Do You Think This Is Ethical At All?

Question

Okay, I was in French class today at university. While giving our tests back, my professor mentioned that in France the teachers read off students' grades and make comments in front of the entire class. He didn't do that to us though.

I know enough French people myself to know that this is true. Do you think it's fair to do this or not?

Answer 1

In my highschool, our report cards all had a personal paragraph or more form the teacher to the parent, and each kid was ranked in each class.

that wasn't shared with others, I think, but there was a generally public list where each kid in each year was ranked by the averaged of his/her individual class rankings.

imagine having to explain to mom and dad why you were always 33rd out of 35 kids in every class.

Answer 2

I think it's fine. If you're secure enough to not study enough or ask for help on what you don't understand and subsequently make a low grade, then you should be secure enough to accept the fact that the class knows it. Live without shame.

Answer 3

I don't think this is really an ethics issue. There are many differences between countries, and just because their practices are different from ours doesn't make it unethical.  

Answer 4

I had a professor that would often do that.   It was not only to motivate the students (by way of shaming some) but supposedly to a motivation for students to study harder to avoid sad shame.

There is nothing unethical about posting grades.  It is indeed quite normal for final grades and evaluations to be posted.

Answer 5

No, I don't think it's fair. What about student-teacher confidentiality? I think it's important to mind your own business and not make a scene about anything. It seems kind of mean that they would criticize them in front of everyone. So, no! Not fair!

Answer 6

In the U.S., I'm sure it'd have a lot of people ticked off.  But France is different than the U.S., so I'd say it's perfectly acceptable.

You'd think that little Billy would start studying if everyone knew he was getting the lowest grade in the class.  Could also build up resentment.  Makes me wonder if their grades are better.

Answer 7

I had an American Lit teacher in High School who did it all the time.  He even read off our overall grades as we got close to finals so that we would know where we stood.  Writing this, it seems like it would have bothered me, but he did it in such a way that even when you did poorly, it wasn't something that bothered us.  We kinda had fun with it.

Answer 8

This happens all over the world, including in the US.  There is nothing unethical about it.  Unpleasant for those who did not do well but nothing unethical.  It could be regarded as an incentive to do better next time.