Ethics In Distance Education

Gus Sainz wrote rhetorically, Does ethics play any role of importance in a business, school or educational program?

Here is my view:

Businesses, schools, and educational programs have the opportunity to benefit three entities - 1) society at large, 2) the students/customers and faculty/employees associated with the school, and 3) the institution/corporation itself and its owners/executors. In my opinion, I have listed these entities in order of their overall importance.

But when I look at my whipping boy, Harcourt, what I see is a stab at being "educators" with the importance of the three entities listed above in reverse order. BOTTOM LINE PROFIT for the institution/corporation and its owners comes before all else, with everyone and everything else a *far* distant second, and I see an inherent danger to this approach.

As I am always impressed with the highbrow level of discussion from this group, and as I must run now, I will stop here and look forward to reading the enlightening commentary to follow.

 

I agree with this lineup, including its order. For-profit schools do not have to alter this order, nor change the balance of importance between the three. To do so invites action from regulatory agencies (public and private), customers, the media, and the general public.

The writer has raised serious issues about at least two schools (MIGS and CCHS), issues that have gone to the heart of this matter. While the academic and administrative operations of both have raised questions, it is questions about ethics that are most alarming. Fixing a process is one thing; living down a serious gaffe is quite another.

That said, there are too many instances where questions about a school are both asked and answered without checking the facts. Or answers are given, then ignored. Or worse, "campaigns" are waged against people instead of ideas, ignoring the very issues that need to be discussed. What's it all about? And can't schools have both good and bad elements? Must everything be painted black or white? (Especially by people having nothing to do with the school in question. Piper, on the other hand, seems to have had extensive contact with CCHS, which puts his/her case in a more sensible context.)

It is said the Internet has a long memory. I agree. Mistakes in judgment or lapses in ethics can haunt a school for a long time. But before we burn the witch, let's make sure he/she is one, shall we?

Rich Douglas

We burn witches, so they're made out of wood. Wood floats. So do ducks. So if she weighs the same as a duck, she's made of wood, so she'll burn, so she's a witch. Without Monty Python, nothing makes any sense.

 

I ask for enlightening commentary and what do I get? Enlightening commentary.

I am in complete agreement with Rich that most schools worth discussing cannot be labeled only in black-and-white terms. But I also cannot endorse suing someone for advancing a plausible opinion about a school or program, especially when that person believes wholeheartedly that he is doing the right thing by protecting other consumers.

I'm sure I try Rich's patience something awful, considering he probably has ten times the knowledge that I have of distance education issues, parameters, procedures, etc., which leaves me to rely upon what little knowledge I do have, my instincts, and common sense.

And so I guess I just have one question for Rich: What is the average airspeed of an unladen swallow?

 

African or European swallow?

Bruce

 

Blue. No, Red. AAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Rich, who, like Sir Robin, has red hair. But the not-so-very brave Sir Robin got to keep his. (Of course, I had mine back in 1975!)