggling if this should be brought up to my boss' attention. The boss lady was clearly out of line--no doubt about it.