Member Since: September 22, 2006
Answers: 205
Last Update: February 1, 2007
Visitors: 16639
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I am almost positive that one of my professors is changing our answers on tests so that we get better grades. Let me start from the beginning....
After the class took the midterm exam, I was looking over my answers and I noticed that some of the writing was kind of funny. I thought, geez I must have been really tired when I took this test, and I let it go. Then, some of the other people in the class started whispering about it. Apparently someone had changed some of our answers to the correct answers before the tests had been graded! We all assumed that a student aid or graduate student had done it.
What's the problem then you might ask. I got a better grade so I shouldn't complain, right? Well, I try my best to be a good person and the fact that that had happened made me feel sooo guilty. It stressed me out to no end. I don't need to get a great grade in the class. With the corrections my score had been boosed from about a 70 to a 90. I didn't need the extra points. All I have to do is pass the course.
I didn't want to be the tattle tale and ruin everyone's day by possibly making the entire class take the midterm over again, but I couldn't deal with the dishonesty I was feeling. Later in that day I went to talk to the professor about what had happened. I liked her and I thought that telling her was the right thing to do. She seemed very understanding and told me to just keep working hard and that she would take care of it. I felt so good after I did it and knew that it had been the right choice. Well, nothing was done about it and I began to wonder.
We took another test and when I was handed my test back I got a "Great job!". When I noticed that the same thing had happened I almost cried. Nobody else in the class seems to mind, but it is tearing me apart. Now everyone is almost positive that it is the professor that is doing it. It's almost the end of the semester and I worry now that we'll all have to take the whole course over again. I can't afford to do that! I have just enough time to fit all the classes in that I need to graduate.
I think I know the reason why she does it (if she does). She isn't allowed to make her own tests or assignments for us. It has to be the same for everyone that is taking the class. The head of her department makes everything and she is often confused on what to teach us and what to tell us to study. I think that this is terrible and that a professor should be able to teach the way they want. Boosting our grades like she does (or allowing it to happen) is her way of giving us a curve.
It makes sense and it seems like a good thing, but if it's supposed to be the same for everyone taking the class, then my class is getting a very unfair advantage! Yeah, there needs to be some change, but it should be done in an honest way! There are so many better ways to have handled that. I believe that the professor is retiring after this semester so I don't think it would affect much in her life if she was found out.
Should I tell? I think I probably will anyway. I don't want to have to live with this for the rest of my life. If I do, who should I go through? The head of the department or someone higher in the college? She doesn't let us keep the tests and I have a feeling that if she were being investigaed for this that they would mysteriously go missing. With no proof, can anything really be done?
I give a lot of advice, but now I need some myself. I have no idea how I would answer this question if it were asked by someone else. Am I doing the right thing? I doubt anyone has gone through something similar to this and can offer an experience based answer. I shouldn't have to deal with this, I'm a student! I should be the one that's cheating if anybody! HELP!!
~sizzlinmandolin, (20/f) (link)
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This might be specifically uncommon, but the situation in 'higher education' that likely prompted her actions is not. I wouldn't tell, and let me tell you why:
With state/community colleges (I'm assuming thats what you are in) there is a money/business component. This has been happening all over for some time; schools don't want to raise the bar too high, otherwise the fear is that students will go somewhere easier, somewhere they can just take their classes and get their degree. Instructors are discouraged from failing too many people across the board; in fact, if an instructor were to have an incredibly bad grade average for their students, they might be shown the door. Tough grading and high expectations becomes "bad", and instructors are forced to back off of their own expectations of what their students should aspire to. I had several instructors that told us that straight out, it wasn't even a secret lol. It was more or less "If I had my way, I'd fail half of you, you obviously didn't study. Consider yourselves lucky I value my job".
She might resent being in the position she is in. Picture yourself in her shoes - you cannot choose material, your syllabi is not your own, if you fail too many students using someone elses material you might be fired. Unfortunately, in many schools, there is an invisible line to toe. Fail too many or grade too hard, and the front office gives you your walking papers.
If she is retiring, maybe talk to her about it? Mention to her "Hey, theres this odd thing I noticed about the tests...". Maybe she'll volunteer some info, I dont know.
In the end though, what you learn is largely determined by you, and grades do not always reflect that. I would just study as hard as you can and try to not let this bother you. Also, if you report it, nothing might happen, other than if word gets out and other instructors decide to be more careful around you. Sadly, it is often in a schools best interest to NOT go after teachers that teach the material, and go out of their way to give 'good' grades. This way, more people shell out cash for classes and the school makes money.
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Rating: 5
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Wouldn't it have been much better to have given us a curve instead of changing our answers? I have never heard of a professor changing answers. I totally agree with curves, extra points, and the like. If the head of her department wouldn't allow any of that she should have fought them and stood up for her beliefs instead of secretly (even to her students!) going against what her boss wanted. Wouldn't the head of the department have the college's interests in mind more than she would? I totally agree with the points you made, I just think she could have handled it in more of a legal way. I mean, she changed our answers! That's terrible!
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