I'm all for employment equity and whatnot and I'm not sure why this is just bugging me now (when it really should have been 5 years ago), but I've recently taken issue with the fact that U of S standards and averages are lowered for someone of Aboriginal descent. Now, before anyone tries to flag me with a racism card, please keep it to yourself. I am not racist; I am all of four classes away from having a degree in Native Studies; I spent a large part of my childhood on a reserve in Northern Saskatchewan; my students are all Aboriginal. This has nothing to do with racism and more to do with standards.
It is not fair that there are two enrollment averages at the U of S - one for Aborginal peoples and one for non-Aboriginals. A person is either capable of achieving the neccessary grades to be accepted or they're not. It's as simple as that.
I understand that Aboriginal peoples deal with a great many hardships due to the fallout of the poor treatment they received in residential schools. What I don't understand is why I had to
work my ass off sleep with the professors work as hard as I did to achieve the grades that I did only to find myself at graduation sitting next to an Aboriginal person who was receiving the exact same degree as me, but did so with lower grades. I'm sorry to say it, but I think that cheapens my degree by having two different standards out there.
Geez...I'm really on a roll this week with crappy, blue posts aren't I? :-)
well said and i couldn't agree more.
ReplyDeleteBy having a lower enrollment average do you mean the average grades they need to enroll in the university or a specific program?
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that may be the case, but I find it very hard to believe Aboriginal students are allowed to have a lower average to graduate than any other student.
As far as I know, they do have lower enrollment averages for the university and for certain colleges. I can't say for certain whether there are lower grade expectations all over the university, but I know there was definite favouritism happening within my college. I suppose that can happen in any college, with any student though.
ReplyDelete