I had never really given much thought to what a stutter could mean. It just seemed to be something that people lived and dealt with. As far as I can tell, a stutter just makes understanding someone a little more difficult, but patience is all that is required.
I do not like the idea that a professor basically shut this kid down. If he, Philip, has an interest in the subject and is willing to contribute then the teacher should be supportive. Part of college is growing up and becoming comfortable with self expression; professors are the moderators of this process, their nudging and commitment to their subject should help the student rather than hinder.
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-Rosie Limburg
Philip is sixteen, to be taking college level classes; he’s probably intelligent and advanced. He does not let his stutter stop him. Having a professor in one of his advanced classes restrict him, sent a very negative message that no one needs in that stage of self discovery. Other student’s in the class said that Philip did not take much more time than other students, so why did Professor Snyder respond in such “harsh” fashion?
Ms. Snyder’s behavior disgusts me, that is about where this article left me. True, I suppose she tried to leave an avenue open for Philip, writing down questions to ask before or after class, but her actions alienated him from other students and his interests. What could she possibly hope to accomplish be dealing with the situation in such a botched manner? The teacher was getting in the way of a student’s education; the reason that we ask questions during class is to address the immediate issue. When the issue loses it immediacy, it is no longer of interest and that moment of learning may be lost.
I was honestly saddened by this news report. The fact that people have speech impediments and other physiological and heredity issues are not a handicap on their brain. This young man, being brave for even being so outspoken with his stutter, is marvelous. Even though the school said that they sought accommodations for him to move to another teachers class, he should not have had to move in the first place. Philip, clearly a bright young man, had the passion to learn and was met with the negative comments: "your speaking is disruptive," “I believe it would be better for everyone if you kept a sheet of paper on your desk and wrote down the answers,” and if he wants to ask questions, he should pose them before or after class, “so we do not infringe on other students’ time.” Absolutely disgusting. A classroom is where the professor is suppose to foster an environment conducive to learning and everyone should feel comfortable expressing their opinions. Say, for insistance, if a student always has a heated discussion in class with other students because she strongly disagrees with things that are said in class and everyone is getting tired of her having her opinions, is it ok to just say stop talking because you are disrupting the class because what you always say disrupts the class. NO, because the students has a right to their own opinion, just like Philip has the right to speak in class. Stuttering does not mean that you do not have the ability to think and to respond questions and form thoughts, it just means that one might have a harder time getting what you want to say out. This professor should have been reprimanded because this is bullying in my eyes and usually bullying and taunting happens in primary and secondary school. Not college.
ReplyDeletesent him an e-mail asking that