Le Moyne College dismisses student over A- paper

The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), just released some interesting info on one of their latest cases. It concerns Scott McConnell, a graduate student at Le Moyne College in New York, who was dismissed from the graduate education program because of, as the college put it, a "mismatch" between his beliefs and the goals of the college’s graduate education program.

See the full story at FIRE.org...

In November 2004, McConnell submitted as part of an assignment a paper expressing his personal views on classroom management, including various ideas for attaining a classroom environment that is “based upon strong discipline and hard work” and that allows “corporal punishment.” The paper received an “A-,” with his professor noting that his ideas were “interesting” and that she had shared the paper with the department chair, Cathy Leogrande. McConnell ultimately received an “A” as his final grade in the course.

Then the bombshell:

Yet in January 2005, with no prior warning, Leogrande dismissed McConnell from Le Moyne. In the dismissal letter, Leogrande stated that she had reviewed McConnell’s grades for courses he took during the summer and fall semesters and had “discussed” his work with his professors. Leogrande wrote, “I have grave concerns regarding the mismatch between your personal beliefs regarding teaching and learning and the Le Moyne College program goals. Based on this data, I do not believe that you should continue in the Le Moyne [Master of Science for Teachers] Program.” At the time he was dismissed, McConnell had achieved a grade-point average of 3.78 for the fall semester and had received an “excellent” evaluation for his work in an actual classroom.

I'm trying to imagine the shock a letter like that would give me! I have this image of someone opening the letter, thinking it was congratulations for being on the Deans List or something--and then cold sweat...then the anger. Yeah, I can imagine.

Best wishes to McConnell and I hope he comes out on top.