- Joined
- Oct 10, 2007
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- 3,181
^+ArmyMom
One of my sons experienced just how bad things can go in school at the local university when he was 16. He was taking a humanities class (I think it was Public Speaking, but not sure) and they had to write a paper then give a speech on the topic of their choice. He wrote a VERY controversial paper regarding gun control in pre-war Germany. He turned in the paper, and the teacher gave him an "F." Well, he was flabbergasted! Dismayed! I said he was in college now, and he had to figure these things out for himself. He went to office hours with the teacher and she said she hated what he had written and wasn't going to budge. Well, he then went to the president of the college! At 16! The three of them then had a meeting and the teacher admitted she had hated the opinion he'd put forth, but that the paper was excellent in composition. After meeting for an hour, the president agreed with my son, that he should be able to express his opinion (or at least the opinion expressed in the paper), that the composition was without grammatical or syntax error, that it was formatted properly with correct footnoting, bibliography, etc. Then, they discussed whether at this university there would be "freedom of thought and expression" in the classroom.
Long story shortened, son's grade was changed to an "A" and he and the teacher became friendly, though they did not agree on several political topics. It came out in the meeting with the president and teacher that son was a high school sophomore, and both adults were shocked. The president later had both sons come in and talked with them about homeschooling for two hours. Later, the president homeschooled his own children!
So, a bad situation which could have been a terrible problem with long term consequences for my son was turned into a positive, a good learning experience for all concerned, with polite discussion and respect - for opinion, for thought, for another person. He learned how to navigate "the system" and learned, too, that while mom was in his corner, I was really support for him, not there to fight his battles for him. He also learned that he had to stick up for himself while remaining respectful of the authority of instructors, and their bosses.
A few days later, he gave his speech to the assembled speech classes (maybe about 150 students) in an auditorium. He received his share of boos, of cheers, and a few snores. Also, very good training for life. And a bazinga introduction into the politics of education.
One of my sons experienced just how bad things can go in school at the local university when he was 16. He was taking a humanities class (I think it was Public Speaking, but not sure) and they had to write a paper then give a speech on the topic of their choice. He wrote a VERY controversial paper regarding gun control in pre-war Germany. He turned in the paper, and the teacher gave him an "F." Well, he was flabbergasted! Dismayed! I said he was in college now, and he had to figure these things out for himself. He went to office hours with the teacher and she said she hated what he had written and wasn't going to budge. Well, he then went to the president of the college! At 16! The three of them then had a meeting and the teacher admitted she had hated the opinion he'd put forth, but that the paper was excellent in composition. After meeting for an hour, the president agreed with my son, that he should be able to express his opinion (or at least the opinion expressed in the paper), that the composition was without grammatical or syntax error, that it was formatted properly with correct footnoting, bibliography, etc. Then, they discussed whether at this university there would be "freedom of thought and expression" in the classroom.
Long story shortened, son's grade was changed to an "A" and he and the teacher became friendly, though they did not agree on several political topics. It came out in the meeting with the president and teacher that son was a high school sophomore, and both adults were shocked. The president later had both sons come in and talked with them about homeschooling for two hours. Later, the president homeschooled his own children!
So, a bad situation which could have been a terrible problem with long term consequences for my son was turned into a positive, a good learning experience for all concerned, with polite discussion and respect - for opinion, for thought, for another person. He learned how to navigate "the system" and learned, too, that while mom was in his corner, I was really support for him, not there to fight his battles for him. He also learned that he had to stick up for himself while remaining respectful of the authority of instructors, and their bosses.
A few days later, he gave his speech to the assembled speech classes (maybe about 150 students) in an auditorium. He received his share of boos, of cheers, and a few snores. Also, very good training for life. And a bazinga introduction into the politics of education.
I have to laugh because my son chose to write about our public education system his first semester in English Comp 1. I warned him that that might not be the best topic and he might want to go a bit less controversial since he had to read it aloud. He actually had a number of students agree and received an A...phew... He seems to enjoy debating though and is very open to other opinions which is very much a good thing. He had one instructor who was anti-everything(anti-liberal, anti-conservative, anti military!) it seemed and my son considered it a challenge to meet his expectations. He did and received one of the few As in the course. These are valuable lessons for our kids and, I think, it may make them better prepared for the world.