Hi
With (sincere) apologies to those who are not following this exchange:
Dear Bernard
Whilst it's true that good teaching practice and effective support
procedures will normally prevent problems like this from occurring, even in
the best run institutions (like yours?), they may crop up occasionally.
I did need to be 'disingenuously defensive' - the previous emailer had
'waded in' waving an agenda drawn from lord knows where. You have done the
same thing: only in the last paragraph of your message have you referred to
the 'particular case at hand' and, with respect, you have not offered
anything of value.
Before you lob any more grenades in my direction, can I suggest that you
revisit the thread - particularly the original question (which was from
Bryan Jones - not me).
I love this forum!
Regards
Peter
Bernard Doherty wrote:
> Dear Peter
>
> There is no need to be so disingenuously defensive; your question is
> the obvious reductio of the compromise position common to many HEIs and
> national organisations concerned with disability in HE. I have never
> thought that compensatory marking schemes are a good idea for anyone,
> except lazy or indifferent teachers who can thereby avoid making
> courses properly accessible with a clear conscience.
>
> Here we work on the principle (established by the Learning Support
> Team, against the then practice of many of the teaching staff) that
> support, concessions, advice and appropriate equipment are made
> available to students before work (including exams) is submitted.
> After that, it is just marked. Elsewhere, I note that the frequently
> proposed compromise position of offering both support and compensating
> marks is often defended on pragmatic grounds that ultimately will not
> stand scrutiny. However, it does save argument, upset and the
> expenditure of resources.
>
> A good starting point for considering this issue might be to consider
> for what reasons marks are awarded. Among other things, considered
> overall they may give an indication of whether the teaching on a course
> is appropriate, if support for students is adequate, and if individual
> students are making sufficient effort. These and other areas are all
> things that need to be immediately addressed when they become apparent.
> Yet how are any deficiencies to be recognised if different criteria are
> applied to different students on the same course?
>
> As to the particular case at hand, I never cease to be horrified by the
> casual acts of appalling bad manners students lavish on their deaf and
> hard of hearing peers (in a way that does not happen to students with
> other disabilities); under no circumstances should this be encouraged.
>
> Regards, Bernard
>
> On Tue, 14 Nov 2000 20:35:52 +0000 Peter Hill <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
>
> > Sorry. I seemed to have struck a sour note.
> >
> > When composing my previous email, I was not thinking about any of the
> > things you mention below. I was concerned with being pragmatic. The
> > original query concerned a real-life event involving real students in
> a > real lecture. Before I responded, I did try to 'think' myself into
> the > situation as it occurred in the lecture - examining it from the
> point of > view of the lecturer, the deaf student and the student's
> peers. I then > tried to consider the implications of compensating/not
> compensating the > latter.
> > > I suppose, in mitigation, I was wearing my Disability Coordinator's
> hat - > which seemed more appropriate at the time than standing on the
> outside, > looking in, waving a placard.
> > > Regards
> > > Peter Hill
> > > Susanna Hancock wrote:
> > > > Do you think we should also compensate disabled students,then,
> > > because they are having to work in a situation where they are > >
> regarded as a problem, not good at communicating, and a potential > >
> liability in group work for other students. after all, the suggestion
> > > from some is that we compensate students who have to work with a >
> > deaf student; why not the other way around? > >
> > > How about in employment? Should people who have to work next to, >
> > or in a team with disabled people be compensated? That's always > >
> assuming, of course, that the disabled student can get someone to > >
> employ them! > >
> > > I feel very tempted to get in touch with my old university mates
> and > > ask them how much they got for having me in tjhere groups!
> > > Susanna. > >
> > > Susanna Hancock > > Equal Opportunities Officer
> > > HRS > > Telephone: 020 8411 6873
> > > Email: [log in to unmask] >
> > -- > Peter Hill
> > > Disability Coordinator
> > University College Worcester > Henwick Grove
> > Worcester > WR2 6AJ
> > > Tel 01905 855413
> > [log in to unmask] >
> > [log in to unmask] >
> >
>
> ----------------------
> Bernard Doherty
> [log in to unmask]
--
Peter Hill
Disability Coordinator
University College Worcester
Henwick Grove
Worcester
WR2 6AJ
Tel 01905 855413
[log in to unmask]
[log in to unmask]
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