And th th th th that's all f f f folks.

LMAO!!

You know, read the article and learn something, instead of being an ass. You might use your 3rd brain cell, finally.

Notice that the lowlife overpaid administrators at her college couldn't sell her out fast enough. And they are the morons who admitted a high school kid who was in no way prepared for a college classroom. Guidelines for faculty: Watch your own back. Have no institutional loyalty. If you have a choice between putting yourself at risk or failing to educate the students, shaft the students. Always. Give them all good grades, and no one will ever know or care.

MACH!!!!

bloggit, you have no idea whether or not this kid was prepared for a college classroom. No where in the article did it state what qualified him to be there. He could be a very smart kid doing college level work to get a head start on his dreams.

Sorry cowboy, if he were prepared he would no that a professor doesn't have time to answer every dim wits question. This kid was making trouble to get attention, and clearly has no business in a college class.

Anyone understand what Derek was talking about?

Was he trolling or did he not get the joke?

Well, I am having to go with the Baron on this one. I have taught college classes and sometimes there is this one student who seeks out the instructor's attention during class. It is most annoying to the instructor and to the attention seeker's classmates.

That said, the instructor handled this as inappropriately as one could imagine. It would have been better to ask the offender to come to the office during office hours and have his questions ready for discussion. The other alternative would have been to assign a graduate assistant to answer those questions during the assistant's office hours.

Humiliation isn't the answer and, in this case, gave the stutterer just what he wanted -- attention.

Being a history professor does not necessarily mean you are smart.

She did schedule time outside of class to answer his questions, he just didn't show.

@grump in NM, she did offer to work with him outside of class. However since she is an adjunct she probably doesn't have "office hours" per se, let alone a graduate assistant (not too many CC's have those). You did notice those parts, right?

Being a history professor does not necessarily mean you are smart.

And what do you teach that makes you so wise as to know what kind of office hours an adjunct has?

Dearest Crazy, and yet somehow you know that she had no access to any rooms in the whole department and somehow you know what kind of office hours she might have had.

Well I've never known an adjunct to have more than the temporary use of computer station, maybe the loan of a cube, never office hours since adjuncts being part-time faculty usually have other jobs.

So what was it you teach?

Article Quote...

(Ms. Snyder said), “He misinterpreted this and assumed it had something to do with his stuttering; I interpreted his hand up for 75 minutes as someone unfamiliar with a college lecture format and frankly a little rude,” she said. “In hindsight, I should have stopped my lecture and called on Philip because he had become so fixated on making a statement that it didn’t seem to matter to him that he was interrupting my presentation.”

Just looking at this quote from the teacher appears to show she does have some anger or a negative attitude toward this student. I am sure Philip was not imagining the teachers frustration leading to discrimination of him, and I am sure she could have handled the whole situation in a much more professional, more respectful way. I have experienced being in a group lesson situation and having held my hand up for an extended length of time without being called on, while others were called on (I believe Philip in this fact), and it is very insulting and disrespectful.

Truthfully, what if Philip had something very important to say. I remember when my kids were very little, and we were driving home from lunch at McDonalds one day. My kindergardner said mommy, mommy...and before I could answer (that was my policy, always, with my little ones), my sister who was talking to me broke in and said, "(Child) it is rude to interrupt adults...you need to wait until they are finished talking and then you can talk". My daughter was silenced and waited patiently for a couple minutes as my sister continued to talk, after which my sister then proceeded to say, "So what did you want to say now?". My daughter calmly said "I was trying to tell you that (the three year old) is feeding the baby (my sister's 3 month old infant) french fries!" We looked to see the little infant in her car seat with a mouth full of french fries...fortunately she didn't choke and was OK, but just saying...

College is for adults, not children. Many teachers use a lecture format, not the most effective way to teach, but still very common in college. If she wasn't calling on anyone else, then she wasn't discriminating by not calling on him.

If high school students are going to take college courses, even at a community college, they need to learn to act like a young adult. Of my three kids, 2 took college courses as early as 15, getting dual high school and college credit, and one at 17. Probably this young man was in a simular program.

As to the teacher having a negative attitude, wouldn't you if you had been put through what she has been? In the article Philip said he felt sympathy for her. Obviously, he did not yet have the maturity to realize that if you take your side of the story to the media, that it will have negative consequences for the other person.

Another article said he had been homeschooled for a lot of his school years. My experience with homeschooled students who come into the public classroom setting has been that they are often bright, articulate, and often lacking in social skills (taught in kindergarten) like patience and taking turns.

KJR, EAE is right: if a h.s. student spent an entire lecture with their hand raised I'd assume they either didn't know how to behave in a more mature setting or they were trying to prove a point. In college if you have an emergency, a phone call, want something to eat, you get up & leave the room not wait for permission; if you have questions and the prof. doesn't call on you within 3 mins (for whatever reason) you write your question down and ask afterward. This is basic college etiquette that you eventually learn from experience. Yet because this kid has a speech impediment she was expected to treat him differently? That is discrimination, but because it was discrimination in his favor it was okay. He was treated like any regular kid, but because it wasn't in his favor he tried to call it discrimination. Give me a break.

David-I agree. A college lecture lasts only so long and X amount of information must be conveyed to the entire class in that amount of time. Disruptions from other students ( and waiting for a stuttering student to s-l-o-w-l-y ask an inappropriate or irrelevant question actually hinders the lecture) are seldom tolerated. I had a lecturer in college who would permit no interruptions, no questions. At the end of the lecture however there was always a small line of students waiting to ask questions or clarify information. She would stay on stage and patiently address all questions. It seems this student may have some behavior problems as well.

Finally, there are now very effective treatment programs to "cure" stuttering. Many people with serious stuttering problems can now speak with such fluidity that a casual observer would never know of a previous problem. This kid needs treatment or this problem will hinder his life way down the road.

I agree that college situations are totally different than high school ones ... and if young kids want to attend college, they need to learn to deal with it.

They are in class with other students, of a large variety of ages, that have PAID to be there. And in many cases, paid a great deal of money. That puts things on an entire different level.

Yes, the ADA should make sure that all students have EQUAL access to education. But that doesn't mean that disabled students should have EXTRA access -- especially at the expense of all the other students.

The prof offered to accommodate the student with after class access, question time, e-mails, etc. I think that's sufficient.

I am currently in college and one of my professors teachings in the lecture format. He does not answer questions during the lecture no matter who has their hand up. College professor's hold 'Office Hours' for a reason ... that is where you ask questions or ask them to clarify information.

Personally, I do not agree with HS students being allowed to take college classes but that is only my opinion. I was in a class a few years ago, in a different school than the one I am currently attending, that had a HS student enrolled in one of my classes. Information at the college level is presented in a format that most HS students aren't familiar with and it was disruptive with that individual always interrupting to ask questions.

In some classes, Mathematics or English for example, I can see allowing a HS level student to attend. The information present is basically the same that they are used to, just taken to a higher level. But other courses are not 'cut and dry' information and the majority of HS students do not have the level of maturity (a lot of college students don't either for that matter) required.

DaveWH says...

Personally, I do not agree with HS students being allowed to take college classes but that is only my opinion.

I can see this issue from both sides from personal experience. When my twenty year old son was attending college classes at a local community college, I remember him complaining about a few high school kids in one or two of his classes who were, in his opinion, very disruptive and immature in their behavior in class. He said it made it difficult for all the other students, as these few HS students were rude in their behavior and did not seem serious about learning anything, and made it difficult for other students to hear the professor/teacher and concentrate on the material.

However, one of my daughters took about three college courses while she was still in high school, and being a serious student who was very focused on what she wanted to do after high school and serious about learning the material, it worked out really great for her to have that opportunity offered. She was able to begin college with already about a semester of credits, and has since finished graduate school and is on to a great career. I think maybe HS students and their opportunity to enroll in college classes possibly needs to be better monitored by HS counselors, with maturity being a part of the decision process. Anyways, I would be sad to see this great opportunity for dedicated HS students eliminated due to a few who shouldn't be there.

At any rate, it doesn't sound like this was the situation with Philip, in my opinion. From what the article states, it sounds like questions during class WERE ALLOWED...at least to some extent. That is not uncommon. Not all college classes are comprised of hundreds of students in a large lecture hall that does not allow for student participation in discussion...sometimes student participation is very much a part of class. I thought I read that other students in this teacher's class did confirm that some students were called on to participate in discussion/questions when their hands were raised. It sounds to me like Philip's speech disability made it a more lengthy process when he was called on to speak, and I can see where that could be a more difficult situation for the instructor and/or the class. However, I believe the instructor could have been more compassionate and respectful in her treatment of this student. My daughter is a speech therapist, and she has told me that anything that makes a child with this disability more anxious or self conscious about their speech or feeling rushed to try to speak what they want to say...is very counterproductive in making speech more difficult. I did not understand there to be any other issues with Philip's behavior being disruptive. Most likely he kept his hand up for so long because as he saw other students called on, he assumed he would be also at some point. It sounds like it was a good idea to move Philip to another class with another teacher, and start new in the process of attempting to accommodate his disability with a new instructor.

I would like to commend Philip's parents for contributing to his obvious good self esteem in the face of a disability that leads many who suffer this difficulty to choose to become silent. His comments that seem to want to excuse the teacher and move on also show maturity, respect and kindness. And being enrolled in college courses while still in HS, with a desire to participate in class leads me to believe this kid is intelligent, focused and has goals. Good for him.

SLNH- It sure seems like you are going off the deep end in your examples..

Justiceftp- you nailed it. Heaven forbid anyone consider the rights for the majority of people who paid to take this course. No, let's make sure they get less time being taught so they can listen to someone struggle to say a few words instead. I think some lame brain should have Mimes in class with them, so everyone can try to figure out what they're trying to communicate as well. Siding with the teacher on this one..

spoken like a professional. There are alternatives, that is what the ADA is all about. Thinking about what can be done to level the playing field, so all who have the BRAINS can participate in edeucation. And I agree, most home-schooled children do not have the social skills intially to participate in a group learning situation, let alone college. What if another student had complained to the dept. head that his learning process was disrupting by someone rude taking up the entire class with his questions? Stutteror not? Chew that!

Great answer NCYCGUY!!!!!!!

NCYCGUY and JulianDD - The professor WAS trying to go to lengths to accommodate this student and encourage him to participate in many other ways while still trying to respect the rights of all of the other students in the class. If This young man has an incredibly slow speech and insists on making comments to multiple topics during each class, it would significantly limit the material that would be able to be covered in the allotted time for the class. Throughout undergrad and graduate experiences, each course I took I would quickly learn to dread certain students who always had a comment for every topic and, I felt, wasted the time for the rest of us who wished to learn in the class. It is difficult to get that type of student on track but most are appreciative when that student is given certain limits or parameters; when that student also has a disability, why does that task then become discrimination? It shouldn't be discrimination if the same parameters would be given to another student who does not have the disability but still monopolized the class time.

You go girl. That is exactly right!

Well the deed is done and he has already caused her some pretty serious harm. Do you think 20 years from now you won't be able to find this information on the web if you were a potential employer, lender, sperm donor, and so on?

He sounds like the type of person with a disability that imagines a better and more friendly world where everyone has some sort if disability. I think he should be prescribed on to medical marijuana so this never happens again. He can just be all chill and relaxed. Laid back people don't care about raising their hand for extended or indefinite periods of time.

The trouble with marijuana in college? You get so "chilled and relaxed" you don't bother going to class period.

You'd think his arm would get tired.

You'd think he actually paid money that is used for the teachers salary to be there. Oh wait he did.

It really appears that he was trying to force a situation, and frankly, it's not unusual that the people, handicapped or not, that think they have something THAT important to say are usually full of it. SLNH. you really believe that the whole rest of the class should just wait for this kid to stammer out his questions/statements no matter how disruptive to the class he is? I guess your parents never set any limits on you as you were growing up, as you sound as egocentric and self important as this 10th grade kid.

Your right. I guess she should have just made him sit at the back of the bus..er...class.

Trust, submitting by email in order to facilitate the REST of the class' ability to learn is not silencing the student. She wasn't inconsistent at all. He's overly sensitive, and thinks he deserves special treatment, but I've not seen any handicap access law that states that a stutterer has the right to monopolize class time. There are other options, like text to speech that he could have used, for free.

I agree with Nurse. Speaking with or without a disorder this kid was obviously intelligent to be taking college courses in the 10th grade, but probably has been doted over and "spoiled" by his parents which is almost impossible to fix. He obviously was taking too much time expounding on his 10th grade views and at some time the prof realized that he was becoming the subject of her courses which effects the other students detrimentally. Sounds like a spoiled brat with a speech impediment to me! Holding your hand up for 75 minutes is the proof of a shallow spoiled child. I have 5 children and 3 grandchildren and my wife is a teacher 1st through 12th grades.

It's amazing that Stephen Hawking became a world renown physicist with people who have attitudes like you around.

Yup that chair setup he has just adapted itself out of thin air.

Dave,
You forgot to adhere to the COH & UA.
Consider yourself reported!

Stephen Hawking's disease was a slow progressing one which allowed him time to make influential discoveries. He also used whatever was available to assist him and enlisted the help of others.

Not like this kid, a real rectum and guarantee that every student and faculty member absolutely hates him.

This kid, refuses to used available technology to present his questions and or answers in a way that would not discriminate against other students by him demanding to be heard and allow the class to flow in the time allotted and at a pace the same as other students.

Holding his hand up repeated times, daily, and also for almost the entire class time was beyond rude and professor and other students should have reported his disruptive behavior to the Dean of Students.

For those who went to college or attended seminars at work, etc. and know what it is like to have a know it all, attention seeker in the class who - like this kid - wants to answer every question or ask questions about everything. It is a total distraction and disruptive behavior and this mommy's boy needs to be punished so he understands = he should be barred from classes for 6 months if not for lifetime.

He is a spoiled brat that is inconsiderate of others and thinks he deserves special treatment for having a disability. Wrong. He should only be allowed to attend special education college classes and forced to attend speech therapy to help with or overcome his stuttering problem.

This kid is mental and anal.

Yeah Mike. Unless he was a spoiled, doted over child that was used to getting his way ALL of the time. I've met them, straightened them out, and their parents make me sick! Blame the teacher with 37 years of experience instead of the spoiled brat 14 year old!

"Both say that they had agreed that he would send her an e-mail listing his concerns, but he never did, and that she tried to arrange meetings with him and a college dean, but Philip backed out of them."

She did talk to him in private. Read the news article.

...could HAVE (not "could of")

There should be no comma between "why you're doing what you're doing"

Likewise, none is needed in "...the student would have understood why you...", although the statement "...why you would like to approach the problem within the classroom" makes no sense anyway.

Jeez (not"Gee's")

Coca- (not Coco) Cola

her (not him)--the teacher is a woman

Mike--if you want us to respect your opinions, you really need to learn to express yourself better first.

(And by the way, your "like" score is inflated by one, because I mistakenly hit the arrow box, instead of the REPLY icon at first.)

Wow Hoops Mcann! You don't even know the kid and you've pretty much made up you mind that he's a spoiled brat? Ever think he may have Asperger syndrome or be Autistic? Or just be someone who doesn't pick up on social cues?

God bless him for being confident enough to participate in class. You know this kid has been picked on his entire life and it's amazing that it doesn't stop him from participating. On top of that, he has people that don't even know him, like you, calling him a spoiled brat. Shameful!

One can only respond to what is written. Teachers are informed ahead of time of students with special needs. Sounds as if the case administrator fell down on the job of checking on how things were going. If the teacher documented her accomodations she is covered, teachers contrary to the opinions of the omi-stupid, are not all knowing.

Mike, make an attempt to read the article before commenting. Meetings and alternatives were suggested, but the student didn't attend. Too bad, so sad. The kid seems to be too immature for college courses.

Mike in Montana = you need to get out in civilization for a while = "go out for a Coco-Cola or enjoy a lunch with him and explain the problem and none of this would have hit the main stream news media press."

Are you crazy = teachers and professors do not take or meet their students out for lunch and a Coca-Cola. A wacko jacko like this kid would yell rape and it would be in main stream news and media press, as you say, with the teacher, professor in jail based on this despicable kid's lies. Which it sounds like he is and has been doing a lot of.

For all those out there who have never been to college, go take a class and see how it is in the real world. This is not kindergarten or even high school.

Most college classes require lap top computers; where you receive the lectures in real time and follow along during class. All done by Wi-Fi, real time, even questions and answers, and displayed on large screen above and behind professor.

During open discussion classes, the professor still can choose who to answer a question or ask a question of, etc. And who to ignore. I am sure this professor has received various complaints from other students about this kids disruptive and rude, attitude and behavior.

It is evident that this kid can not follow Verbal or Written Instructions because he did not do so when provided with both from his teacher, professor.

He does not belong in college, Period. He has too much of a personality, mental disorder and will end up flunking out or being thrown out because he does not know how to interact with others in a college environment or follow the directions given to him by his teacher, professor.

This kid is a loser and it has nothing to do with his stuttering. It is the way he was brought up and home schooled by ignorant imbeciles. That is his true disability = his parents.

When my kids took college classes while still in high school, they knew ahead of time from me that they had to act like young adults and it would be different from high school. All the college required was that they qualify academically for the program.

Lots of community colleges have programs where high school students can take a limited number of classes for dual high school/college credit. They have to be bright students who get good grades to be able to do it, but they don't have to be geniuses or prodigies or anything like that.

This is a 10th grader taking a college course, he isn't out of high school yet.

Thank you! That was my thoughts too. Kids suffering from any disorder on the Autism spectrum would not pick up on social cues and wouldn't have realized that anything they did was not normal.

Have you been to college? Many professors in lower level general studies classes (like this freshman history) allow little or no time for questions, many lecture straight through, usually due to class sizes. And this isn't just years ago, this is today!

I have 2 children who have recently finished college, one of which is now in grad school, and the youngest is still in college. I have heard about classes (good and bad) at one community college and 3 universities. So, I am quite familiar with the fact that the old-fashioned lecture with little or no interaction is still going strong.

You find interaction and participation in certain kinds of classes where there are small groups, or labs, but many freshman/sophmore general studies classes are still large and taught mainly through lectures.

High and mighty? She's an adjunct professor at a community college. Look it up.

He said that she tried to help and he backed out. Or did you just skim over that part because it wasn't interesting?

I have a relative who was a serious stutterer. He got along fine with his peers, he didn't let teasing bother him and instead earned their respect. He never used stuttering as an excuse or claimed discrimination. He went on to get two master's degrees in science and was very successful. He was successful because he was good at his field, so good people saw his achievements, not his disability.

If the teacher asked this young man to write out his questions, whether it was because of his stuttering or not, he should have done so, and made sure that they were such insightful questions that she would have been wanting to share them with the class as examples.

Exactly! Why didn't the teacher just say "Please hold all questions until the end of class. I need to utilize as much time as possible for this presentation."