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This is an academic test for both the student and the TA: Can the student craft an argument, citing sources; and, Can the TA judge the student's work on its academic merits, regardless of the TA's own viewpoint on the subject matter. They both failed. If the TA had restricted their comments to the essay's academic (lack of) quality, I probably would have little issue with it, but to complain about the use of the word "demonic" from an emotional POV rather than an academic one shows this this TA is not intellectually or tempermentally cut-out for this role. I did repect that the TA, sensing their potential for bias, asked a colleague for a second opinion -- but even that colleague could not focus on the academic quality of the paper, starting with shock that a paper would argue in favor of bullying. That educator should be fired as well.
I think low level bullying is good. It helps enforce some degree of social standards. It helps people learn how to deal with difficult people. It makes people learn that they will survive.
I was bullied when I was a kid. I bullied kids when I was a kid. In both cases, it wasn’t a lot of bully (just general teasing and occasional light physical stuff).
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