Re: “Prep session not taught by class TAs” Dec. 1, 2009

To the editor:

I would like to thank Geron Bindseil for addressing several of my concerns about the Physics 1028 exam review session.  In no way did I imply that the teachers of the exam review session were TAs for the course.  I only said that they were associated with the university, based on the information provided on their posters — i.e., their UWO extensions and email addresses.

Since writing my letter last week, I have discussed the topic of this fee-based exam review sessions with several undergraduates.  They expressed to me their concerns about these sessions, particularly that they contribute to two-tier education system:  those who can afford to pay for expensive review sessions get more help and will do better, and those who can’t afford to pay will get no extra help and will do worse.

Now I understand that private tutoring exists, and graduate students have every right to charge students money for help that is not related to their teaching contract, but perhaps my deeper concern is why this kind of activity is sanctioned by the University and/or the University Students’ Council.  The University sanctions this review session by allowing it to be held in a classroom on campus and apparently — according to Bindseil, charging “thousands of dollars” for the room booking, and the University Students’ Council sanctions this review session since their stamp appears on the advertisement posters for the session.  Thus, both these groups seem to acknowledge that, while students already pay a considerable amount of tuition to learn this material, it is not unreasonable to expect them to pay even more money to private individuals if they need more help.

If there is demand for a review session in this course, why isn’t it organized and taught by the faculty and TAs who teach the course?

—Jason Brown

PhD Biology