[Teaching_Composition] Re: Teaching_Composition digest, Vol 1 #1093 - 1 msg
Thelin,William
teaching_composition@mailman.eppg.com
Thu, 14 Sep 2006 11:05:34 -0400
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Hello Everyone,
=20
Charles has given us an interesting case study here that I hope we can
productively debate. I also think this can serve as a model for the
type of healthy discussion of issues raised by the ABR that we can have
with our students.
=20
First, I want to elaborate a bit on the case. Scott McConnell's paper
concerned the use of corporal punishment by teachers on elementary
school children. He felt such punishment would create the ideal
learning environment and teach students to respect authority, even if it
came at the expense of their self-esteem. McConnell received an "A-" on
the paper. He was dismissed from the program by the program's director,
not the professor, because she had "grave concerns regarding the
mismatch between [his] personal beliefs regarding teaching and learning
and the Le Moyne College program goals." She consulted with other
professors in what the college described as a "systematic way" before
making her decision. =20
=20
The paper in question was one piece of evidence. Administration had
compiled a portfolio regarding McConnell, including his attacks on
multiculturalism. He stated that his "classroom environment would
revolve strictly around the American culture and state culture, not
multicultural learning." New York state law says that K-12 teachers
cannot use corporal punishment in the classroom and must employ
multiculturalism. Since the point of the program was to certify
students to teach in the New York system, Le Moyne felt there was ample
evidence that McConnell's beliefs would not be compatible with New York
state law. McConnell has since said that if he were to work in New
York, he would abide by state laws and not impose his personal views,
but he clearly stated in more than one paper that his teaching
philosophy was based on "pre-1960's learning when discipline was present
in the learning environment." In any case, McConnell had been admitted
to the program on a conditional basis, so Le Moyne College
administrators did not feel they had to give McConnell the right to
appeal, as he had never technically been admitted. The Appellate Court
disagreed, and McConnell was reinstated on the grounds of a due process
violation. As I understand it, Le Moyne is appealing this decision.
=20
So is this a case of a student's rights being violated? At what point
at the graduate level can an institution say that giving a certain
student a degree and allowing that student to teach is a mistake?
McConnell's GPA was 3.78, which is hardly outstanding for a graduate
student, so several professors obviously had reservations about his
work. Note the use of the word "would" regarding the classroom
environment McConnell favored. If he had been making a critique only,
he would have used the word "should." It seems to me the student was
being reactive in his writing as opposed to being scholarly and logical.
I would want to know how he refuted the dominant theories on
multiculturalism and corporal punishment. At the very least, I would
expect a student to take into account opposing positions and argue
against them with logic and evidence. From what I have read, McConnell
was sweepingly dismissive and considered the problems of the educational
system to be the product of liberalism. If anything, the professors who
were giving him A-'s and B+'s might have been guilty of grade inflation.
=20
The most important thing here is an understanding of how students will
respond when told of such cases. Our students will rightly react if
they are given a one-sentence summary of the case. We must help them
look at the details. The case is much more complicated than it might
appear immediately.
=20
What do the rest of you think? I'm really anxious to hear your voices.
We've been kind of quiet so far. Please jump in and contribute.
=20
Bill
=20
________________________________
From: teaching_composition-admin@mailman.eppg.com
[mailto:teaching_composition-admin@mailman.eppg.com] On Behalf Of
Charles Nelson
Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2006 10:03 AM
To: teaching_composition@mailman.eppg.com
Subject: [Teaching_Composition] Re: Teaching_Composition digest, Vol 1
#1093 - 1 msg
=20
On documentation of bias in grading, not too long ago, Scott McConnell
was removed from the graduate education program in a New York college
for supporting spanking in a paper. It took the courts to get him
re-instated.=20
Charles Nelson
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<div class=3DSection1>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Hello =
Everyone,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Charles has given us an interesting =
case
study here that I hope we can productively debate. I also =
think
this can serve as a model for the type of healthy discussion of issues =
raised
by the ABR that we can have with our =
students.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>First, I want to elaborate a bit on =
the
case. Scott McConnell’s paper concerned the use of corporal
punishment by teachers on elementary school children. He felt such
punishment would create the ideal learning environment and teach =
students to
respect authority, even if it came at the expense of their =
self-esteem.
McConnell received an “A-“ on the paper. He was =
dismissed
from the program by the program’s director, not the =
professor</span></font><font
size=3D2 color=3Dblue face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:blue'>, </span></font><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>because she had =
"grave
concerns regarding the mismatch between [his] personal beliefs regarding
teaching and learning and the Le Moyne College program goals." =
She
consulted with other professors in what the college described as a =
“systematic
way” before making her decision. =
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>The paper in question was one piece =
of
evidence. Administration had compiled a portfolio regarding =
McConnell,
including his attacks on multiculturalism. He stated that =
his “classroom
environment would revolve strictly around the American culture and state
culture, not multicultural learning.” <st1:State =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:place
w:st=3D"on">New York</st1:place></st1:State> state law says that K-12 =
teachers
cannot use corporal punishment in the classroom and must employ
multiculturalism. Since the point of the program was to certify =
students
to teach in the <st1:State w:st=3D"on">New York</st1:State> system, Le =
Moyne felt
there was ample evidence that McConnell’s beliefs would not be =
compatible
with <st1:State w:st=3D"on"><st1:place w:st=3D"on">New =
York</st1:place></st1:State>
state law. McConnell has since said that if he were to work =
in <st1:State
w:st=3D"on"><st1:place w:st=3D"on">New York</st1:place></st1:State>, he =
would abide
by state laws and not impose his personal views, but he clearly stated =
in more
than one paper that his teaching philosophy was based on =
“pre-1960’s
learning when discipline was present in the learning environment.” =
In
any case, McConnell had been admitted to the program on a conditional =
basis, so
Le Moyne College administrators did not feel they had to give McConnell =
the
right to appeal, as he had never technically been admitted. The =
Appellate
Court disagreed, and McConnell was reinstated on the grounds of a due =
process
violation. As I understand it, Le Moyne is appealing this =
decision.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>So is this a case of a =
student’s
rights being violated? At what point at the graduate level can an
institution say that giving a certain student a degree and allowing that
student to teach is a mistake? McConnell’s GPA was 3.78, =
which is
hardly outstanding for a graduate student, so several professors =
obviously had
reservations about his work. Note the use of the word =
“would”
regarding the classroom environment McConnell favored. If he had =
been
making a critique only, he would have used the word =
“should.”
It seems to me the student was being reactive in his writing as =
opposed
to being scholarly and logical. I would want to know how he =
refuted the
dominant theories on multiculturalism and corporal punishment. At =
the
very least, I would expect a student to take into account opposing =
positions
and argue against them with logic and evidence. From what I have =
read, McConnell
was sweepingly dismissive and considered the problems of the educational =
system
to be the product of liberalism. If anything, the professors who =
were
giving him A-‘s and B+’s might have been guilty of grade =
inflation.
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>The most important thing here is an
understanding of how students will respond when told of such =
cases. Our
students will rightly react if they are given a one-sentence summary of =
the
case. We must help them look at the details. The case is =
much more
complicated than it might appear =
immediately.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>What do the rest of you =
think? I’m
really anxious to hear your voices. We’ve been kind of quiet =
so
far. Please jump in and contribute.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Bill</span></font><font size=3D2 =
color=3Dblue
face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue'><o:p></o:p></span=
></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<div class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter style=3D'text-align:center'><font =
size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>
<hr size=3D2 width=3D"100%" align=3Dcenter tabindex=3D-1>
</span></font></div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D2 face=3DTahoma><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font =
size=3D2
face=3DTahoma><span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> =
teaching_composition-admin@mailman.eppg.com
[mailto:teaching_composition-admin@mailman.eppg.com] <b><span =
style=3D'font-weight:
bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Charles Nelson<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Tuesday, September =
12, 2006
10:03 AM<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> <st1:PersonName =
w:st=3D"on">teaching_composition@mailman.eppg.com</st1:PersonName><br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> =
[Teaching_Composition]
Re: Teaching_Composition digest, Vol 1 #1093 - 1 =
msg</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'>On documentation of bias in grading, not too long ago, Scott =
McConnell
was removed from the graduate education program in a <st1:State =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:place
w:st=3D"on">New York</st1:place></st1:State> college for supporting =
spanking in
a paper. It took the courts to get him re-instated. <br>
<br>
Charles Nelson<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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