illest12

Alright so the situation is that in one of my college courses the professor announced that only international students could bring dictionaries to the exam. She did not extend this courtesy to her American students. I would like to think the best of my peers, but I’ve observed cheating in the past so I asked her what she would do to ensure students were not writing in the margins. She said “that is a good question” then decided to have the TA’s check them before the exam.

But, I’m still a little irked.
She says she tries her best to treat all her students as fair. But I feel like it’s reverse discrimination. How can she give half the class dictionaries when this would give them an advantage on the exam.

Anyways I talked to the head of the department and he said I could file a complaint but advised me not to. I’m not sure if he is just doing this because as the Chair of the department it is something he might have to deal with. Also he is on some board with the professor I am having a problem with.

exerpt from his email to me:

There are general statements about reasonable conduct and fairness, and
about transparency of grading procedure... the only recourse, it seems to
me, is a formal grievance. All personnal, faculty, students, and staff,
are allowed to file grievances, which will be heard by an impartial jury.
They are not fun. They are hard for all parties, and there really are no
winners, and I do not encourage you to follow this course (for a very
serious transgression, yes indeed, and that's why the policy is there; but
not for this kind of issue).
I'm glad you have agreed to meet personally with Dr ______.
Believe me, she wants to do the right thing. She is a very decent person.
Let me know how it goes.

See you Friday!I try not to compare myself to others but I really feel like separate rules for the exam based on country of origin is reverse discrimination to Americans. They are able to follow her lecture and slides so wtf.

She (the professor that made the dictionary clause) is foreign btw.

But because of the email this other guy gave me, now I’m not sure if I should just drop it.

What do you guys think?

Parallax

what class is this for?

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illest12

cultural anthropology. Exam was multiple choice questions and essay questions.
I think that some of the terms in the MC and essay could have been easier to answer with a dictionary

Mafoo

1st of all, what advantage is a dictionary going to give the other students?

ive had classes with similiar rules, dictionaries for persons where english is not their 1st language. i dont think it was really to the students advantage because the test was timed so its not like they could go through and look up every word. is that how your class is?

edit: i was typing out my post when you posted what class it was. is the grading competitive? if its not id just drop it. the teacher is probably going to fail half of those non english speaking students because they wont score highly on the essay part of the test, which is what the dictionary is being used for i asume.

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osirus2020

If yoo wanna make a big deal about it make your grievance.

If you can complete the course with a satisfactory grade regardless I wouldn't worry about it. I get what you're saying, it isn't fair, but some times what's best for you is the option which is going to cause you the least bit of bs.

What is the test on?


What is the test on? I

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illest12

well the exam is timed but very easy to finish before the time is up.
A dictionary could help with the multiple choice questions which asked you to pick the best answer for certain questions...such as "what is secularism?"


Now most of us can easily answer this question.

But there are some students in my class that are still American but maybe wouldnt know the answer. (like guys on football team or whatever)

A dictionary would help someone pick the best answer.

who is to say an american student would know the word

my chemistry professor doesnt say well girls are bad at math so only girls can bring calculators to the exam!

Mafoo

illest, im guessing that the exam would be easy to finish before time is up IF YOU CAN READ AND SPEAK ENGLISH LIKE A NATIVE.

if you can barely speak english, you wont have enough time to sit there and look everything up because youd be stuggling to put sentences together for the essay or w/e.

what level is this course? is it a GE?

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PLUR
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illest12

I have no problem with them having dictionaries but I have a problem with her saying American students cant bring them. We should be allowed the same supplemental help that native speakers are.

Who is to say an american wouldnt know the word.

Why should a native have the term handed to them on a silver platter yet not the American

illest12

during segregation blacks were able to drink from the water fountains designated to them...but that doesnt mean it's still right.

Waves

american students were educated in english, you were literally taught the information that other people taking the same test were not taught

dont be a dumb bitch

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illest12

waves, what are u talking about?

if they attended class then we all learned the same information lol

Mafoo

in american schools, the curriculum is taught in english. so americans whove managed to get into college should have no need to define words


so what are you going to do, illest?

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Mr. Poatheed

Does this mean that I get a dictionary on my Spanish exam or, better yet, a laptop with internet to use Google's language tools?


These kids are going for a degree from an American college. In America, we speak English. If you are unable to speak, read and write the English language well enough without the assistance of a reference, then in my opinion you do not deserve a degree from an American institution. Otherwise, we're just reinforcing the notion that illiteracy is okay, so long as your skin is brown.

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Captain Cannabis

you are dumb for complaining about this if english is your first language

complaining pretty much labels you a troublemaker, and they will make sure that this is reflected in your official file. if you think you are being seriously disadvantaged by not having a dictionary, file the complaint.

would you actually have time to look up a bunch of stuff with a dictionary? your grasp of the english language seems fine to me based on your posts.

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my_scatterheart

We heavily enforce the notion that illiteracy is okay ... period.


Is it ridiculous that they get dictionaries? Yeah. Should you voice your opinion intelligently and respectfully numerous times? Yes. Get borderline annoying with it.
But file a written complaint?
... . If that's the worst that's happened to you in school you're lucky yet.

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illest12

poatheed, thank you for actually being intelligent enough to recognize my gripe.
Obviously the others are seeing this issue at a micro level.
it is definitly the principle of the situation and that all students in a class should be treated equal.

besides if i were to go to university in India, they wouldnt be like "oh poor little white girl, here...look up all the information because you dont speak our language"

Mafoo

in my experiences, using a dicitonary was allowed only if english wasnt your first language, not if you are american or not. if thats what the teacher said, that is lame and possibly discrimination, but like captain cannabis is saying, it might not be worth "sticking your neck out" over something like this, unless you will be at a disadvantage on the exam.

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PLUR
For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return

my_scatterheart

Just for a little perspective, students who have learning disabilities also get to use references, and even get extra time on exams where I go to school!
It's very unfair.

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Flamingnun

Obvious derp is herp.

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Mr. Poatheed

Actually, in India they would probably be speaking English anyway, 'cause their business-sense is light years ahead of the West.




Also, I'm not a fan of giving kids with dyslexia or any other learning disabilities any extra help in the classroom (no one is going to give you more time to seal that business deal just because you otnd dare lewl.) But I've been told that makes me an asshole, so there you have it, I guess.

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