A UCLA professor was called racist, and guilty of a “micro-aggression” against black students for correcting grammar and spelling issues on their papers. A protest was organized and students claim the professor has created a hostile climate on campus for his actions.
This happened around a year ago but the story is only now going viral. Sadly, we also know that incidents like this one are becoming even more common.
Downtrend reports:
I thought the race debate reached a new low when Gummy Bear maker Haribo was accused of racism for making African mask Gummies, but what happened at UCLA this week makes that look sane. 25 University of California Los Angeles students participated in a sit-in protest because, get this, one of their professors had the gall to correct grammar and spelling issues on some black students’ papers.
Val Rust, a professor of education and information, was the target of the protestors for what they feel was racial insensitivity. Describing themselves as “aggrieved minority students,” they claim that the professor was wrong to correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar in the papers of black students.
Call 2 Action: Graduate Students of Color, the group which launched the sit-in, said the act of correcting a black student was “micro-aggression.” But it’s much worse than you think. The group issued the following statement:
“A hostile campus climate has been the norm for Students of Color in this class throughout the quarter as our epistemological and methodological commitments have been repeatedly questioned by our classmates and our instructor. The barrage of questions by white colleagues and the grammar ‘lessons’ by the professor have contributed to a hostile class climate.”
My question is how will people who are so easily offended function in the real world?
Students with these kinds of issues would be better off if they immediately quit school to seek the psychological help they so desperately need, then come back and complete their education once they’re healed.
Am I the only one who catches the irony that they are protesting spelling and grammar errors when they release a statement that contains enough words looked up in a thesaurus that not a single protester understood a word of it? This is higher education idiocy at its finest.
I thought that that was a rather erudite and learned rationalization coming from an assemblage of troglodytes. I love my Roget’s, 1964 edition.
Erudite and learned have the same meaning – therefore your contribution is TAUTOLOGOUS !!
Is that really all you have to offer? While you are certainly correct in your statement, You did nothing for the issue except prolong it
thats not racist! is teaching how to put words the way they are suppose 2 be?? it was same way with me in school, we think we are writing it write, but then u have the words thats suppose to come b4 the other word. its corrected grammar?? even our computers show us the correct grammar in a sentence?? Im glad I was corrected, cause I know how to speak properly, especially to business people??smh..
What is especially troubling is the obvious acceptance of this kind of nonsense by the mainstream media, who sees nothing abnormal about students protesting a professors attempt to simply give them a good education, so that they can function in the real – as opposed to the “black-“world.
Like I always say “You just can’t fix STUPID”.
Ebonics Entitlements
What! dis,dat and la are not correct english! Not to mention Mother Fu%%er. Darn I thought that was correct english. So much much for higher education.
I am appalled at “white” college graduates who insist on saying me and so and so. Then there are all those who seem to speak okay but write should of instead of should have. The mother etc is common usage among many young people whether in college or not.
I never used to believe in the dumbing down of America because I worked in the high tech fields. My peers and I did fairly well with only a high school education. But what an education in the 50s.
I graduated high school in the very late 1970’s. I was too poor for college so I joined the US Marine Corps. (Pronounced Core and not Corpse like dear leader Obutthead does). After the USMC I took a few classes at a local Jr College and educated myself in the field of computer programming. I later became a “Software Engineer” though I never graduated college. I am for the most part self educated. Hunger and having to walk or ride buses to work are great motivators. I now make $250K+ a year and have been for nearly 15 years. I learned the importance of speaking well at a young age and always seemed to do well in English my native tongue. These entitled affirmative action based children need to know what real suffering is. The problem with America today is that far too many have had it far to easy and now they can’t handle the slightest criticism. They will always expect handouts and to achieve without effort. Liberals have created a generation of complete losers.
Right! Especially when they want to remain stupid, and just want a degree but not an education!!!
Why don’t they go to the “All Black” College then they wouldn’t have anything to whine and cry about! This racist thing has gotten completely crazy since Obama, Holdren,Jackson,Sharpton and don’t forget NY’s Mayor. These people have turned back the clocks on races 60 years….bet they are real proud of themselves. I hope and pray someone pulls the plug on all this BS….I want my country back.
When you elect to be in college, you have chosen to LEARN…if your grammar is incorrect, someone needs to TEACH you how to improve your language useage. How ignorant to attempt to play the usual “race-card”. Correction has nothing to do with racism therefore,
be mature enough to accept correction and learn from your mistakes instead of blaming someone else of your inadequatcies.
You may not like what he says, but Obama is very intelligent and speaks well – They’re in “College” to learn – if they just want a ‘degree’, then they may get just that. If you want an Education, then accept what instructors teach. After all, the REALITY is that employers won’t care if you desire your own language – they want to, at least see some inference of an educated applicant.
What would you offer as proof, hell evidence would be nice, that Nobama is “very intelligent”?
An ability to read a script, even off a teleprompter, is generally the territory of actors. And as many have proven, being an actor does NOT require any more intelligence then that necessary to read the script.
His deliberate and continued blocking of access to his education records can mean lots of things. Many, myself included, believe it means both a poor academic record as well as likely serious ‘problems’ dealing with the authorities in college.
His being “very intelligent” is, IMO, another one of those “facts everyone knows” that is rooted not in reality, but the Big Lie Syndrome.
Not sure about the very intelligent. He is the epitome of salesmanship and speechifying.
Connie:
I taught at an Historically Black University for two years. Half the professors were white, as am I. Grading senior papers was a gruesome task–grossly twisted sentence structure and agonizing misuse of words. I felt badly for my students because the public school system failed to correct the gross grammatical mistakes taught at home by uneducated parents. Only dedicated teachers can break this cycle of ignorance that places young, black people at a distinct disadvantage in the workplace.
Um… ‘an Historically’? Should be ‘a Historically’. The H is sounded in this word so doesn’t get the ‘an’. But I get what you’re saying just don’t talk about correct grammar and fucking up yourself. I take it 99% of your students would not have caught it, even though is obviously sounds off.
Marc – “an historically” is actually correct. Look it up.
Brian, Marc is right. ‘An’ is accepted in spoken English but ‘a’ is correct because ‘historically’ begins with a consonant sound just like ‘a horse’. ‘H’words requiring ‘an’ would be hour, honest, heir,etc that begin with a vowel sound.
In many countries around the world one will find a difference in the way that people in the culture communicate, with some embracing the formal/standard form, and other embracing the colloquial/informal form of the nation’s langue (i.e Spanish spoken in Spain, is completely different from the way the langue is spoken in Central & South America, and the Caribbean). Like other communities in America, members of the Black community have developed a cultural expression that is uniquely its own. Depending upon the neighborhood you’re in, one will experience English spoken differently there than at UCLA, and members of the community hold to it. In fact African-Americans who read, speak, and write English well/correctly are often accused of “Being White,” which only re-enforce the use of slang (Ebonics) within the community. Oftentimes, when students coming from a different culture are immersed in a culture different from their own there’s a problem. Students are usually ardent in their world-view, and determined to engage the world they’re way & on they’re terms, thus students will often resist learning new mediums of expressions & communication. There is a greater world that exist beyond our particular communities. Centers of learning, like UCLA, are vital to American culture in that these institutions serve as a bridge between local neighborhoods, dominant culture, and the global community. If a professor fails to create & maintain a supportive learning environment for all students, then the instructor is at fault. But if students, anchored in their practices & views refuse to learn, refuse to change, the fault & loss falls solely upon the students.
Connie, even your last phrase is considered by Eric Holder to be racist. He’s offended by people who think our government has been taken over by some one or some thing and somehow needs to “be taken back.” Can you believe it?
There’s little evidence these people are stupid, they’re entitled. They believe that they shouldn’t have to achieve the same results as white people to get the same benefits. If they were simply stupid they would be mad at themselves for failing at a basic skill. Instead they’re mad at the person who pointed out they failed at a basic skill.
You may not be able to fix stupid, however, if you use enough duct tape, you can successfully muffle most of the sound…
Then get the hell out-you DUMB IGNORANT STUPID N—-R! BE DUMB THE REST OF YOUR LIFR AND WONDER WHY YOU WORK ROR MIN WAGE!!
You know , as much as i am disgusted by these morons , when you throw out racial terms just to insult, and then claim they are ignorant while making multiple grammar and spelling mistakes and forgetting to use the caps lock correctly you do pretty much screw up any argument you may have.
Always write “I” with capital letter!!!
Sincerely,
A Teacher
Hee..hee!
We are not in school now ok!
Karen, we should always be in school.
Marlen stop being racist.
I agree Scott, the use of racial terms does weaken an argument.
Good God are we going to get picky with each other in the heat of the moment, we all know what we are talking about.We have already had to dumb down the education system for some of the minorities,lets not gripe at simple mistakes while we are talking.
William, there is very little that is dumber, or more ignorant, than a racist. It seems about equal to a student expecting a pass based on race.
That’s because a student expecting a pass — or anything else — based on race *is* a racist.
Calm down William, I agree with you 100% but there is no need to get so upset you can`t type. lol These idiots make it easy. Whats the professor there for? Does he not correct everyone’s spelling,grammar as well as other things? IT`S HIS JOB. Black,White,Yellow,Blue. color does NOT MATTER.
That is true,but the race card is pulled so much and given a freebie because of it that it has become common and if any one says wait a sec, you are a racist. Black America needs to stop trying to get over and earn what they get.
Most won’t even work, let alone minimum wage.
Most aren’t given a chance to work. If we are it’s a bs job. I have two college degrees and I watch my job hire younger, less experienced, less educated white people and pay them double my salary. We just ask to be treated fairly. Nothing more. I say take time to truly understand black people and our struggle before you say most won’t work. Most do work, we are just always given the bottom of the barrel. I bet I could do your job better than yout if given the opportunity.
Without a Ph.D. and 30 years of experience, I doubt that very seriously.
iWork’s for 42 years having only a HS education and saw less qualified, college drgreed people get hired as my boss or someone I was expected to train but kept at it, doing my best and eventually got the recognition and most of the salary I deserved. Sitting around bitching and complaining will get you nowhere. Do your best and if you believe that you are being passed over because of race you can either move on or go to the NLRB. If you go to the NLRB you better have your ducks in a row.
It does you no good to make claims like that unless you want to name the company at a minimum. If what you say is true you have a civil rights claim and there is no shortage of lawyers willing to take it for you.
Bull Sh%%, if that is true for you you are truely in lala land. Do you not watch the news,are you sucked in to Obama’s BS. Yes ther are truely good decent people of color, but you are wrong if you think that jobs are given to others because they are white. Do you not remember a thing called affermitive action.A person of color will get hired before any one else or there will be hell to pay for that bus. And yes I know my spelling sucks.
Everyone has a chance to work. You have to get up and look. Quit making excuses. You spend too much time bitching about it. Nobody is responsible for you expect you. You want something to change? Then change it yourself. If that professor is racist then give him every reason not to be.
YOUR STRUGGLE?
HOW MANY WHITES, GET THE SAME BENEFITS AS POOR BLACKS? YOUR STRUGGLE IS MORE YOUR CONTROL OF YOURSELVES THAN ITS SOMEONE ELSES.NEVER BEFORE IN HISTORY HAS A NATION, MAINLY WHITE….GIVEN SO MUCH TO ANOTHER GROUP OF CITIZENS THAN WE WHITE PEOPLE IN THE US HAVE GIVEN TO BLACKS IN THE US…..AND IT ONLY BREEDS DEPENDENCE ON MORE,MORE,MORE, AND YOU DON’T LIKE ME BECAUSE I’M BLACK! AT SOME POINT AND TIME BLACK AMERICA THAT HAS NOT DECIDED TO WORK JUST AS HARD AS WHITES AND TO ACCOMPLISH JUST AS MUCH AS WHITES HAVE TO START EXCEPTING THEIR DEMISE IS SELF INFLICTED, A MAN WHATEVER COLOR WITH A RESPECTFUL ATTITUDE A GOOD HARD WORK ETHIC AND WILLING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY GIVEN WILL BE EXCEPTED IN THE US REGARDLESS OF COLOR…..BUT A MAN WITH A CHIP ON HIS SHOULDER, A POOR ATTITUDE ,DISRESPECTFUL, AND NOT WILLING TO WORK AS HARD AT SUCCEEDING AS HIS NEIGHBOR, JUST MAY FIND HIMSELF BEING TREATED DIFFERENT, REGARDLESS OF RACE, COLOR SEX……..WE ALL STRUGGLE, SOME CONTINUE TO CLIMB THAT LADDER OF ACCOMPLISHMENT, SOME DON’T….ITS NOT A RACE THING….
Makesmesick: I beg to disagree I have three degrees and have been passed up numerous times because they hired a black person over me. Not because they were qualified but because they were black. Honestly you (meaning the black community) have had EVERY chance the white population have had. Your struggle??? Are you kidding me???? Please enlighten me when you were a slave?? How about the White struggle?? Now with Obamas regime in tact we are stuck with having to watch criminals get away with murder literally because they are black. OR!! Our policemen and women (the good ones)are being shot at JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE POLICE and sometimes they might even be white. Struggle my *** Its hard out there for everyone. Try being a single mother and going to school while pregnant and holding down 2 jobs. THAT’S A STRUGGLE…so please please please don’t tell me about a struggle..Illegals and blacks get more handouts in this country than whites have for years…and no I’m not racist I’m just sick and tired of hearing people use the “racism” word when they don’t get their way…
I’m with you Ruth. I hate how much that racist card gets thrown these days. They go on and on about a “struggle”, do they think they are the only ones who struggle?? How bout the homeless digging through dumpsters to find their next meal or sleeping in cardboard boxes in below freezing temperatures with little or no protection from the cold. How about the recovering alcoholic or drug addict with the mind debilitating withdrawals and temptations? How bout the veteran who fought for his/her country and lost a limb or suffer from PTSD come home to an ungrateful country where instead of receiving the help they so deserve, they are turned down for benefits, have to fight the VA tooth and nail just to get any help at all?? Blacks seem to think they are the only ones “struggling”, that “makes me sick”,lol.
Or sell drugs….no degree needed there…not much physical work involved for they have the runners to do that. So quit crying and taking up space so someone who really wants an education bet it they are black white or purple can have one! Get over it….we did!
Black Americans have done nothing to help there own cause. Burning and looting only enforces a negative image. They have done it to themselves.
Thanks to racists leaders Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Eric Holder & Barack Obama this is the type of scum universities are forced to let in. Kick them all out.
Now who looks stupid. They must be some of your best friends. And to be truthful I doubt if this actually happened! !
True
As a community college professor, my response would be simple: I would ask, “Are you saying that minority students are less capable of writing correctly than white students, and, as such, that I should expect less of them?” That’s the question, isn’t it? If anyone ever wants to take me up on that, they can go &%#* themselves. I refuse to expect less of my minority students.
I totally agree with your question. We are told to raise the bar as teachers. Children will rise to your expectations. They become “graduate” students and now the bar must be lowered or taken away completely? Total insanity. I just don’t agree with your consequence for those that want to take you up on the question. There must be a more thoughtful appropriate response.
@MSW-School Teacher: 100% on board with your remark. MrB was making an excellent statement, until he fell down in the mud.
but it sounds like minority students are perfectly ok with having less expected of them and having lower expectations for them. Not saying that all are; just the ones mentioned here.
We aren’t okay with that. It is just the normal for us. Example: a black parent goes to have a conference with their child’s teacher. The teacher says, your child is doing just fine. His grade is a C. A white parent goes to Meet this same teacher. The teacher says your child’s grade is a C, she then suggests ways to help the white child improve his grade. Can’t say it happens every day but it did happen to my parents when I was in grade school. This is just one example of why you don’t know what you are talking about. I’ve said one thousand times, try to understand versus playing the blame game.
The reason the White teacher tells the Black parent that the kid is doing fine with only a C is because the teacher will get persecuted by the parent for being racist if he suggests to the parent that the kid needs help.
This!
That’s true, you can’t say anything with out being labled racist. They are hurting themselves.
I can absolutely say that what Brian says is true. My father quit teaching and I have seen the frustration of other teachers when they try to correct a student who is black and this student pulls the race card and then uses it to gain an advantage instead of working for the grade. It becomes easier to just let the student get a C then to try and correct them and risk losing their job for being “racist”.
Now see that’s where you are wrong. Wow so you are saying that because you are black, you are less intelligent??? Because you are black we shouldn’t expect more from you? Because you are black you are not responsible for your own actions. Hmmmm yeah don’t think so. I have many black friends and they are very intelligent and have worked very hard for what they have. So please again, I know you are trying to be fair here, but, you do sound intelligent enough to understand this. I am appalled at the excuses the black community (not all but some) are using to excuse their behavior and their lack of decency. If you want to learn then by all means do your best. If you don’t then get the heck out of college so some other deserving student black or white can take your place. *when I say you/r I am meaning generally*
Nailed it.
Good for you professor as if these grads can’t even write or speak correct English, how are they going to succeed in todays world. I live in a country with 147 languages and the confusion here in the Philippines is amazing. More people speak their local dialect than either English or their own national language Tagalog. Possibly that’s why it’s still 3rd world compared to Seoul, Tokyo or even Saigon for that matter.
I teach risk management and reserve funding in a graduate program in business. Even though my classes are chiefly concerned with finance I insist upon proper grammar, syntax and punctuation on written assignments. *Some* students object to what they refer to as my “obsession;” but I believe they will eventually realize that writing clearly, understandably and concisely, using correct English grammar and punctuation stands them in good stead.
Spot on, MrB.
It just proves that it’s possible that they were never really qualified to be in college in the first place. How did they get this far? Did someone “pass them” just to be politically correct, or was it some sort of “quota system mandate” that pushed them to this point. Apparently na reality check isn’t what they’re use to. Well. . . .”WELCOME to the real world” of taking responsibility for nyour worth, be it good or bad. Suggestion: go back and re-take “BONE-HEAD ENGLISH 101″ like many other students had to take, white, asian, latino, and blacks. BRAVO Professor. . .BRAVO. Don’t you dare back down.
…a YEAR-OLD story, which falsely implies that the university “caved” to a self-important minority of “professional victim” students. I see little difference between the whiny black students, and whiny xtians who bleat about “the war on xmas”…
http://dailybruin.com/2013/11/20/students-defend-professor-after-sit-in-over-racial-climate/
Has anyone else noticed that blacks claim they want to be treated equally, but unless you give them special treatment you are racist? They want to have it both ways. Now I know I will be called racist for pointing this out, but the fact is I don’t have a bigoted bone in my body. I have several black friends that don’t ask for anything they don’t work for and earn themselves. They treat others with the respect and dignity they want others to treat them with. They obey the law and strive to better themselves and their community. In other words, they conduct themselves like mature adults. They are true role models for anyone to follow.
I have many Black & Hispanic Friends………….All people should act as they do………..ALL……regardless of color,etc!
The sad thing is, when they do that, they are called Uncle Toms and traitors to their race. They can’t win.
How can you speak on what you don’t know? Most black people act like normal mature adults. Having a job and taking care of yourself and your family does not make you an uncle tom. An uncle Tom is a person who believes the only way to succeed is to turn on your own kind and kiss a white man’s ass.
If you have ever watched the movie django, Samuel L Jackson played the role of an uncle Tom. Despite what you have been told, we are nit wild animals and we do nit expect special privileges. Take a moment to truly understand before assuming.
Being called an Uncle Tom as you say isn’t that being racist against your own race??? Certain blacks will always use their skin color to cry and whine about how they suffer from this or that…Oh and to be fair we have white folk too, ones who want to live off the system and do nothing but pop out babies and be lazy. If you live in ignorance its your own fault. Quit blaming the WHITE man for your shortcomings….Use a black man or woman who has shown that he or she can strive above all the stupid stereotypes..example: BEN CARSON!! enough said.
Classic line of a racist…… I have black friends. Lol pure comedy. What makes you think your black friends are any better than other blacks? Is it because they are your friends?
You have got to be kidding. As a black person, I have never asked for a handout and have never expected special privileges. I expect to be treated fairly. I expect to be treated like a normal human. I expect to be given a fair chance at the so called American dream. I work and have done so since I was legally old enough to work with a permit. I have experience and education and am still not offered the same salary as my white, less experienced, less educated colleagues. Don’t believe me, do your own research. Paint your skin black for a day. Then watch white women clinch their purses tighter when you walk by. Watch them lock their car doors in a hurry when you are leaving out of your local Walmart. Watch the cops pull you over with our without reason. Mouth off at a cop if you choose, you will be shot dead. Apply for some jobs while you’re at it, you’d be amazed by the experience. It will change your life and your perspective. If you aren’t willing to truly understand our pain then shut up
Makes, I appreciate your perspective, but you have to take a good long look at your statements as well as those of others. You have no more right to make generalized statements about blacks than Kelly does, even if you’re black. There is no single statement about any racial/ethnic group that is 100% inclusive, regardless of who is saying it. With regard to this story, there are three sides and one is completely “wrong”: The student is allowed to make grammatical errors, that’s what learning i for. The professor is allowed to correct those errors – it’s his job. The protesters have no right to claim the professor’s actions are racial or insensitive. It’s an assumption to support an agenda, otherwise, this would have been brought up a long time ago on a more wide-ranged effort to undermine this particular instructor. The “offended” student needs to take the criticism and work harder next time.
“There is nothing more painful to me at this stage in my life than to walk down the street and hear footsteps… then turn around and see somebody white and feel relieved.”
― Jesse Jackson
Maybe you are reaping what you sow?
You are defending the indefensible. These people are in GRADUATE School. Master’s programs and they can’t even arrange a proper sentence? Your plights are a person of color have nothing to do with what is going on at UCLA.
AND as far as your excuse of you being held down as a black person, please explain how a black man became President? A Black man is the leader of the USA. A position every breathing American would love to have. No more excuses. If whitey was holding the blacks down, how did he do it? How did MLK become wealthy and important? If he can do it and the 1000’s of other black millionaires can be successful, it is obvious this country isnt as racist are you keep making it out to be. Strive to be better and stop looking for excuses.I know there are still morons that are racist, but it is possible for a person of ANY race to be successful.
Makemesick, cut it out. I’m black and I watch MY purse and lock my car because I know the thugs will go after me before they even see the white lady.
a thug is a thug no matter the color of his or her skin…thank you Daisy.
You should be proud of yourself. You should be proud you have worked for what you have and never expected special privileges, but the fact is that many do. I am white and I resent the fact that if I say I have black and multicultural friends I am labeled a racist or a “good white person” and people think I want a pat on the back or I am saying how great I am when all I am saying is that I am proud of the fact that I try to look past the color of a person’s skin and to the person within. But, apparently that is not good enough. I clinch my purse tighter when in a bad area. I have had attempts of people stealing my purse and hurting me by whites and blacks. I have had people question me for being in an upper class area because of the car I drove and I wasn’t dressed as well as others in the area. I am 53 years old and I have seen younger colleagues that were terrible at management get the job over me. A person with a Master’s Degree. IF you can prove that you were passed over because of race you have a civil rights discrimination case.
And why is it that just because someone is white or Latino, etc it is presumed we have less pain. As you essentially say, unless you walk in someone Else’s shoes you won’t know.
Well people like you are truely the minority, try being white any where and see what happens.
TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION HOW MANY WHITE’S GET PAID LESS THAN OTHER WHITES DOING THE SAME JOB……I SEE COMPANIES HIRING THE SAME WORKERS WHITE AND BLACK AND OFFERING ALL DIFFERENT WAGES, SOME OFFER LESS IN YOUR OUT OF WORK, SOME OFFER MORE IF YOUR WITH A GOOD COMPANY CURRENTLY AND WANT TO STEAL YOU AWAY, ITS NOT ALWAYS RACE THAT CAUSES LESS OF SALARIES THEY ARE MANY FACTORS, I HAVE WORKED FOR MANY BLACK MEN IN MY YEARS BUT NEVER COMPLAINED I WAS TREATED UNFAIRLY BECAUSE I WAS NOT PAID THE SAME, MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE I MIGHT HAVE SQUEEZED A RAISE HUH…..
How did these students qualify to enter the program? Thank God the professor is correcting their grammar. He’s doing them a service. Their undergraduate schools did them a huge disservice, obviously.
I work in the field of quality. Spelling mistakes on applications, resumes, or correspondence immediately disqualifies an applicant without any regard to race, religion, etc. College grads who have gotten a pass for bad grammar and spelling will never successfully compete with me for jobs I want. Thank you.
To all intelligent and educated black people: PLEASE get the word out that this is ridiculous. Apparently,if white people say it, it’s racist.
That BS. try being white for a day and see what happens.
So a Liberal professor got bit on the ass by the BS he advocates? Too F’n bad.
…. If you call capitalization rules “BS.” Geez.
Rudy, you sound like a liberal yourself, if you don’t expect a professor to be able to correct, spelling.
Maybe they should go to a all black college.
I am currently working on my Masters Degree in Political Science and American Government my choosen Minor is American History. Once I have my MA I will turn around and be hired as a Adjunct Professor and have three classes per week to teach. I can assure you that regardless of the pigmentation of the skin of any student if they cannot use a computer to produce a grammatically correct paper, as well has the use of proper spelling they will not get a pass on said paper. PERIOD. They can take their complaints regarding that rule to the Department head, and it will avail them little. I am a Constitutional Conservative and the Department head is a Republican. Where I will be teaching used to have three liberal Professors in the department, they fired two and the third one quit. I do not believe in Political Correctness, neither am I an advocate of Sensitivity Training. Know your subject, know how to use proper, correct and concise English and we will get along, anything else is not acceptable. Howard University is an all Black University and they require that their Students be able to write a proper paper.
I am not an English professor, but did make excellent grades in High School English. Your comment would have much more weight if it didn’t contain at least 13 spelling, punctuation, and capitalization mistakes.
Thank you for your service. To our country and to our youth.
Thanks for your service to our country. Alas, with the huge number of errors in your post, it seems impossible to believe you’ve landed a job even as a lowly adjunct professor. You, sir, are in no position to condemn others for poorly used English.
So I guess if an English teacher gives a writing assignment, they have to give all students A’s now, without even reading the papers. Otherwise, they’re racist.
This reminds me of black students at Oberlin College . They think that because of the “stress” of the political climate no black student should receive a failing grade. So let us use Algebra as an example although it could be chemistry, writing or many other subjects. If you do not understand the basics of algebra which you learn in algebra one how in the hell do you think you will understand algebra two? By asking your teacher to give you a passing grade you did not earn you are setting yourself up for an even bigger failure at the next level. Why the hell would you want to set yourself up for failure? It makes no sense.
That is not what the foofaraw at Oberlin was about. If you do not understand the basics of a situation, perhaps you should refrain from commenting upon it.
Then when their error-riddled resumes are tossed out at every job they apply for it will be white privilege in action.
If they used correct grammar and spelling, would they have anything about which to complain?
“How will they make it in the real world?”The writer asks. Most of them don’t for this very reason. They refuse to apply themselves to anything most of the time.
Well damn, all you illiterate jungle bunnies would have to do is LEARN TO SPEAK AND SPELL ENGLISH!!!
(Granted, it’s not your mother tongue, but it IS the language you were supposed to have grown up speaking and spelling).
No ‘Ebonics’, no ghetto-speak, no gutter-trash talk.
How hard could that be?
You are, generally, talking about people whose great-to-the-third-or-so grandparents were born in the United States. Their ‘mother tongue’ is, in fact, English. They are human beings, not ‘jungle bunnies’. You, on the other hand, have revealed yourself to be a disgusting bigot by your choice of words. (And I don’t even know your skin color!)
Sorry, Mister Bigot, but English is their native tongue. Perhaps you should learn how that works.
They don’t need to waste time learning to read and write English…they need to learn how to read and write American English, the two languages although coming from the same route, are not the same, not to people of colour, or flavour, or to people of honour! I spelled those words correctly; to prove a point, that a large number of Americans don’t understand…that they don’t actually read, write or speak English! Don’t worry too much about it though, as you can still learn to, if you have the time and the aptitude to do so.
Why don’t you go crawl back into the hole you came out of?
A blind teacher, teaching blind students at a school for the blind, would always mark an incorrect answer “wrong.” How would race have anything do do with THAT … and what’s the bottom line difference… NONE. I bet blind students take more interest and pride in their educations and don’t gripe about not being “privileged” like all those “seeing folk”!
This will strike your funny bone. I used to have an online colleague who had been blind since birth (as you might imagine, the advent of the WWW curtailed her career, but until then, she was quite prominent on the nascent online services). She told me that in her youth in Ohio, the school for the blind she attended segregated students by race. Go figure.
shame on all of you here.
It would be racist not to correct their grammar. They are in school to better themselves, that is like me going into a gym and crying because my workout couch corrected my use of weights. Seriously it is like a flashback to the hippies who ran to canada when war came.
The first part of your post is interesting. If these student’s grammar mistakes aren’t corrected, is that racist? At a later date,while applying for a decent job and being denied, will they blame racism for having their mistakes ignored, thus denying them the same education as others? Wouldn’t it be easier to take responsibility for themselves and remember that, “Hey, I’m in college. I’m fortunate. Perhaps I should do what’s required.” You don’t get a door opening diploma or degree for simply going to school. You get it for passing the requirements.
BLACK AMERICA DOOMED TO FAIL, WE ARE RACIST FOR CORRECTING AND TRYING TO TEACH THEM IN COLLEGE, WE ARE CALLED RACIST BECAUSE WE DID NOT TEACH THE BLACK STUDENTS IN COLLEGE……EITHER WAY, WHITES GET BLAMED, BLACKS HURT THEMSELVES MORE AND MORE…..
It’s just the continuation of “Black Privilege”.
Many demanded that “Ebonics” be recognized because they were just too lazy to speak or spell correctly.
Many demanded that “Affirmative Action” be the number one consideration when hiring for well paying jobs because they were too lazy or uneducated to meet minimum requirements.
Many demand continued government “Financial” assistance for no or low cost housing, free food, free cell phones, etc because they are too lazy to work or even look for a job.
Many demand a separate set of rules to follow…ones that allow them to do as they wish without having to worry about any consequences.
Basically, many people of color feel white America owes them a free ride thru life. Well guess what? Nobody owes you a damn thing! So quit complaining and bitching, get off you lazy ass and work for what you need!!!
How can anyone who has been accepted in college and grad school claim to be discriminated against? You obviously have had the opportunity, means, and privilege to attend schools of higher education. Why should a grad professor have to correct anyone’s grammar and spelling? If you have made it to grad school, you should should not be turning in papers with gross grammar and spelling errors. I will not accept such papers from my high school students. English grammar and spelling rules are not based on race. If you want to follow different grammar and spelling rules, learn another language and move to another country.
I worked at a job where the Budget Director corrected memos to him and to the whole work force and sent them back to the writer. Obviously, it is better to learn in the classroom than embarrass yourself on the job.
We elected a BLACK president aren’t we done with all this black I’m a victim bull@#$t, wasn’t that the deal?
I mean really I think you got to trade in your minority card once one of you is elected to the top office.
It cracks me up when I hear “I AXED him”… Does that mean you hit him with an ax??? IGNORANT IDIOTS. Some people (black & white) need to learn proper English.
You do realize that black people were taught to speak “ebonics” after we we unwillingly brought here as slaves? Please know we didn’t want to come and would like to leave now, however we were stripped of our true African background, our names when taken as we had to take “Master’s ” family name. So many slaves were sold, traded, and killed that it makes it almost impossible to find our way back to where we truly belong. Master was too lazy to pick the cotton on the land he stole from the Indians so he had to go to Africa to get Africans who are scientifically proven to be physically stronger than whites as a whole.This country was built on lies, violence and deceit. So I must say we ignorant blacks learned from the biggest,lying, thugs to ever exist, the white man. And sure I use the word ax when speaking to my peers. However my education and the desire to succeed in corporate America enables me to apply the term Code switching. I speak correct English when needed. However, why not use ebonics with your peers? Just as you probably do things that are much more ignorant when you are with your peers
I would like to give you a small history lesson since you say you learned from the biggest lying thugs the white man. Well let me inform you, the first person to ever own slaves in this country was a black man. So before you spout your racist views blaming slavery on all white men, I suggest you do some research on American History and slavery history.You might actually learn something! If you paid attention in history class in school you would know this fact, or is the simple act of researching facts and actually learning something way over your head. Are you one of those people that the article speaks about who thinks you should have the privilege of going to college but not have to learn things in class because of your race and god forbid the white man who tries to help you educate yourself. But I guess its racist to want to help lift you up and make something of your self. Then when you get out of college and you are turned down from a job because you didn’t learn a thing in college you will scream its racist and all whiteys fault because you didn’t get hired for a job your not qualified for because you refused to learn and educate yourself. It would be your fault take responsibility for your self stop blaming whitey because you expected to coast through life based on the color of your skin. Stand up, wake up, take responsibility and get yourself an education. Any who do some research and you will see what I am saying is the facts.
You do realize that not all black people in America are descended from slaves, right? You probably also realize that not all slave owners were abusive, plantation patriarchs that took pleasure in the misery of their subjects. The majority (over half) of slave owners in the south had only 2-10 slaves and were working in the fields just as long and hard as the slaves. Many of them paid their slaves and provided for their well being after being freed. I’m not defending slavery to any degree, but what you’ve seen in “Roots” and “Django” and “12 Years” isn’t entirely typical.
No habla Ebonics
The article specifically neglects to mention if the non-black students in the class have their papers graded for grammar, punctuation, etc. to the same degree. The complaint from the protestors indicates a racially hostile environment is tolerated in the class-room. If that is the case, the professor needs to look for other employment. It is very revealing that the majority of the commenters seem not to have considered that possibility.
Why would you just assume that ONLY the poor blacks were singled out for correction? I bet this professor graded ALL the same way. Once upon a time EVERYONE worked to better themselves regardless of skin pigmentation! Too bad too many use their skin color as a crutch.
The Federalist Papers need to do a better job of informing readers of how old the story is instead rehashing old stories — this one is 13 months old — just to get new attention.
This action is wonderful. I hope these students of color are successful in intimidating the professors. Competative students seek a good life and a good job in the real world. In one stroke these students have just removed themselves from the competition and have reduced the university’s standing. This act of brainlessness will make life a little easier for deserving and educated graduates from other centers of learning. And I applaud the spineless professors running the university into the ground.
So, teachers correcting undereducated college students papers is now considered hate and aggressive racism? The liberal social experiment is a complete and total failure. We’ll be paying for this mess for the next 50 years as these “educated” morons are slowly weeded out of the work force.
The University of California system, in an attempt to maintain its “diversity”, lowered its entrance requirements. This was a workaround to sidestep legislation to remove “quotas”.
the author asks at the end of his article, “how will these people function in the real world?” well, chances are, you already work with two or three or more of these people who cannot read, write, spell…etc. and not just simple, occasional typos, either. many americans are illiterate, be they whites, blacks, hispanics etc. and now cursive writing has been taken out of the curriculum and “common core” has been inserted. there is a great documentary out there called, “IDIOCRACY”. by mike judge. I reccommend watching it.
So then don’t correct a single paper…just fail them….and when they ask why they didn’t pass the class….simple answer….your paper was inadequate. content was not clearly understandable, and your use of the english language was substandard for the requirements of this course material.
Jesus Christ what’s next???? Ignorant people shouldn’t breed then they’d all die problem solved!
So he tries to help them better themselves, and he’s a racist? Are you serious?!?! This thinking is exactly what’s wrong with America.
I think the cry baby needs to compare his paper with the others to see if the Professor corrected all the papers the same way.
Uh just what are these kids parents paying for? Id be more pissed if he let my kid get away with so many errors.
MIKE YOUR PAYING FOR IT, TAXPAYERS ARE PAYING FOR IT……NOT THESE STUDENTS……
Crazy, but this is a society where there are no wrong answers or loosers
Stupid is as stupid does ghese fool clowns are the dumbest EVER!!!!!!! that’s what trash cans are for feel free to jump in ignorants if you can read!!!!
Stupid is as stupid does?
are you kidding me???
PC is the enemy of truth…and this is the result.
Want to pass, learn to write your papers in proper English and proper grammar and spell the words correctly. I had professors who gave back papers for rewriting once he found any error be it; grammar, spelling, wrong word usage. You got one chance to get it correct with an automatic 10 point grade reduction. 10 points off grade for each error.
You want to pass his class you had to write all papers with proper English. Even discussions in class required proper English.
The nerve of him!
Why would someone complain about a teacher simply trying to improve his or her ability to write. What complete BS. If they can’t pass the class, go to drop add and quit…
and do you think your bosses are going to let you send out letters, emails and other correspondence with typo’s and misspellings? GROW UP AND BUY A DICTIONARY, GO TO AN ENGLISH TUTOR, but stop the whinny bull shit with the race card. I’ll bet he does the same fucking think to white students too. So now where is your bitch?
and how did you get into college with such bad grammer – must have been ‘affirmative action’ (which to TOTALLY BS 60 years after the civil rights law) Seriously? I know 100’s of people of color who speak and write beautifully
Dis be terabal n stuff!!!
Teachers correct papers. It’s their job… Who’s next?
Ther is a grammar check and a spell check on those computers. It’s not just for face book.
Um…….
Good to know there are some people who are not only above the law, but above education as well.Well in Obama’s socialist society, collecting welfare is a career choice so these folks will be just fine.
Well, that didn’t take long. – idiot.
I call BS.
Wow…just wow. Are you happy stupidbama?
You are looking at a byproduct of the mediocrity of our society. This began when everyone started winning, and children’s feelings became more important than being right. I will just add that if the people that are taking part in this would put as much effort into their studies as they did their grievance, this ridicule would disappear as well.
You can’t fix stupid.
Lower standards yield lower results. Just how low can we go?
If they aren’t spelling at a grade school level, they don’t belong in college
HOW dare this college professor correct a students grammer and spelling
Do I create a hostile home environment, every time my son says, “out the” and I correct him with, “out OF the”?
Old, old news….. Seriously, if all you can do is bring up something that happened over a year ago then don’t bother. http://dailybruin.com/2013/11/20/students-defend-professor-after-sit-in-over-racial-climate/
Give me a break. A teacher correcting grammar and English mistakes?! Oh no, not that! It is one of my biggest pet peeves when people do not speak/write/spell with proper grammar. ESPECIALLY educated people! White, black, brown or pink- I could care less. If you know how to speak properly, then do so!
AWWW The results of political correctness and affrimative action …—… Why should a professor be pointing out spelling mistakes anyway . OH THAT’S RIGHT …—… Students who are not QUALIFIED get addmitted to College based the color of skin not on how they did on an ENTRANCE EXAM …—… In the words of Mark Levin ” That’s right I said it ! Print it , quote it , run with it ” !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why is the racist card always thrown on the table of ignorance. Why are people standing with this moron? Don’t they know it makes them as stupid as he is? Try to study and reading a book, then maybe you would realize you don’t have racist teachers. But that your the racist and knowing which is which is half the battle. …. : )
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/11/25/ucla-grad-students-stage-during-class-protest-what-they-see-racially-hostile
As one student wrote ” sit-in was a deliberately mean-spirited circus that creates exactly the hostile and toxic environment split along unsettling racial lines that the demonstrators claim to be fighting against.”
Was their at least one ‘Cracker’ student that received the same corrections on their paper????? A: Yes = Not Racism!!!!
How rude?!?! lol
How the H did they get into UCLA if they can’t spell or don’t know basic grammar ? ! ?
Unless they can show he was grading black students papers harder than others, then the only people who are creating hostility are the protesting students. I’m interseted in what UCLAs response is. Considering how liberal and stupid most CA educational instituations are, I’m guessing they will not support their employee for doing his job, assuming he is grading everyone equally.
the Professor was doing them a favor by teaching them how to write proper English. Only in America people make it to college without knowing how to write… But of course in our politically correct generation, this is called racism or discrimination. In the meantime those of us who were born abroad and are not ‘minorities’ don’t have any excuses. When I went to college after living in the US for about a year, coming from non-English speaking country, I couldn’t believe that I could actually write English much better than many students who were born here. Sad.
The entitlement mentality continues unabated!!!
And this is why america is so below other countries i terms of education very very sad
alrealy been over this when it was posted On another Fb site , had enough of this horse shit. you dont Like College Quit.
So now a Professor is doing his job and he’s a Racist because he corrects black students grammar??? Unbelievable!
Unbelievable !!! I’m really getting tired of this pissing and moaning over race. Take advantage of the opportunities you’re given and stop thinking you’re owed something because you’re not !!!!
Remember when survival of the fittest was a thing? Good times.
Would it be considered racist to correct white students and demand proper form from them but not from the minority students? He wouldn’t be demanding the same work or quality – he wouldn’t care about their success in the real world – he’d be discriminating….. oh. my.
These ignorant Kaffir Shwartes are designed to work for minimum wage or be on welfare for the remainder of their life.
Imagine going away to college to get an education and improve your position in life, and some racist professor tries to educate you.
Common Core students reach University level…
Some people in this country have lost their freaking mind.
I would be offended by the people creating this issue if I were black. Basically your own people are saying your race is inferior in intelligence when it comes to writing skills and need special treatment.
Cracka Please! Sir, that is incorrect, it’s Cracker.
Don’t students at ucla use an anonymous number instead of their names when turning in papers and tests? How then can the grader know who is black?
HELL the next thing they’ll be complaining about is “aspirin”, (1) because all aspirin is WHITE, (2) because aspirin actually WORKS, and (3) because you have to pick COTTON to get it out of the bottle. Or maybe they’ll convince the NATIVE AMERICANS to complain that the papers are corrected using RED ink. Maybe the professors should give them all straight A’s and let them find out when they get in the real world that things don’t always go their way. But then they’ll file civil action against them for “failure to properly instruct them for success”. WHAT A SCREWED UP UNIVERSITY SYSTEM , the progressive/liberals have created.
The lunatics have won.
OH DEAR GOD…literally you cannot hold me to a standard because I am not capable of reaching it because I am black….. even though millions of other black people have maintained that standard….. so devalue my education by lessoning my standards, perpetuate the myth my kind is less intelligent or too lazy, give me grades I did not earn and make employers even less likely to consider me a worthwhile candidate for a job even though I have a “competitive” degree from a good school….. How much more of a victim can you make yourself…..
I am wondering where these students found a word processing system that understands Ebonics! I can only assume that they are going after Microsoft next to have that option built into the next version of Word!
I had a professor who used a double letter grading system. He obviously read the papers.
One letter was for content. He used one color pen for comments, questions, and suggestions. The other letter (red) was for the same bone-headed goofs being addressed here.
It did not take too long to get refreshed in bone-head English and personal proof-reading.
I will not disclose my personal pigmentation.
If whoever wrote the statement for the group spell-checked their papers before they turned them in, they wouldn’t have a problem. It’s obvious SOMEONE among the “aggrieved minority students” knows how to spell. If you can get accepted to a college in the first place, you can learn to spell. Get a grip.
This is a perfect example of why we need to stop pushing everyone to go to college. Not everyone needs a higher education. The human race has survived and advanced for over 10,000 years without everyone going to college. It has only been the last 30 – 50 years that we put belief into “you are not of value to the workforce without a college degree”. One would almost think universities and lending institutions have worked together to insure more revenue.
lol I thought it was laziness? Not everyone is perfect in grammar but in school you are to use dictionaries, thesaurus’, and proofread. And with computer autocorrect software and simple old spell check icons you can click on – just how lazy was this student?
This is pure laziness. When I was in grad school I was less concerned about grammar and punctuation because there was a ton of work and projects due. My professors did subtract points for numerous grammatical errors. I just had to take more time proofreading…..but I didn’t want to. My argument was, I’m in grad school, we should have already established the fact that I can write well. But I admit, I was being lazy. Still graduated with a 3.5 gpa. Not bad for an ignorant N-word huh? Oh and, spell check is not always helpful on graduate level work.
The problem even goes deeper. The students are even to stupid to use spell-check or grammar-check in Microsoft word, or whatever word processor they used to type their essays.
I had a Professor that graded a whole letter grade down for each mistake. If it was punctuation, spelling or DICTION, it didn’t matter. Hated DICTION. If he thought you could have used a different word, DING – one letter grade lower. Need less to say, by week 2, the class was down to 12 students because we were determined to stick it out. Most ended with B’s & C’s for a final grade.
I’m pretty sure the professor doesn’t even know the race of the student’s whose paper he id grading. Have you sen the size of classes at places like UCLA?
Imma read “Hooked on Ebonics.” Seriously, though, there is a certain standard that is needed to enter the halls of higher education and the language of the ‘hood doesn’t qualify, and no professor should have to worry if someone is going to throw a hissy fit if the professor insists in “I’m going to [insert action here]” in place of “Imma [insert action here]”
I guess most of my graduate professors were sexist, then, because they had the gall to correct grammar errors in a couple of my papers.
What’s so wrong about being a racist. To each their own this is America. Im a racist and you’re an idiot. So what. There’s no lesser of 2 evils here. The great thing about us is that we dont have the same ideals and we are founded on those same principles. I fought for this country and I value my views. Land of the free, home of the brave and free spoken. I don’t care if you’re racist against me (and I know you are). Doesn’t hurt my feelings one bit.
The sad fact is, that ebonics is the new English, at least in the federal government agency I worked for. I was the token white female in the Dallas IRS, and thank God they fired me! “Axed”, “mines”, and inaudible words are the norm. Even the managers and “big wigs” cannot speak proper English or anything close to it. Basic 6th grade education doesn’t matter anymore.
It is incredible that this sh&t is tolerated. If you want to protest unfair treatment, approach the Dean with a complaint. If the fails, approach the office of the Rector. Yet, setting such a high benchmark may be beyond the average Black victim. It may require writing a letter of complaint requiring the use of grammar and punctuation rules. Certainly something like: “Hey yo, hey yo I is be upsets for dem grave offense dem Honkey makes! Yo! One time be your dawg!”, is an adequate expression of intellectual endeavour at an academic institution that sets no standards. After all, the poor Black, he be only good for dem attendance certificate. After all, what have degrees become other than attendance certificates in an environment where clowns like this, and their “intellectual” supporters – the inventors of what one would shudder to call a concept, “micro-agrression” – rule the roost? Well, who am I say that the poor victim should not be left his his own devices in discovering the joys of language expression. After all, a million monkeys banging away on typewriters will produce the works of Shakespeare – male chauvinist pig that he was. By the same token it would take only a 1,000 to produce the collective works of Enloe and Carmichael. Stop apologizing to this aggressive racism! There is a clear agenda of radicalism masquerading as “social injustice”! Grow a backbone!
My response would be to quit correcting their grammar and merely mark the answer as incorrect since it obviously didn’t convey any valuable meaning whatsoever. If the grammar isn’t understandable, then as a teacher, I can’t be expected to recognize their intentions.
This article might not give the full information…there may be two seperate issues here…one is the use of slang in language and two how much power to college professors hold now a days…When I went to college professors were gods and you never questioned them…also how was the correction approached…what was the assignment…should the professor grade on spelling errors rather then content…Grades are important in college and in my opinion can unfairly downgrade papers, especially historical or language papers, I have had papers submitted that I thought deserved a better grade…I don’t believe this professor is a racist, but maybe he is out of touch with changing American values…spelling and grammar seem to one of those passing values…
So negroes should be allowed to us ghetto garbage when they do their papers? Uh huh. And how many corporations are going to hire negroes who do NOT have a college level mastery of the english language and grammar? Then when they can NOT find gainful employment to reflect their education, they will accuse the school of racism for not making them better prepared for the outside world. It is time some truly decent black leaders step forward and tell these self righteous communist negroes to take responsibility for their actions and stop blaming we white folk for their downfall. Besides, everyone knows, you can take the negro out of the ghetto but you can’t take the ghetto out of the negro.
This is just a shitty website for shitty, racist white folks who struggled in high-school
If 25 of your students think you’re a crappy bigot, then you are.
25 think you are crappy but 435 think you are great….so you are really great.
A professor is paid to educate you and ready you for a career. In no way is he/she doing their job if they allow you to make an error in your work, let alone idiotic self-made alleged words, words that have no place in the career world.
This professor is doing the job that the University and the student, both, have asked of him. He is being lambasted for his correctness and simply doing what is right… helping the students improve!!!
What are these groups trying to accomplish, exactly?
I hire professionals into positions that can start as high as $150k. A single opening will draw literally hundreds of applicants. If your resume isn’t grammatically perfect, guess where it goes.
Ebonics is not a language. Oh dear, am I being racist? These losers are bringing down an entire race in order to defend their choice to be stupid. How much longer are we going to put up with “affirmative action” handouts? Nothing will EVER be enough for these pity-party social leeches.
I’m fairly sure I may be talking to myself here, but one way to counter ignorance is with reason, if the ignorant are willing to listen:
What no one on this comment thread (and possibly the writer of the article) seems to want to consider is that they don’t know the nature of the “corrections” made by the professor. They may have been stylistic preferences, they may have even been wrong. Countless times, I have seen comments/corrections of usage from colleagues in other disciplines on student papers that have been erroneous or simply a matter of preference.
What is also not known is if the professor made “corrections” of the same nature on the papers of other students where the same types of constructions were used.
Without more information, no supportable argument can be made one way or the other.
Furthermore, “micro-aggressions” are a real phenomenon that are sometimes subconscious, sometimes entirely conscious and deliberate.
And finally, all college/university professors are not equally qualified to correct language use. While they may be experts in their particular disciplines, that doesn’t mean they are experts in all disciplines. And while we have a reasonable expectation that educators with advanced degrees should have mastery of grammar and usage, this is in no way reality. For the most part, professors of disciplines outside of rhetoric and/or composition do not bother with correcting grammar–particularly not at the graduate level–unless the offending usage obscures the ideas being presented. They don’t have the time for that. They want to see that their students understand and are able to apply the skills, concepts and conventions of the discipline they are teaching.
On a different note, for those who want to rail about “Ebonics,” “correct” English, and their perception of Black people as collectively ignorant because many Black people don’t speak the way the critics would have it, please understand that African-American Vernacular English is a genuine dialect of American English, like Cajun English, Gullah, or South Midland/Appalachian English. It has its own internally consistent grammar, syntax and idiomatic expressions. While it may not be the convention of the wider American English-speaking population, it is not wrong, bad or even incorrect. It is just different.
And that go-to example of “bad” Black English–ask vs. axe: not an error at all. The Modern English “ask” derives from the Old English “æsce” and the Middle English “axe.” “Axe” is used by Caucasian native English speakers in parts of the UK as well as by those in countries/regions once colonized by the British Empire. “Axe” persists in English usage not because those who use it are ignorant, but because it is a type of linguistic fossilization–some groups just use the older form in their particular dialect.
That which is dominant is not necessarily correct.
I hope you are retired, because you make no sense at all. What proof do you have the college professors are not skilled in knowing correct grammar. Maybe you do not know correct grammar usage, but are you looking over the shoulders of every professor in the country? And if the syllabus specified correct spelling and grammar usage for all assignments turned in, then this professor is doing his job. Also, what if black students file complaints that they are not being truly educated because their mistakes are not corrected and they are not being guided in the best way to be educated.?
I find this entire thread offensive. Not because a professor corrects his students – that is completely expected or should be; but because so many of the responses in this thread have so many spelling and grammatical errors of their own. People obviously do not know the difference between your and you’re, than and then, and on and on. It is a national shame that so many people cannot spell and that is not a black, white, latino or other race’s problem, it is every race’s problem and they should ALL be corrected! How can anyone be taken seriously when the spelling of a simple word is incorrect? I won’t even speak about the grammar used!
A teacher must hold true to their profession and ethics and correct any student who makes a mistake on their paper because to not do so makes that individual a poor excuse for a teacher. If that teacher then has to consider race when he/she grades, it makes him/her set a different standard and that is not acceptable because that is racism in and of itself as it differentiates between peoples and states we should expect less from certain groups and more from others. If we are truly going to eradicate racism then everyone should be held to the same standard when learning, working, and living. Anything else is simply uncivilized.
How the heck does one even pass a college entrance exam without spelling and grammatical skills?
“A hostile campus climate has been the norm for Students of Color in this class throughout the quarter as our epistemological and methodological commitments have been repeatedly questioned by our classmates and our instructor. The barrage of questions by white colleagues and the grammar ‘lessons’ by the professor have contributed to a hostile class climate.”
Other than spelling ‘color’ wrong (and that’s not their fault the American schools don’t teach it right, that passage seems to be grammatically and spelling-wise, perfectly fine. They can do it is they try it seems.
[…] article from Federalistpapers.com reports: “A UCLA professor was called racist, and guilty of a ‘micro-aggression’ against […]
[…] news on the collegiate-political-correctness front: a UCLA professor has been called a racist, guilty of ‘micro-aggression,’ and protested […]
That’s like all pro Atheletes Black, White any Color. They all go to college and if they can play Sports don’t worry how Smart they are. I bet at least 60% of them could not pace a high school final to Graduate. What’s this world coming to a bunch of Dummies to lead the country to.
Where’s Barbara Billingsley when you need her?
(Yes, she be dead but she be smokin’ it)
[…] Micro aggressions? […]
I don’t think you would be doing anybody a favor by not correcting their mistakes. They will come back later to sue you for not teaching them properly. There is no way to win.
Why would anyone want to hire ignorant students who graduate because they are black?
Good luck getting a job with 4th grade level spelling and grammer.
Because the laws will tell them to.
Just give them all “A” for signing up for the class. *I did not say showing up but signing up. After registering, they should not even be required to attend.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
First if you are in college and cannot write or spell, you do not belong there, you belong back in high school. Second these student only show that affirmative action was nothing but reverse discrimination, if you are not academically qualified to be in college, you are wasting the taxpayer’s dollars paying for these minorities sense of entitlement…….
As someone who has run a business and had to hire people to fill my staffing needs one of the major things I looked for on applications was proper spelling and grammar. If you can’t do that it made me question how good an employee you would make. I actually was threatened by one person for not giving them a job on the spot because the could not use basic English skills and instead used street language on the application and during the interview. They later decided to rob the restaurant and instead of the job got 25 years for armed robbery.
Why the hell isn’t this “University” backing this professor? If they can’t speak, spell or write well they shouldn’t have been permitted to attend this “University.” So much for excellence.
Here are some students who will find out that John Wayne was right when he said, “Life’s hard, it’s harder if you’re stupid.”
What is the professor job? To correct papers or to dumb down the students??
This just might answer a question I’ve had for a couple of years. “How can the Head Librarian be the Librarian when she pronounced her job title Li-berry-n and her desk was on the top flo of the Li-Berry”? Don’t hate, just something I had noticed.
What is the professor’s job? To correct papers or to dumb down the students??
This just might answer a question I’ve had for a couple of years.
“How can the Head Librarian be the Librarian when she pronounced her job title Li-berry-n and her desk was on the top flo of the Li-Berry”? Don’t hate, just something I had noticed.
Good Lord! What IS this world coming to? A college professor who expects his students to use proper spelling, punctuation and grammar?
Stupid people that should have been held back in high school.
High School?? How did they make it out of the grade school
Poor little mistreated student !!!LOL
If they go into business, they will certainly need to know how to spell, punctuate, etc.
How dare he do his job, shameless!!! Perhaps he should have just suggested that they use spell and grammar check before turning in their obviously substandard papers!!! What is truly unforgivable is that these students were even allowed to enter graduate school without the tools, or the attitude, to succeed!!!
I thought everyone knew that blacks are not smart enough to spell out use punctuation correctly.
That’s just not true of all blacks…racist remark for sure. Remarks like this perpetuate the race issue.
Blacks also like watermelon and fried chicken
Karen Priestley Wingo, it is ALSO the disgusting behavior of these students that is perpetuating the racial stereotyping. The blacks need to take some responsibility for the propagation of the stereotype… it’s really not racism.
Guess the students don’t care about getting a job in the future
Pride…pure and simple…is what this is all about…a failure to respond correctly to constructive criticism. It was on a paper. No one else needed to know about it; fix it, learn it, GET OVER IT!!! How did they get to be graduate students without learning proper grammar and punctuation? If they missed it in high school, they should have got it as freshmen in college.
I gess that thar teach aut to shough moor sensiti..sensct..sincativ..awe heck…let ignance be ignance.
By the time they get to this point in their education they certainly should be more skilled…..if they had any real sense they would know this instructor is trying to help them so they can deal more equally when entering the world seeking employment!
This is what teachers today must face. Common core, political correctness, BS.
Need specifics
Niggers are funny.
So be racist! Obama and Holder are among the worst…..
Let’s just give them degrees for showing up. All kindergartens now have a bachelor degree
They wouldn’t know racism if it bit them in the ass
So right because in all reality their actions and response is racist.
Awwwwwww!!! Poor little student!!!
Obama must have gone to a school like this..He can’t spell Islamic Extremist.
It’s hard to educate idiots it’s best to let’em fail so they can used to failure
Uhhh its a university. That’s the education they’re paying for. He’s doing his job.
Higher education is voluntary. Leave whenever it does not suit you.
Funny.
Yes
Hahahahahaha. Yes awesome
LMMFAO!
Another micro aggression
If this is racism, then it is clear that racism is a bigger problem than I thought it was.
It only sounds utterly rediculous until you realize they are talking about California…then it all makes sense.
Funny, coming from the muslim capital of the us
Wait till they have to teach reading because high school is just for the Testing and not for teaching. .
OK, students, go to work in the REAL world; write a resume, cover letter, business proposal, technical paper (doubtful because these are lib arts weenies). Then management reads these and wonder, should I this person? Should I invest in this idea? These communications can mean the difference between being employed or retained. Or the path way to success.
It is not his fault they would rather be ignorant than learn…they are paying for an education, which includes learning how to communicate correctly..is being black and accepted because you sound ignorant more important than being black and successful?
Really. If all they’re going to do is cash welfare checks, then who care if they can spell?
Of course, when the checks stop,….Oops.
Next it will be politically incorrect for a white teacher to tell Johnny (who happens to be black) that 2+2 does not equal 22. I guess the only real solution that would satisfy these “aggrieved protesters” would be to only allow black teachers to teach black students, and only allow white teachers to teach white students. Gee… it sure sounds like under Obama, we’re going backwards in race relations. But hey, that’s just my opinion.
Well for gosh sakes why could spelling or grammar make a difference just get it close….lol…so when I was in college and got ripped for the same thing in the late 60’s ,my prof was a racist? …they make excuses…today they are just looking for an out using race as a damn excuse
Can’t fix stupid
This just goes to prove what i have been saying all my live, this worthless race will always look for the easy way out. Don’t even try to say other wise, you have just a hand full of niggs claiming to be part of a group that have banded together to see just how far they can push the system to get something for nothing. 90% of this race can’t spell to begin with, they cannot articulate a proper sentence or paragraphs for that matter. They need to be criticized in hopes they will learn when forming and sentence to properly use punctuations when warranted. So guess what if this worthless ass race is going to complain maybe these sick fuckers should move back to Africa where they belong. We sure don’t want or need them here.
Obama’s America.
Nothing new here. As a MPD Police Supervisor I reviewed police reports written by Officers of all races. If in any report I found misspelling or errors of any type, I would instruct the Officer, have the officer correct it and resubmit it.The Black
Officers accused me of being racist. They were the greatest offenders but all errors found regardless of who it was that submitted the report were return.
OH MY GOD, HOW DAY HE TRY TO TEACH THEM ENGLISH, WHICH THEY SHOULD HAVE LEARNED IN GRADE SCHOOL!
Just goes to show how dumb these idiots really are. In my advanced education experience a group of black students demanded a teacher be dismissed for racial reasons the top most complaint ” He’s teaching us stuff we don’t know” I kid not, and this can’t be made up.
Pull your pants up n888r.
I think “racist” is the current day throw away word meaning “I hate you but don’t have a valid reason for doing so”.
Spelling errors – what a scandal – in other words, these college students are not capable to spelling and grammar at this late day in the education. Nice to know that all that college money was wasted. High school was not much use either it seems.
Shame on him for doing his job. lmao THIS is ludacris! They don’t expect to have grammar and punctuation corrected? How’d they make it this far??
So…. how are students with poor grammar and other writing skills accepted into college? Affirmative action. Not ready for college, probably on financial aid, but most middle class students are wait-listed if they can find enough money to go to begin with…
And the stupid, just keep getting more stupid!!! Just how did they even get IN to college?!?!? This country is fùcked!
This story is about a month old. And I have no idea what will happen to the black dude if he gets a job with a real employer!
Hey Liberal Academia, “what comes around goes around”, “live by the sword, die by the sword”. How do you like Political Correctness now?
What for giving his black ass a bad grade for shit work, HOW DARE HE!Fuckin idiot niggers.
What the hell is micro agression? Does this mean Im guilty of yet something else just because Im white?
Schools with no literacy standards…go figure
Heaven forbid that they learn proper English. And that a smoove is not an iron, and teef are not teeth!
Punished for doing his job? Only in this upside down, inside out world we have today. BS
What a sad situation. Wonder if the students have progressed to pen and paper?
That is his job you idiots!!!!!
Ridiculous!
Educating a young man is racist, well then what the hell is the student doing in college?
I guess this is what the “No Child LEFT Behind” results in..ridiculous that simple grammar correction is considered racist
Ellen Buzard-Sussman check this out
How did this student get into UCLA using poor grammar? To enter a 4 year college one must be at a college level in English–slang will not work…
Why they is mad-He been just doin rite; Peeple gots to lurn hows to speek or rite.
Learn to speak and write Standard American English! It’s that simple. Sure, you can use your other dialect (e.g. black English, teen slang) with your buddies, but if you want to succeed, learn the Queen’s tongue! And, while you’re at it, pull up your pants!
Because he corrected his grammar…hahahaha….that’s why they are stupid
We are a lost nation if this is allowed.
Gives those idiots what they want a degree without putting out any effort. Just kidding. It must be exhausting to constantly blame others (white people) for your shortcomings. Feel free to leave this country first chance you get.
GET A LIFE LIBERALS. My papers always got marked up for grammar and punctuating especially, as well as spellling!!! See what I mean!!!! English was the only foeign langauge I ever took!!!!!!! LOL!!!! Those poor Blacks, OH MY!!!! YEAH RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!
YEA for this guy. Kudos to him. Just listening to the way people MURDER grammar is …..ugly. And blacks rape the WORST. Most of the time you’d need a translator even to decipher what they are saying. It’s deplorable.
This is why we are behind with the rest of the world…because of our liberal education….
Screw it. Everyone is racist. 100% of the worlds population. There. Now it’s no big deal.
I think he should as a nice negro teacher said my people can do it. They have to be made to ,they have sense make them use it.
Keep calling everything racist and soon no will believe you when you CRY wolf. Grow up the world isn’t all candy and lollipops it’s hard out here get some thick skin
Idiots, Obama wanna be ?
By the time they get to “higher” education – you would think they would be able to spell (or at lease know about spell check). Thank you for not being afraid to do your job, Professor!!!!!
The dumbing down of America goes on! This is truly a case of the inmates running the asylum. This man is trying to teach these young people the skills needed to make their way in the world. Why are they going to college if they are choosing not to learn?
I had a college student answer “It was to faster” to a question where the correct answer was “The rate of the reaction increases.” Apart from the poor grammar, the answer was correct.
Either you have a desire to learn or you already know it all. If you know it all then why aren’t you the professor? Learn to be an adult or leave the school.
And what will they Blame this Issue on its 2015 all Comments in Support of This Allegation Pull UP YOUR PANTS AND Step Forward and Respond.
How do people think they will be taken seriously if they can’t speak or write the language. They should have thanked him and questioned why none of their past teacher corrected it.
When will this stupidity STOP
How racist of him to expect these poor children of the ghetto to speak, write or spell in anything but ebonics.
Fire him–He should retire.
Fool
Are you people ignorant
And if a white person started going around speaking like “dey be from da ‘hood”, they would be screamed at, beat up and accused of trying to steal their culture!
Look mom I’m a racist she’s a racist wouldn’t you like to become a racist too??
So now it is raciest to expect a college student to be able to write or be able to use a dictionary?
Why go to school if you do not wish to be EDUCATED??????
It’s part of dumbing down. He needs to pull himself up by his bootstrap and suck it up cupcake. Learn from the mistake and quit whining!
Blah blah blah
Sad
Dear students, ISIS is hiring – good benefits – no degree needed… How’s Dat?
No student aid. If they can’t follow the statutes of a class then they should not be there. We, the people, should not be padding for their free ride.
Since we cant correct their work….lets just ban blacks from schools. That way there is no chance of racism or correcting of work!…..wait a minute.
I don’t want to live on this planet anymore
The only hostile environment is the entitled back ass to lazy to pull up their pants and go to work, hand up not hand out
And the liberal/progressive /socialist madness continues
I can’t imagine going through college without being corrected on grammar or word usage. My professors would have failed me otherwise…not the other way around. Our society is a disappointment in some cases.
Don’t all university students need to know proper English grammar and spelling? I would think so!
Unbelievable
I certainly hope these students only have blunt scissors
It would be worse if he didn’t correct him, allowed him to go into the work environment or try producing crap.
Cover letters from graduates have been laughed at by potential bosses. Education is not as important as correct education
My university professors posted our names and test scores, in descending order, behind locked glass in the engineering building foyer. We never complained, just worked harder to make sure we were not at the bottom of the list. I guess I should have sued someone, what was I thinking.
OMG, how horrible! He had the nerve to treat black students the same way he would white students. Doesn’t he know about “black Privilege?”
Proof affirmative action doesn’t work. These folks wouldn’t be complaining, they would be able to speak and write correctly.
God forbid we would hold ALL students to a higher standard! There should be no special concessions for black students or should we go easy on their discipline – we would be doing a huge disservice to them if that became the norm!
Affirmative Action will only get you so far.
This is exactly the kind of thing that makes me ignore any and all claims of racism. When you stop being African American and start being American these problems will disappear and the people who truly in their heart are racist will fall to the wayside. Either we are all the same and held to the same standard or we are not. Get on the train and get with the program.
I am a racist, I hate all low intelligent humans.
You can’t make stupid smart by handing it a degree…
He was doing his job… period. And hoestly it’s not always about someone being racist… sometimes its just that they don’t like YOU!
Good for him! When my mother taught 8th grade English, she would have spelling lists & tests. Invariably when it was time for the spelling test, someone would ask if spelling counted. Thank God she could grade papers without interference & if the word was spelled wrong, it got marked WRONG!
Stupid!
He did the right thing. More teachers should do likewise.
Obviously they do not value the education that they are receiving !
the effects of liberalism in the public school system
Does this mean that for the first 12-13 years of their education they have never received a correction on their school work??!!
Sad what a was of money for an eduction
What the hell are you doing in school, if not to learn.
Whiners to the end. We don’t need no education …
This isn’t a race thing it’s another example of the entitled, wussified generation that is currently coming of age! They got trophies for last place and their parents blamed everyone else including teachers when their kids did wrong. This is the result of the WUSSIFICATION of America! It’s up to the 30 something’s that are having kids to reverse this awful trend.
More of the entitlement mentality, any thing and every thing is seen as racist, I have had plenty of papers corrected for punctuation, not many for spelling, how do they expect to succeed in the real world
How dare he expect our college students to read and write proper English!!!! Should he require learning to be part of his educational process?
Heaven forbid students be expected to spell correctly and use correct grammar.
Can anyone spell DUMB ASS?
They can’t!
Ridiculous!
Well than…..lower the standards by all means.
Playing the race card at this trivial level demeans the complainant completely – that person can have no self respect or backbone.
If grammatical errors results in failure, so be it. Then they NEVER should have been admitted in the first place. College education is no right. NO MATTER IF THEY ARE PURPLE!
If grammar and spelling are a big problem for the students, what are they doing at UCLA? They should have learned that in high school! Could this be another example of affirmative action run amok?
It’s COLOUR not COLOR!
Only if you are British
Shoudln’t we see the paper before we act or comment
You should live in the UK! OK, Afro-Caribean speaks to another:
Hey, I wanna arks (asks) you someit? ‘Ave you bin to the shop where de guy dere goin ‘ome to Jamaica ‘cos livin on the Shaftsbury Havenue (Avenue) in Londin is ***&&** too rich man!
No court case yet but what happens to you happens to us six months later!
thats not racist! is teaching how to put words the way they are suppose 2 be?? it was same way with me in school, we think we are writing it write, but then u have the words thats suppose to come b4 the other word. its corrected grammar?? even our computers show us the correct grammar in a sentence?? Im glad I was corrected, cause I know how to speak properly, especially to business people??smh..