The Scarlet Letter

[<snewmann@sfasu.edu>]

Scott Hendrix raises an interesting question regarding confidentiality
here.  Where do we draw the line regarding confidentiality?  I see a
significant difference between confidentiality related to LD and
confidentiality related to grades (and standardized test scores).  In "the
real world" people, all too often, are allowed to gloss over serious
faults or "mistakes" they have made by hiding the mistake from public
view.  We appear to tolerate this when it is done by people of prominence
in the business world (although their enemies will certainly use the
information if they can) but not to tolerate it in the world of politics.
Bill Clinton had to share with the entire world where he keeps his cigars.

I see a difference in LD (which is a condition of a person that affects
his or her learning) and a grade or score on a test (which is the result
of something a person has or has not done).  One says something about the
person and the other says something about the way one has performed or
behaved.  The latter can be changed if the person who earned the grade
will recognize (admit) error or fault and learns how to correct the
situation.  That is not the case with LD.  LD students *do* have to
acknowledge their limitations and search for alternative ways to
accomplish what they want to do, too, but I see a difference here in the
need for confidentiality.  The individual with the label "LD" is subject
to persecution from those who fail or refuse to understand that condition.
Rather than disclosure freeing the student to better learn (in perhaps new
ways) the disclosure too often exposes the student to discrimination and
abuse from ignorant faculty who would rather that "these students" were
not on campus. If I fail a test because I was not prepared for it I should
not be allowed to hide behind my claim of confidentiality and thus avoid
acknowledging my own culpability.  I don't think, either, that I should be
required to wear a big red F on my breast.  In the W.C. if I'm going to
help a student who failed an exit test to pass I *need* to know he failed
and I need to know why he failed.  Then I can help him pass and then he
will be more accepting of my help.  He will be better able to acknowledge
that he *needs* the help and more accepting of that help.

Seems to me that the scarlet letter is no longer an "A" but rather it is
now an" F". 

stephen  (just unloading here a little)

On Tue, 5 Oct 1999, Scott Hendrix wrote:

> Hi all, 
> 
> how do you handle student privacy issues with regard to peer writing consultants and tutoring work with other students?
> 
> I ask because here at Albion College we have a college-wide "competency exam," a timed writing that must be passed in order for a student to graduate. In the past, students who failed the exam twice had to enroll in a one-on-one tutorial with the faculty director of the exam. Now that the college has a writing center, I have been planning to have students who fail the exam work with writing consultants on assessing their exams, discussing strategies for prepping, writing under time pressure, proofreading and revision in crunch time, etc. The sad reality is that the exam asks for and almost requires a pat 5 paragraph theme. This format may be changed in the future, but the short-term need is how to deal with it as is. (I'd also be interested to hear from folks who have worked to successfully revise or eliminate such writing "hoops"--though as a new faculty member, I'm only learning the long history and nuances of this writing event...)
> 
> Do you think the plan for utilizing writing consultants is a good idea?  And/or does this kind of sharing of information--having WC folks read "failed" essays, and working with students who have failed the exam, etc.--violate the Buckley Amendment/FERPA guidelines? This kind of information would likely come out during discussion and work in the writing center--but then it is volunteered by students. 
> 
> Advice please--suggestions for who else I should ask? (I'm also contacting the Dean of Students here, as well as the Provost, my boss.) 
> 
> Thanks in advance!
> 
> Scott
> 
> Scott Hendrix
> Director of Writing
> Albion College
> 
>