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Unfair burdens on professors?

A continuing discussion in the Colloquy section of the Chronicle responds to a linked essay (which is worth reading) about the problems faculty face when asked to make special accommodations for increasing numbers of learning disabled students. Many of the responses are tirades against the authors' perceived bias against such students, but the issues seems really to revolve around the lack of informed support for faculty. Response 44 points out that college and university librarians are also burdened in this regard, and also lack adequate support. Responses 16 and 23 are helpful clarifications of the law concerning such students, and of the help professors can validly expect (although experience suggests that this is often not forthcoming). With regard to extra time, one famous study suggested that this makes little or no difference for most students, but up to 20% grade differences for LDA students. Unfortunately, Response 75 points out that this study was flawed and showed only that such students read more slowly than others. The point at issue here is not equal access for disadvantaged students. It is the business of helping faculty to do their job in a reasonable fashion.

Tue, 16 Nov 1999 13:35:03 -0800