So half our class is failing or near failing this one course, and several people have had meetings with the course director. Some idiot in my class sent out an email saying OMG WE SHOULD JUST GO STAND AT HER OFFICE UNTIL THEY DO SOMETHINGGGG...and I didn't want those idiots to represent everyone, so I volunteered to write a formal letter for them.
I wanna show you guys, heh.
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx, BScN Program Assistant
York University, Toronto Ontario
Dear Xxxxxx,
We, the students of ********'s NURS3050-U class, are writing to you today to make a formal plea regarding our education and success in the BScN program.
It is our understanding that NURS3050 is not being offered in the summer or fall next school year. This means that, to graduate on time, our only option is to pass NURS3050 this semester so that we can take our Integrated Practicum in winter of 2011. Unfortunately, the majority of us are not doing well, and many are on the verge of failing. Furthermore, some of us have scholarships that are now in jeopardy due to poor performance in this course.
We feel that our poor performance is due to a lack of authentic engagement with our instructor. Note that Watson (2008) says the teaching-learning process requires a meaningful, trusting relationship in which the nurse (or teacher) must genuinely be able to work from another person’s (or student’s) frame of reference, not her own. Additionally, it is written in our own nursing handbook on page 6 that “Authentic caring through transpersonal relationships is vital to teaching-learning. Courageous teachers/learners embody the caring curriculum by supporting, encouraging, and valuing learners by believing in them and being truly present with them thereby promoting trust, honesty, creativity, innovation, and meaning-making.”
Many of us had concerns about our first test, but we never had an opportunity to go over it. We were told to book individual appointments, but later were told this would not work due to scheduling, thereby providing us with little insight to prepare for the second test. Moreover, we were told that we would go over the second test together as a group, during class time, which was later reneged due to a conflict with the other class not having been tested yet. In addition to this, we were told that ten bonus marks would be added to the second test to make up for test 1, but this did not happen, and we were not made aware of it until after we had already written test 2. Finally, some of the material on our second test was from a chapter that was not even included in our syllabus, again leaving us ill-prepared and at an unfair disadvantage. We have been told that the issues from test 2 will be looked into, but how can we guarantee that knowing that the issues from test 1 are still unresolved?
The current solution to this problem has been to give us extra work, for the opportunity to earn 15 “bonus” marks; however, this is based on whether or not every student in the class agrees to such a measure. While we appreciate any opportunity to improve our marks, we feel that this solution is insensitive to our concerns, and counterproductive to improvement; we have enough work to do as it is without the added stress of having to earn “bonus” marks. Furthermore, even with these added marks there will still be significant adverse effects on many students’ GPAs.
We feel neither supported nor encouraged. We do not feel valued or believed in. We cannot have trust if we feel there is no integrity. The date to drop this course without penalty is approaching faster than we feel our issues will be addressed and resolved, and we would like to remind you that we will not be able to graduate on time if dropping this class is our only option.
We are not asking for an easy way out or to have our education handed to us. We are willing to work hard, just as we have for the past 3 years, when the expectations are fair and when we have leaders who provide us with appropriate guidance. We are asking you to help us resolve this issue in way that considers our frame of reference. If we must drop this course, we ask to have the necessary information to make this choice in a timely manner. We also ask that this course be offered in the summer or fall of next year so that we still have a fair chance at graduating on time.
The students of NURS3050-U are looking to you to demonstrate the strength of your commitment to the caring curriculum, and your willingness to advocate for our success. We urge you to consider the values of the BScN program and work within your power to ensure a positive learning experience for all.
Sincerely,
The Students of NURS3050-U
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