University Fires Teacher For Blogging About Students Who Cheated In His Class

Texas A&M International University in Laredo fired a professor for posting the names of six students on his blog after they cheated in his class. You can read the story here.

The article states that,

"In his syllabus, professor Loye Young wrote that he would “promptly and publicly fail and humiliate anyone caught lying, cheating or stealing.” After he discovered six students had plagiarized on an essay, Young posted their names on his blog...

“It’s really the only way to teach the students that it’s inappropriate,” he said.

Young...said he believes he made the right move. He said trials are public for a reason, and plagiarism should be treated the same way. He added that exposing cheaters is an effective deterrent.

The university notes that he "was terminated for violating the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, a federal law that prohibits the release of students’ educational records without consent."

While I understand that the university had to discipline the professor for violating the law, the question is, what message have we given these students? Should the students be expelled as well? Also, did the students accept his terms in the syllabus by continuing to take the course? Cheating is widespread on college campus. How do we get through to our students that this is wrong?

Comments

[Loye Young]

I am the professor.

You ask good questions.

For an explanation of the moral underpinnings of my actions, see "Is Humiliation an Ethically Appropriate Response to Plagiarism?" http://www.iycc.org/node/370.

For an analysis of whether an "F" and expulsion are effective deterrents, see "Game Theory: Why Plagiarizing is a Winning Strategy" http://www.iycc.org/node/380.

Respecting FERPA, no violation of the law occurred, and it's not even a close case. As you rightly note, FERPA protects "educational records". No educational record was ever created or disclosed.

Students have no privacy rights with respect to work they post online. The Department of Education has issued specific guidance to that effect.

For more details, see http://www.iycc.org/node/369.

Happy Trails,

Loye Young
Isaac & Young Computer Company
Laredo, Texas
http://www.iycc.net

[Dr. Delaney Kirk]

Loye,
Thanks for commenting. I agree with you, what HAVE we taught these students? I especially liked your example of Joe Biden. I had a situation several years ago where the university rewarded a student's behavior that in the long run will not do the student any favors. I've been meaning to share the story on my blog. May do so now. Thanks for the links.

[Jeff Hess]

Shalom Delaney,

We live in a culture where cheating, finding the edge that allows you to beat out your opponents, is encouraged.

I think back to something you wrote last month:

"Great teachers waste no time in answering the unspoken question on every student's mind, “Does anything important happen in this class?"

Would students cheat if they knew that what they learned in any one class would dramatically effect their ability to learn later?

Students have been well trained by our educational system to retain only as much and as long as it takes to pass the test. We teach them that there is no long-term benefit from 95 percent of their classes.

They're not fools. They put in just enough energy to get back the desired grade and then they move on. If the class doesn't matter in any real way, cheating is irrelevant.

When we tell them that cheating only hurts them, they know it's a joke.

When they see real value, they will pour themselves into a class. And they won't cheat.

When learning becomes all about results and not the process, it becomes a sham.

B'shalom,

Jeff

[Dr. Delaney Kirk]

Good point, Jeff. I posted on this earlier that yes, Virginia, you are going to be expected to know this stuff. Thanks for commenting. http://www.delaneykirk.com/2008/10/worked-in-manag.html