These letters of support are by individuals (non-professors) who have not participated in Rancourt's courses and/or events (such as Cinema Politica), but have heard of his case through the media.
The university’s claim that Dr. Rancourt’s assignment of high grades on the first day of one of his classes damages the university’s credibility is an exaggerated pretext for removing a passionate professor dedicated to high quality teaching and research as well as academic reform.
Claire Provost, PhD Candidate, Columbia University
Duane Rousselle, graduate student, Queen's U and UNB
I first met Dr. Rancourt during a lecture that he gave sometime last year at Queen’s University and found his experimental pedagogy to be not only acceptable but vital and refreshing in the otherwise stale orthodoxy of contemporary scholarship.
Gabriela Aguero, PhD candidate, University of Manitoba
I want to let him know I support him fully and hope to join the other university professors who teach how to think in a grade free environment even if this stance takes years to materialize. Changes are never easy.
I am a high school science teacher writing from Oakland, CA and hearing of this situation is very disconcerting. The supposed reason for dismissing Professor Rancourt - alleging that he assigned high grades at the beginning of the class - is a ludicrous excuse for firing a dedicated educator.
I once taught geography at Northern Arizona University and decided early on not to administer examinations in order to eliminate the memorize and vomit type of education I had experienced all my life up to then. Instead of examinations I offered projects designed to encourage students to think and solve problems rather than attempt to memorize lectures and write them in "Blue Books" at the end of the courses. The results proved to me that I had found the best way to educate my geography students and I discovered that quite a number of the students returned for discussions many times during subsequent semesters. I believe that is called inspiration to learn.
Justin Kelley, house painter and construction worker
His progressive view of education , grading and how people learn is a strong asset to your institution not an offense worthy of termination.
Luc Beaudoin, Ph.D.
The suspension and planned dismissal of Professor Rancourt are political in nature and threaten academic freedom in this institution and free speech in Canadian society.
Milena Placentile, Art Curator, University of Winnipeg
And, upon your careful consideration, we are sure you will agree that the University of Ottawa's efforts to bypass mediation and conduct "the business" of firing Dr. Rancort without due process under strict confidentiality starkly contradicts the values upon which publicly funded Universities are founded.
Simmon Hofstetter, PhD candidate, University of Alberta
I read about what happened (in the Globe and Mail) and I just wanted to congratulate you on standing your ground. The post-secondary educational system has serious flaws. You are not alone in your views.
Thorben Wieditz, PhD candidate, York University
(letters listed from most recent to oldest)
May 12, 2009 at 6:02 PM, email
Dear President Rock,
I just finished reading an article on your termination of Professor Denis Rancourt. I am a lifelong resident of Detroit, Michigan which borders Canada. As such I spent many summers in Canada staying with friends of my parents. My experiences in Canada left me with the impression that Canadian Culture was superior in many ways to that in the USA. The treatment of Professor Rancourt suggests that your country is moving in the direction of becoming as repressive of Freedom as the United States. I urge you to reinstate Professor Rancourt.
Sincerely,
Richard T. Kuszmar
Warren, Michigan
April 15, 2009; letter to President Allan Rock.
Hello,
I am writing to add my voice to those asking you to reconsider your in my view outrageous decision to dismiss Denis Rancourt from his tenured position at your university. Although I am neither a canadian citizen nor a university student or staff member, I am concerned about issues of academic freedom, both as a one time PhD student and as a thinking member of human society, and I believe that your role as a University President should include protecting this freedom rather than suppressing it.
Even within the narrowest terms of the job you have been employed by the university to do, you seem quite clearly to have broken the rules designed to protect employees from arbitrary and undue harassment by the university authorities. Beyond this, your decision to sack him on what is fairly obviously a narrow pretext, for reasons that seem more to do with his broader views on education and society and with his public criticism of your administration, shows a contempt for the values of freedom of expression and diversity of opinion that a healthy university should be founded on. Professors are /supposed/ to be controversial - it comes with the territory.
Personally, having watched the video Rancourt posted on his website, I find his views on education, and the stand he has taken over this issue, inspiring. There is not a great deal that I can do as an individual who is not even a citizen of your country to influence your decision, but I would be interested to know, should you consider it worth your while replying to this email, what your views on education and its role in society actually are. Rancourt has clearly thought this through deeply - have you?
andrew baxter,
Lancaster,
United Kingdom.
From: Justin Kelley <>
Date: Fri, Apr 3, 2009 at 4:27 PM
Subject: Your abuse of Dr Rancourt
To: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Cc: I WW <providenceiww>, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
March 31, 2009
Dear President Rock,
I am writing to protest the University of Ottawa ’s planned dismissal of Professor Denis Rancourt. To remove Professor Rancourt , is an abuse of his rights as a worker for your university. His progressive view of education , grading and how people learn is a strong asset to your institution not an offense worthy of termination.
Is your goal the education of people, or the production of assets?
Grading is merely a classification of a persons ability to regurgitate facts and in a field like physics where concepts and analysis are as important as facts , grades can be a hindrance to true learning and achievement of knowledge.
Why am I a house painter, and construction worker telling you an uber educated university administrator this?
I and the fellow workers of the Providence branch of the IWW await your response. If you do not respond , be assured we and our fellow workers around the globe will continue to contact you until you address our concerns.
Do not fire Professor Rancourt!
I urge the university to accept Dr. Rancourt’s offer to resolve this conflict through mediation. I also demand that the University of Ottawa end its suspension of Dr. Rancourt and restore him to his position immediately with no penalty.
For the reinstatement of Dr. Rancourt,
Justin Kelley
Treasurer , Providence Branch of the Industrial Workers of the World
Providence Rhode Island
April 3, 2009, 2:57 PM, email.
Dear President Rock,
Denis Rancourt should not be dismissed. I have reviewed Professor Rancourt's CV and can see that he has a respectable academic record. I see from the comments of his students and colleges that respect extends to those whom he interacts with. The suspension and planned dismissal of Professor Rancourt are political in nature and threaten academic freedom in this institution and free speech in Canadian society.
Dr. Rancourt's experiments with alternative methods of teaching and grading should be rewarded for being bold and innovative, not punished.
To fire Dr. Rancourt on such weak grounds is a signal that education workers’ rights and academic freedom at the University of Ottawa are under threat. We are gravely concerned that removing Dr. Rancourt will intimidate both faculty and students from speaking up, being creative and taking the initiative in the future.
I urge the university to accept Dr. Rancourt’s offer to resolve this conflict through mediation. I also demand that the University of Ottawa end its suspension of Dr. Rancourt and restore him to his position immediately with no penalty.
For the reinstatement of Dr. Rancourt,
Michael Kozlowicz
Hampshire, IL USA
April 3, 2009, 2:26 AM, email.
Allan Rock,
As a graduate student in a Canadian University (Queen’s University & the University of New Brunswick) I am concerned by the planned dismissal of Dr. Rancourt. I first met Dr. Rancourt during a lecture that he gave sometime last year at Queen’s University and found his experimental pedagogy to be not only acceptable but vital and refreshing in the otherwise stale orthodoxy of contemporary scholarship. The approach that Dr. Rancourt outlines is, to my mind, precisely what engaging universities ought to be exploring on their never ending quest to find the right balance between engagement, competence and innovation. There is simply no question that Dr. Rancourt’s dismissal is of a much larger symbolic significance regarding academic freedom and the rights of professors.
I urge the university to accept Dr. Rancourt’s offer to resolve this conflict through mediation. I also demand that the University of Ottawa end its suspension of Dr. Rancourt and restore him to his position immediately with no penalty.
Sincerely,
Duane Rousselle
University of New Brunswick
April 2, 2009, 12:14 PM, email.
Dear President Rock,
This letter is in regards to the University of Ottawa ’s planned firing of physics Professor Denis Rancourt. I am a high school science teacher writing from Oakland, CA and hearing of this situation is very disconcerting. The supposed reason for dismissing Professor Rancourt - alleging that he assigned high grades at the beginning of the class - is a ludicrous excuse for firing a dedicated educator. This drastic move looks very bad and damages the University of Ottawa's reputation.
Threatening academic freedom and punishing your faculty for innovative educational ideas is a really serious attack and should be reconsidered.
This sets a bad precedent and serves to intimidate both students and faculty while it alienates friends of the university.
I urge the university to accept Dr. Rancourt’s offer to resolve this conflict through mediation. I also demand that the University of Ottawa end its suspension of Dr. Rancourt and restore him to his position immediately with no penalty.
For the reinstatement of Dr. Rancourt,
Jefferson Pierce
Oakland, CA, USA
April 2, 2009, 11:34 AM, email.
Dear President Rock,
I am taking this time to protest against the proposed firing of Denis Rancourt, a physicist.
Grades are surely not the end of education. Strangely, or not, a physicist I studied with, at UMASS Boston, named George Salzman, also insisted on asking students what they thought they should get for a grade. I said "George, I want an A."
I cherished the opportunity to study politics, economics, history and other disciplines after leaving the Marine Corps, and I have continued to read and write even after this period under the regime of grades. Looking at it now grading had little to do with what was important about the experience, and that is why I remember my time with Professor Salzman.
It seems to me that what Professor Rancourt did is reason for an open discussion, a call to educate, and not one for firing. This kind of action seems about fear and closing, not about the opening that learning should be.
Please look into this, and reconsider this rash action.
Feel free to contact me.
John MacLean
Burlington VT, USA
March-April 2009; individually sent emails from IWW members.
Dear President Rock,
I am writing to protest the University of Ottawa ’s planned dismissal of Professor Denis Rancourt. The university’s claim that Dr. Rancourt’s assignment of high grades on the first day of one of his classes damages the university’s credibility is an exaggerated pretext for removing a passionate professor dedicated to high quality teaching and research as well as academic reform.
To fire Dr. Rancourt on these weak grounds is a signal that education workers’ rights and academic freedom at the University of Ottawa are under threat. We are gravely concerned that removing Dr. Rancourt will intimidate both faculty and students from speaking up, being creative and taking the initiative in the future.
I urge the university to accept Dr. Rancourt’s offer to resolve this conflict through mediation. I also demand that the University of Ottawa end its suspension of Dr. Rancourt and restore him to his position immediately with no penalty.
For the reinstatement of Dr. Rancourt,
Brent Bennett, Cambridge, ON, March 31
Courtney Hinman, Flagstaff, AZ, USA, April 11
Dallas Vienneau, April 10
Eduardo Martinez, Edmonton, AB, March 31
Erik Bowen, Lake Bluff, IL, USA, April 13
Fernando Garcia, Fayetteville, AR, USA, April 2
Irene Akkersdyk, Sydney, Australia, March 31
Jose Villa, Covina, CA, USA, Mar 31
Mark Cunningham, Lower Sackville, NS, April 2
Michael O’Donnell, Toronto, ON, April 5
Michael T. Ballard, Queens Park, Australia, March 31
Mike Payne, Albany, Autralia, March 31
Monika Vykoukal, Aberdeen, UK, March 31
Randall Jamrok, Indiana, USA, April 3
Rasmus Buchholz, Roesrath, Germany, April 11
Rhiannon Edwards, Edmonton, AB, March 31
Ryan Vandenberg, Edmonton, AB, March 31
Steve Ongerth, USA, March 31
Tom Levy, North Carolina State University, USA, March 31
Tommie Gallie, Edmonton, MB, April 4
Tristan Bunner, Pasadena, CA, USA, April 2
Viola Wilkins, Melbourne, Australia, March 31
March 31, 2009, 7:23 PM, email.
Dear President Rock,
It has recently come to our attention that the University of Ottawa is seeking to dismiss Professor Denis Rancourt, and we are writing to let you know that we oppose this act most fervently.
As we are certain you are well aware, the university’s claim that Dr. Rancourt’s assignment of high grades damages the university's credibility is an exaggerated pretext for removing a passionate professor dedicated to high quality teaching, research, and -- most important in our eyes -- academic reform. And, upon your careful consideration, we are sure you will agree that the University of Ottawa's efforts to bypass mediation and conduct "the business" of firing Dr. Rancort without due process under strict confidentiality starkly contradicts the values upon which publicly funded Universities are founded.
To fire Dr. Rancourt on these weak grounds is a signal that education workers’ rights and academic freedom at the University of Ottawa are under threat. We are gravely concerned that removing Dr. Rancourt will intimidate both faculty and students from speaking up, being creative, and taking the initiative in the future. This is not what education is supposed to be about!
We urge the university to accept Dr. Rancourt’s offer to resolve this conflict through mediation. We furthermore demand that the University of Ottawa end its suspension of Dr. Rancourt and restore him to his position immediately with no penalty.
In solidarity with Denis Rancourt, and all other academics willing to stand up for a better world,
Milena Placentile, MMSt. University of Toronto
Art Curator, University of Winnipeg
Chris Poulsen, PMP
Self employed entrepreneur
Winnipeg MB
March 31, 2009, 12:39 AM, email.
Dear President Rock,
I heard of the University of Ottawa?s plan to dismiss Professor Denis Rancourt on the basis of his assignment of high grades on the first day of one of his classes. If true, this move is exaggerated and unacceptable. There are other - and better - ways of evaluating a teacher's ability and value than to confirm that grade distributions follow pre-determined curves.
I am hence also concerned that removing Dr. Rancourt will intimidate both faculty and students from speaking up, being creative and taking the initiative - all fundamental ingredients for a healthy, vibrant, and productive academicr environment.
I look forward to hearing of Dr. Rancourt's reinstatement, and to reading a published apology on behalf of the University of Ottawa.
Claire Provost
First-year PhD Candidate
Department of Political Science, Columbia University
March 30, 2009 at 2:49 AM, email.
Subject: Proceedings Against Prof. Rancourt
Dear Mr. Rock,
I have been following the dismissal proceedings against Professor Rancourt closely and with unabated consternation, as you may recall from an earlier email of mine, to which you sent an encouraging reply.
I believe that even at this late hour, the University still has a chance to extricate itself from the embarrassment it has wrought on itself and by association its alumni by terminating the proceedings against Dr. Rancourt and re-instating him in the shortest possible delay.
It would be in the interest of university education to hear you, Mr. Rock, articulate your theory of education and educational practices in an open peer reviewed journal rather than through these administrative machinations. I would also recommend that the University host a conference, with open *academic* debates, on such topics, and that you offer yourself as a participant in such debates. The University is, after all, a teaching institution.
Please keep in mind that the reputation of the University is at stake, and that the University's ability to attract academic talent in these critical times is seriously at risk by its treatment of faculty and its stance with respect to academic freedom and education.
Sincerely,
Luc Beaudoin, Ph.D.
University of Ottawa Alumnus
University of Birmingham Alumnus
From: Bruno Barbulovic-Nad <>
Date: Mon, Mar 30, 2009 at 1:26 AM
Subject: Prof. D. Rancourt Case
To: "allan.rock" <>
Cc: "claude.cde" <>
Dear Sir,
The ongoing case involving Prof. D. Rancourt has raised concerns that academics no longer have the freedom to find unique and innovative ways to motivate students or encourage a greater purpose to higher education. Instead, the institution is more concerned about producing students who can conform to conventional testing and be contorted into a normal distribution. This sort of education scheme produces young minds that can pass tests, not young minds that can think. After all, when it comes to results, you get performance on the qualities that you measure. This is highly undesirable and will a have long-term impact of the quality of talent and innovation in Ontario. Young people should not be afraid to be wrong, especially in fields where the body of knowledge is still growing - they should be encouraged to think, formulate & test ideas, not just memorize and write tests in exchange for a grade.
The reputational damage from continued negative press coverage will also have long-term consequences for your institution directly. Quality minds will think twice before coming to U of O just based on this rather unflattering battle.
While it may appear you are winning a battle by terminating Prof. Rancourt, in fact you are losing a far bigger war for academia. In face of global competitiveness, we should be striving for new approaches, processes, and ideas - not batting them down to the ground. To attract top talent worldwide, we need to be open minded - or at the very least follow due process.
Bruno
---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: Re: Statement of support
From: "Thorben Wieditz"
Date: Wed, 25 February, 2009 2:38 pm
To:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Denis Rancourt -
I have been following what is going on at the University of Ottawa with
great distress.
Being at York University myself, and having just started to delve into
issues of the corporatization and casualization of the university system,
reading up on your situation is not exactly a sign of hope and that things
will get better any time soon.
The question of who educates our educators is more pressing than ever, and
that the University of Ottawa is crushing down on you, sets an extremely
dangerous precedent for critically minded professors and educators in
times of neoliberalism.
I truly hope that this email makes it to your mailbox, and that access to it
has not been restricted.
In solidarity,
Thorben Wieditz
Thorben Wieditz
Doctoral Candidate, Faculty of Environmental Studies
The City Institute at York University (CITY)
On 2/18/09, Christopher Soda wrote:
thanks for reading this letter and good luck to all parties in the resolution of these conflicts!
here are my thoughts:
(1) it would be helpful if all interested parties (esp taxpayers!) had access online to the current agreement between professors and the U of O- the latest bargaining agreement i could find online in this regard appears to have expired in april, 2008, and is to be found here:
http://www.hr.uottawa.ca/policies/agreements/apuo.php
(is the agreement found at the URL above still in use?)
(2) if it is official position of the U of O that the usage of "pass/fail" grading by its professors is "inadequate",
(a) would this mean that the U of O would not accept the credentials of any student who was graded by this system prior to studying at the U of O?
(b) would this mean that the academic credentials of any student now studying at the U of O (from any country) has had his/her records checked to see if he/she was graded in this manner in the past?
(c) would this mean that admittance was on some occasions rejected on this basis?
(d) would this mean that anyone teaching at the U of O who was graded using this system would be considered "inadequate"?
case in point: i was graded using a "pass/fail" system on some occasions in the past, and have been teaching since 1978- would i be denied a teaching position at the U of O because of this "inadequate" grading system?
(3) has mr rock specifically indicated publicly why the grading system using "pass/fail" is inferior to a grading system using letters and/or numbers + percentages?
(4) has mr rock specifically indicated publicly how the usage of a "pass/fail" grading system violates any collective agreement between the U of O and its professors?
(5) has mr rock specifically indicated publicly how mr rancourt's ability, and system of grading, both run contrary to the former's 2002 quote: "I am preaching the relentless pursuit of excellence and innovation"?
(6) has anyone suggested a sit-down between mr rock and mr rancourt in a neutral location (such as a radio station) where an intelligent debate might consequently resolve these outstanding issues?
signed,
chris soda
---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: NYT Article
From: ...
Date: Mon, 16 February, 2009 6:30 pm
To:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
------------------------------
Professor Rancourt,
Please let me introduce myself. I recently graduated from the University
of Texas at El Paso to obtain a BBA in Econ and Finance. I'm applying to
the University of Ottawa to pursue a MS in Economics. In reading an
article on the New York Times I found an article criticizing the way one
of your courses in physics is lectured
(http://fish.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/are-academics-different/).
Please receive my most sincere greetings and admiration for the work and
research you perform at the University of Ottawa. I'll go ahead and sign
the petition spot website in support for the academic freedom
(http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/fecdgruo).
Best of regards,
Daniel F.
UTEP
From: Beverly Pearl
Date: Feb 15, 2009 5:08 PM
Subject: Abysmal treatment of Professor Rancourt an affront to freedom of speech- letter in support of the professor
To:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
It is with dismay that I find myself compelled to write a letter
addressing personal freedoms in Canada.
While I tend to agree with Professor Rancourt that students truly
interest in exploration are likely to flourish within the non-
judgemental environment created by his approach, there is another
issue which cannot be ignored. More disturbing than issues of whether
or not, or when students should be marked is the recent arrest of
Professor Rancourt.
"Firing a tenured professor is rare in itself, but two weeks ago the
university took an even more extreme step: When Prof. Rancourt went on
campus to host a regular meeting of his documentary film society, he
was led away in handcuffs by police and charged with trespassing."
Anderssen, Erin, "Professor makes his mark, but it costs him his job",
Globe & Mail, Feburary 6th, 2009
I wasn't aware that in Canada we banned people from public
institutions for their beliefs, or (effectively) arrested them for
their ideas!
To his credit, Professor Rancourt continues to meet with his graduate
students off campus and advise them on their thesis projects. In so
doing he helps to ensure their continued learning and success, which
is more than can be said for the rigid administration that cut short
his tenure.
Winnipeg, February 14, 2009
To Denis Rancourt.
Statement of Support on his dismissal from the University of Ottawa
I was amazed to read about the dismissal of Dr. Dennis Rancourt from his position as tenured professor at the University of Ottawa on the grounds of his refusal to grade his students.
My intention in writing this letter is to support Prof. Rancourt’s position while at the same time trying to reveal the mechanics of oppression that are intrinsic to the system of university academia from my own perspective as a Phd student in socio-cultural anthropology. While not aiming at attacking particular people, I am concentrating on describing how I see individuals being socialized into a bureocratic system that reproduces obedient students. Through my passage in graduate school I have witnessed how the university power system depends on our inclusion in the upper echelons of the particular social class of academics by making sure that we abide by the rules of domination in order to reproduce oppression. It is precisely the efforts to silence and create an atmosphere of fear and domination that have been effective tools of domination relying on the perception that grades reflect on your ability to be good learners. Grades in essence are the controlling mechanism to make the whole system work.
As a PhD student in socio-cultural Anthropology at the University of Manitoba my first reaction would be to situate this incident in the context of this country at the present historical time, within its current political conservatism, and in a state which is after all at war. In a culture of violence dissention becomes problematic, even dangerous, especially from those who are supposed to perpetuate the system of power within the values that are meant to reproduce the status quo. We might not see its inner framework, but we are being socialized to conform in order to continue the smooth operation of a system, that like universities, rely on the silent complacent and subordinate behaviour of all its parts. Power systems are based on several strategies to create passive and complacent subjects, but when as in this case something goes wrong, we become aware of the dialectic between the practice and the representation of that practice of repression, and we are therefore forced to confront the very officials that represent it. This creates a rupture of the hegemony and cohesiveness of the institution, in this case the university, which is forced to reveal its inner structure of power.
As a graduate student I have been exposed to the inner workings of power almost ending outside my program, as happened to Dr. Rancourt. Having complained to upper university echelons about a particular professor choosing strategically not follow “proper procedure” to step over levels of power to make sure I was being heard, I was tossed and turned from office to office, threatened, warned and admonished. I was finally punished by the professor in question with a grade that not only almost put me out of the graduate program, but also lowered that other valuable piece of controlling device which is the GPA, denying me access to grants and bursaries that rely on a letter grade to identify the success, imagination and creativity of a student by simply equating her to the subjective appreciation of the professor’s will. In a previous program I left , the anathema values of “power with and not power over” of the culture of peace we were supposedly following, fell out the window as we witnessed professors threaten , scold, criticize and stop students from taking chosen classes, writing dissertations on chosen topics, and even waiving students from a class because the attitude was perceived as threatening to authority, all this of course reflected in grades. Add to these practices the system of advisorship in graduate programs where a student’s innermost thoughts have to be approved, signed and discussed with an advisor who might not like or share your politics and you find yourself under total control. Not only did I feel silenced through the grade, but I was told I was being high maintenance, too demanding, and that I should learn how to go through the system quietly because if I complained people, (those in power) would notice and therefore I would build a reputation as a troublemaker.
It worries me that I will be joining ranks in a system that is silencing dissent, quieting activism, and handcuffing professors out of campuses. I sadly think of the steel effectiveness of the oiled bureaucracy that was responsible for the many atrocities of the world including the holocaust. Socializing us to comply is a dangerous practice.
Finally, having lived through the military government in Argentina I was educated in a system where the textbooks were re-written to fit military ideology, and where thousands of people: the desaparecidos were abducted and tortured for dissenting. I remember watching my grandmother hide books for a student neighbour, which I avidly read in secret, and later during the Malvinas War became ostracized for not supporting a war effort where most of my generation was taken. Those lessons still resonate when I see things like this happen.
It is indispensable to create an enemy in order to create unity, the boundary of a state to keep others out, and grades to allow those that “read our minds” as Dr. Rancourt puts it, to be able to continue on with the cloning of minds that will abide or else.
This incident has rippling effects for those of us who need confirmation that we are indeed on the right track. Personally, it has had as an amazing effect on my decision to continue to keep fighting the system. As I was becoming weary and depressed through the effects punishment has on isolating us these past few days, it was through witnessing Prof. Rancourt’s plight that I bear witness to his valued opinion when he says that: “In my circumstances, I prefer to stand my ground and fight. It is good for the soul and it makes justice. Otherwise, I feel I am complying”. (personal communication)
For this very reason, I want to let him know I support him fully and hope to join the other university professors who teach how to think in a grade free environment even if this stance takes years to materialize. Changes are never easy.
In those classes I plan to start with his quote above, to make sure I remember where I am heading.
Thank you so much Dr. Rancourt to be where you are right now.
Gabriela Aguero
Phd Student in Socio-Cultural Anthropology
University of Manitoba
---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: Re: Thank you for challenging the system.
From: Simmon Hofstetter
Date: Tue, 10 February, 2009 12:19 am
To: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> Hi Professor Rancourt,
>>
>> I read about what happened (in the Globe and Mail) and I just wanted
>> to congratulate you on standing your ground. The post-secondary
>> educational system has serious flaws.
>>
>> You are not alone in your views.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>>
>> Simmon Hofstetter
>> PhD Candidate
>> University of Alberta
>> Department of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences
From: " This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it " < This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it >
To: J Wenzel
Cc: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Sent: Monday, February 9, 2009 5:15:41 PM
Subject: Re: A+ - hope you didn't receive this twice. It failed the first
time I tried to send it
> Hi Dr. Rancourt,
>
> You've made national news and I just want to say that I completely support
> and agree with you. I graduated from Queen's University engineering
> physics a few years ago and ranked in the top 10% of my class and yet I feel
> like all I acomplished was high marks and not knowledge. School grading
> forces students to focus on getting grades rather than learning
> materials...so, typically I would try to learn how to solve a problem
> given these criteria and looking for this result when what I really needed
> was to understand the problem.
>
> During my schooling, I realized I did not understand many of the abstract
> concepts in physics but I did not have time to learn them because it was
> more important to focus on grades. In addition to this, I was frustrated
> with professors who would not help/let TA's help students with
> assignments. I understand that they do this because they believe that we
> will have to learn on our own in the workplace (which is true), but
> assignments should be to help students learn, not for grading. There are
> tests and exams for grading. Handing in an incomplete assignment was
> frustrating because it really identified that I did not understand
> something, and I knew I did not understand it, and yet I could not find
> someone to help me understand. I would not have time to learn material I
> did not understand until exams and as a result, I would fall behind in
> lectures & participation.
>
> I am now a software developer and a I often do programming excercises for
> fun to learn new skills. A while ago I was learning about testing,
> architectures, and web development and I produced a program that expressed
> some of my frustrations with school. The application allows students to
> share answers/solutions online anonymously and really pushes assignments
> as a learning tool rather than as a grading mechanism. It is done now and
> I put no effort into promoting it anymore or trying to make it catch on
> but I thought you might be interested since it seems somewhat in line with
> your views. http://www.studypipe.com
>
> Anyway, I really respect that you have stood up for what you believe in.
> The current way of learning is old fashioned and I think makes difficult
> subjects such as physics more difficult then necessary. I feel somewhat
> disappointed in my education even though I had good marks with a well
> recognized degree. I hope you are back teaching again soon.
>
> Best Regards,
---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: Re: Bravo!
From: "John Duncklee"
Date: Mon, 9 February, 2009 6:31 pm
To: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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Professor Rancourt of Ottawa University should be applauded for his
integrity to maintain an honest approach to real teaching by
eliminating meaningless grades that are designed to establish a fear
factor rather than educate.
I once taught geography at Northern Arizona University and decided
early on not to administer examinations in order to eliminate the
memorize and vomit type of education I had experienced all my life up
to then. Instead of examinations I offered projects designed to
encourage students to think and solve problems rather than attempt to
memorize lectures and write them in "Blue Books" at the end of the
courses. The results proved to me that I had found the best way to
educate my geography students and I discovered that quite a number of
the students returned for discussions many times during subsequent
semesters. I believe that is called inspiration to learn.
I often wondered how long it would take for some administrator, (the
president and many of his minions held EdD degrees) would pounce on
my teaching methods. It took four years.
One morning, two weeks prior to the start of the fall semester, a
memorandum found its way into my campus mailbox. "YOU WILL GIVE FOUR
EXAMINATIONS A SEMESTER AND A FINAL EXAMINATION THAT YOU WILL KEEP ON
FILE FOR FIVE YEARS." I read it a second time. I concluded that it
had been written by a mental midget. I turned over the memorandum and
wrote on the back. "I resign my position effective immediately." I
signed it and sent it back via campus mail. Shortly thereafter I
received a telephone call from the president ordering me to his
office. I do not take orders well since earning an honorable
discharge from the U.S. Navy after the Korean War. I told him I would
try to see him as soon as I had finished packing my books.
In his office I listened to him rant and rave about me breaking a
contract. I suggested that he read that contract so that he could
understand that the contract protected me from him rather than the
way he was thinking. He threatened to "black ball" me from teaching.
I offered to list names and contact information to speed his efforts.
I felt wondrously happy as I drove to Tucson to become a free-lance
writer and look for day jobs. I have never regretted that decision,
and have accomplished seventeen published books of non-fiction,
fiction and poetry.
The University of Ottawa is fortunate to have a scholar of excellence
such as Dr. Rancourt. His colleagues could learn much from his
approach to academics and academic freedom.
John Duncklee
From: Shaun Hanna
Date: Feb 8, 2009 6:22 PM
Subject: Follow up letter of support
To:
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Cc:
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Let's talk about value for a moment, since the recent recommendation for the dismissal of Denis Rancourt from his position at the University of Ottawa wreaks of it. The Board of Governor's official response (no doubt prompted by the Globe and Mail's February 6th article) cites Prof Rancourt's behavior as a kind of threatening devaluation of the institution. And yet, by most accounts, his students appear to feel that his pedagogical choices are invaluable to them. So, what seems to be at issue here?
Yes, I am fully aware of double bind we're placed in when one person's view of the invaluable is another person's definition of worthlessness. But let's fess up: academia is inherently bunk. Economics, for example, is a discipline centred on denying the existence of a thing until an arbitrary price is placed on it by an outside force. Without a price, without the language for it, the object doesn't exist. The economist is forced to say, "I don't know what that is, it has no value." And so when a ruling body of University administration becomes confronted with what they, in a narrow pedagogical definition, have no language for, the language defaults to lexical entries such as worthless, valueless, destabilizing.
It seems to me that what is at issue is power, pure and simple. Power confronts us face on by denying an expansive notion of value, an out of date system maintains an archaic hegemony over us. The actions of the Board of Governors at the University of Ottawa are not only insipidly paternalistic and unprofessional in its very public denouncing of Prof Rancourt's pedagogical choices, but also denies the very fundamentals of academic discovery and progress which should be at issue. There is no purpose perpetuating the academy unless we, as scholars, add to the quality of the academy. Dismissing Prof Rancourt on the basis of devaluing the institution denies the academy the right to progress and change, qualities which only come about by potentially destabilizing forces contesting the boundaries and validity of the system in place.
Perhaps, paradoxically, the only hope for the continued stability of the institution is by purposely destabilizing it. In this light, why on earth would any responsible BoG want to deny their own institution the natural process of change? My only conclusion is the irresponsibility of that ruling hegemony. This kind of rampant irresponsibility can only demands the resignation of those BoG members who would deny Prof Rancourt this key role in academia.
Please, come to your senses,
SdH
Shaun Hanna
MA Student
Department of English
University of Calgary
Date: Feb 7, 2009 12:32 AM
Subject: Denis Rancourt Support Letter
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To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing to convey my marked concern that a University level institution, the University of Ottawa, has suspended Professor Denis Rancourt for educating his students in an unconventional manner. In contemplating the rationale for this suspension, one is left with the rather profound question, "Is the convention we have chosen to educate our students the best, and singularly effective one?" Unless the answer to this question is an unequivocal "Yes", then Professor Rancourt's suspension should be viewed with suspicion and shame.
As a University graduate, who is contemplating graduate studies, I will share with you what, for me, constitutes an excellent quality learning environment. It is not a rigid formula, for if it is, then it has limited the student and professor alike. It is a dedication, by the institution and all of its administrators, professors, and funders, to total freedom of thought. In this space of freedom will you find the greatest discoveries, the most interesting questions, and ultimately, the most profound learning.
If your goal, as an institution of higher learning, is to rank students according to how well they are able to briefly memorize and regurgitate (and in some cases, how well they are able to memorize and understand the material chosen for them), then your mission will fall very short. Higher learning does not thrive in this environment.
A final question – have the students been asked how they feel about Professor Rancourt's suspension? Have they embraced his style of teaching and felt that their learning experience was enhanced because of it?
Please consider what is at stake as you make your decision on Professor Rancourt's fate at the University of Ottawa. I would not choose to attend a University that chose to close its doors to an eccentric teaching style (which for many students may be a much more effective style of learning). I would choose a University that embraced openness, freedom of expression, and critical thinking that challenges the status quo. I hope you choose the latter.
Sincerely,
Maureen Blessing, DVM
