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University Punishes TA for Religious Essay Grade
24 Dec
Summary
- Graduate student lost teaching duties for zeroing a religious essay.
- University cited arbitrary grading, defending student's right to think.
- Student claimed religious persecution, gaining national attention.
The University of Oklahoma recently stripped a graduate teaching assistant of her teaching duties. This action followed her decision to give a zero grade to a student's essay that cited biblical passages and personal religious beliefs to argue against the concept of more than two genders, calling it "demonic."
The university stated its determination that the graduate teaching assistant's grading was "arbitrary." In a public statement, the institution emphasized its commitment to fostering critical thinking, asserting, "We are committed to teaching students how to think, not what to think." The teaching assistant's legal representative denied the grading was arbitrary and indicated a potential appeal.
This incident gained significant national attention after a conservative student group publicized the essay and the teaching assistant's comments. The student involved also complained of religious persecution to the state governor. Similar conflicts have arisen at U.S. universities concerning discussions of gender and religion in academic settings.
