Is it normal for professors to treat students this way?

I am 26 years old. Currently finishing up my associate's at a CC. I'm possibly starting undergraduate in the Fall.

One of my requirements was a very basic chemistry course with some lab time. It's called "chemistry in everyday life".

I have a teacher who I am starting to wonder if he has something against me. When I first started the semester, I decided to sit in the very front to focus.

I noticed from the first day he would keep staring at me when he was lecturing, which I didn't put much stock into.

We write these things called media responses in which we find a science article, summarize, and respond.

On my first paper, he corrected sentences that weren't incorrect and wrote at the bottom (paraphrasing), "several confusing sentences that don't make sense. I would suggest reading out loud to yourself and proofreading".

This paper was about a study on classroom acceleration and grouping students based on ability. In my paper, I made a comment about how I wished I would have been grouped based on ability as a child as it would have changed my life and I wouldn't be so far behind in pursuing a degree. I mentioned that I tended to want to spend time with people who might be deemed as less intelligent because the people who I was probably more close to in terms of intelligence seemed snobby. My point was that I chose my friends over academics only to end up losing those friends in just a few years and being left empty-handed.

I would rather be up front about things so, after class, I asked him what he didn't understand in my paper and I explained where I think he misunderstood my point and he seemed to understand more clearly.

After that, I made sure to write excellent articles. Fast forward a few weeks and during a lecture he made a comment such as, "Steven knew that, didn't you Steven?" Which again, I just shrugged off.

Also, I'm not fat, but I'm muscularly thick and about 6 feet tall. I have back issues I'm working through on top of everything else so I tend to take my time walking between classes. I was walking one day and he condescendingly said, "Almost there, Steve." Mind you, he is about 5 foot 6 and very skinny.

I study in the study center regularly, minding my own business, and he'll come up to me and it's like he has to know I've seen him.

Finally, on my recent paper, I wrote about a study that emphasized that students are more motivated by their peers than teachers. I'll definitely agree that it isn't a groundbreaking notion, but I decided to use it anyway. I will say that every article between my first and this last one were much stronger topics.

Anyway, the study basically said that professors are only effective at giving the hard facts and that students aren't even really motivated to learn until they see other students working towards their goals because it helps them envision themselves in future occupations applying the learned information as it relates to their field.

I have not yet received this paper back yet graded, but first thing Monday he discussed my paper to the class without mentioning who had written it, which is something he hadn't done all semester. He told the class he thought that the study was common sense that students learn better when working together and was very judgmental about it. Whether he believes that's common sense or not, not only should that not be the case (students learning more from peers), my article was about being INFLUENCED to learn more by peers.

Again, I just did my best to ignore it. I have so much else to worry about right now. After class, I was using the study center, again keeping to myself as I usually do. He went out of his way to come up to me and say, "thanks for letting me use your article today in class". Which is silly because I didn't give him permission nor did he ask to use it.

At the time, I was reading something so I was so caught off guard that I didn't have time to say anything. He said it like we were best friends and I said, "thank you...for obliterating it and making fun of me throughout class", but because of how caught off guard I was, he had started walking away by the time I could finish my sentence.

I know some professors want to bring the best out of their students, but it's not like I'm not trying to become the best me. I know full well I am not where I want to be. I dont do drugs or even really drink. I have no friends. I definitely try to make up for my shortcomings in other ways, which is why I'm always in the study center. I don't feel that I've ever been rude to the professor and I do nothing to anyone. I'm not a bad looking guy so I don't know if he's somehow jealous or if it's just a classic war between an English guy and a math/science guy.

I know I can be better, but I'm in a spot where I can't yet be the best me. There isn't a single lower chemistry class than this one and it feels like he makes it so much harder than it is. We had a substitute one day and I actually felt like I had been taught...plus, I felt free from projected hatred or bitterness.

I just feel like he is overstepping his boundaries. If he wants to criticize me, he can write remarks on my assignment or talk to me after class. The remarks he's making seem unprofessional. I know I'm being sensitive to some degree but I already feel like crap all the time.

I don't want to get in a spot where I'm in the wrong and do or say something regretful so wondering if I should talk to some kind of school official if it continues. What do you think?