@Stuy.teacher.comments Instagram Draws Both Praise and Backlash

The Instagram account stuy.teacher.comments—an anonymous platform for students to share feedback on their teachers—has quickly gained popularity among Stuyvesant students. While some view the account as a humorous and entertaining outlet, others believe it has potential to create conflicts between students and faculty members.

According to an anonymous account moderator, the idea for the account stemmed from frustrations with how teachers received student feedback. “The original founders of our team had a few unpleasant interactions with teachers,” an anonymous moderator said. “They saw how big of an issue this was and created [the account] to ensure teachers got feedback without making students fear retribution.”

To address concerns about harmful content, the team implemented a filtering process. “We absolutely filter our posts,” the moderator said. “Any comments that use foul language or talk about people in a derogatory or unhelpful manner are not posted. If a comment is mostly good with a few problematic parts, we censor the problem.”

The team also claims to prioritize fostering communication over controversy. After receiving backlash from staff—including during conversations with Principal Dr. Seung Yu and Director of Family Engagement Dina Ingram—the moderators adjusted their approach. Even so, not all interactions have been smooth. One post directed towards a teacher included the name of a student on the Instagram account’s team. “That student was unhappy with our team and is no longer involved,” the moderator said.

Although the teacher comments account remains a point of controversy, the moderators remain resolute in their belief that the account can serve a positive purpose. “We hope it serves as a voice for the student body,” the moderator said. “But we also know there are many different voices amongst Stuy students. That’s why we include a section on our Google Form for feedback and ideas.”

Some students believe that the account does a good job of bringing out student voices. “After reading a few responses and finding them fairly accurate, especially with teachers I once had, the account has pretty much become a safe space for students to talk about their experiences,” senior Benny Wong said. 

While students have acknowledged the negative aspects of this account, some have recognized that it does serve a purpose. “Obviously, this will have some impact on the teachers, especially the ones deemed ‘bad’ [...]  however, I can understand what’s being done. The school deserves good teachers and good education, so if we need to call out the ones who might jeopardize our education, so be it,” Wong said.

As for its longevity, the team hopes to continue running the account indefinitely. “Our members are currently spread across grades, and as they graduate, we plan to recruit new members,” the founder said. “Anybody can message us on Instagram or email us if they are interested.” Efforts to obtain comments on @stuy.teacher.comments from administrators were unsuccessful.