College student gets even with 'smug' professor who refuses to give them class notes: 'I came up with my simple malicious compliance'

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Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Nov 13, 2025 11:00 AM EST

Some teachers take it very personally when their students try to adapt classes to their own learning styles. There's really no reason to get your feelings hurt if a student asks to record a lecture on their phone, but a lot of teachers do not care for that at all!

Look, I know it can be intimidating to realize that your words are being recorded. But as a teacher, you probably shouldn't ever say anything to your students that you wouldn't want shared with the world, right? Teachers shouldn't fear a tape recorder because they should have a professional tone at all times. And they should already be used to public speaking due to the nature of their job. So what's the issue if a student wants or needs to record a lecture to help them along their educational journey?

It's not just this student – I've also witnessed teachers become upset about having their lectures recorded. Some professors claim it makes them anxious, or sets them off track. But for some students — and especially those with specialized learning plans — having a recorded lesson to rely on after classroom hours is pretty important. It's not like they're asking for this accommodation out of laziness. In fact, it's usually the opposite — they're trying their hardest to learn using traditional methods, and when that doesn't work, they reach out for help, and are told to try alternative methods to solve their learning issues. 

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  • This can be really helpful for students who have trouble with their memory, or who don't write or type very quickly, or for any number of other reasons. Students also may not want to share their exact learning issues with a professor, but that leads to situations like this, where the student experiences pushback from said teacher. Not to mention that professors are often super smart, but some of them lack the necessary social skills to manage a classroom full of humans who aren't nearly as smart as they are (at least, not quite yet). 

    You can read this student's full story below, and see if you agree with the way they've handled their teacher's disdain for their accommodations. 

  • 01

    'Malicious compliance in history lecture'

    College professor in pink shirt looks at one of 3 students, a woman in red who is raising her hand
    via Ahmed For Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 02
    I saw the recent post about someones bullying teacher so after responding to that I decided to type up a bit of a more detailed version for the entire sub So to start out with I'm going to tell you a little about my disabilities.
    via u/Filthylittleferrent
  • 03
    I have Tourette syndrome and ADHD, it makes learning a bit hard, but I was homeschooled by a professional teacher growing up so I got the accommodations I needed no issue.
    via u/Filthylittleferrent
  • 04
    One thing I struggle with is writing by hand. I do not know why but it literally hurts.
    via u/Filthylittleferrent
  • 05
    My mom used to say that the pencil was my biggest enemy in learning. My hand will cramp up hardcore if I start writing and I end up with larger and larger writing as I go.
    via u/Filthylittleferrent
  • 06
    As far as I know I'm holding the pencil correctly, so I really don't know why.
    via u/Filthylittleferrent
  • 07
    I also have a tendency of concentrating so hard on the act of writing I miss literally everything that wasn't on the projector, in fact I might miss entire slides as well because of my slow painful writing.
    via u/Filthylittleferrent
  • 08
    So because of these reasons taking notes is a bit of a challenge, that's what accommodations are for though right?
    via u/Filthylittleferrent
  • 09
    So my learning accommodations for college were time and a half private testing (They actually always gave me double time God bless them), the ability to record lectures, and a notetaker.
    via u/Filthylittleferrent
  • 10
    So in college I never had any issues, I was able to concentrate on the lesson because I'm more of a visual learner but also I got notes to study.
    via u/Filthylittleferrent
  • 11
    It was great... until I hit american history. The teacher was this smug Gods gift to teaching type of guy, to be fair he was born for it, he had the exact same name as a certain confederate general, and he was an amazing lecturer.
    via u/Filthylittleferrent
  • 12
    He assigned me his TA as a notetaker and would take the notes and copy them for me after class.
    via u/Filthylittleferrent
  • 13
    After a couple weeks though he noticed I wasn't attempting to take notes he got upset.
    via u/Filthylittleferrent
  • 14
    He claimed that the only possible way to learn was to take down notes, and if I didn't he'd refuse me any future notes.
    via u/Filthylittleferrent
  • 15
    I was gobsmacked... I tried to explain that my learning style was different and that I needed to listen to him and pay attention to the board because otherwise I could miss a slide, or things that weren't on the board.
    via u/Filthylittleferrent
  • 16
    I was an A student on the deans list every semester so that should have been enough, but nope, it wasn't.
    via u/Filthylittleferrent
  • 17
    So I told him id make a compromise, I never needed to record any other classes, but I'd bring in a tape recorder, he was happy with that and continued to give me the notes.
    via u/Filthylittleferrent
  • 18
    this is where the malicious compliance starts. I did bring in that tape recorder, but I never once listened to it.
    via u/Filthylittleferrent
  • 19
    I'd let it run, and the tape would fill up in about three quarters of a class and I wouldn't turn it over.
    via u/Filthylittleferrent
  • 20
    the following week I'd turn the microcassette over and record three quarters of the next lecture.
    via u/Filthylittleferrent
  • 21
    Then I'd take the tape flip it over and record over week ones partial lecture. It was enough to get him off my back.
    via u/Filthylittleferrent
  • 22
    I really should have reported him, refusing to give me notes could have gotten him in serious trouble, due to violating my ADA rights, but I was a stupid kid.
    via u/Filthylittleferrent
  • 23
    I told my disabilities councilor, but never escalated it because I came up with my simple malicious compliance.
    via u/Filthylittleferrent
  • 24
    I ended up overall enjoying the class, like I said, he was a great lecturer, just a shitty person for being ableist
    via u/Filthylittleferrent
  • 25
    Teacher in pink shirt and white pants smiles at 4 students sitting in desks
    via Ahmed For Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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