...so here I am in my so-called "office": a designated table out in the lobby of the satellite campus where I hold my Thursday classes. (Hey, I like it here, I can greet students by name as they come in, and it's something of a local tradition.) And I'm going about my business when I hear Bold Student (BS) talking to an associate thusly: "Man, that exam I just took was so hard, I had to get my mom to help me take iit." And I had to just stop and call BS out.
"Hey, are you serious?! You had to get your mom to help you take an exam?"[NB presumably a take-home]."
"Yeah, she's a[n expert in the subject area.]" [Job title withheld to preserve privacy.]
"Okay, fair enough, but she wasn't in class with you, she might not be familiar with the subject area."
"But she's an expert!"
"Even so, what're you gonna do if you fail the exam anyway? Yell at your mom???"
"Uhhh..."
"And for the love of Pete, why are you talking about this out loud in the lobby of the college where at least one professor is hanging out and can overhear your entire conversation!?"
BS had no response for that one.
Of course this conversation was troubling on several levels. But arguably the most disturbing part was the mother's willingness to help her daughter cheat.; What does that say about the woman's professional ethics? (Hint: her field would, in fact, be distressed to know of such a thing.)
Technorati Tags: academia, cheating, ethics, humor, The world is full of morons
2 comments:
Who is her mom, a Wisconsin doctor?
Funnily enough.... (nope, cannot elaborate, privacy concerns)
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