Was I an asshole?

[galain]

Obligatory old bastard "In MY day we never would have behaved like this" to get it out of the way at the start.

I teach at a uni. Yesterday I spent the day supervising exams.

Yesterday after getting a group of 50 students seated I start going through the basic rules in German and in English.

- ALL mobile phones turned off and put away in bags, or on my desk at the front to be picked up at the end of the exam.
- No extra shit on the tables. Have what you need to write with, have an extra, have an eraser if you're working in pencil, have your ID out, everything else - get rid of it.
- No looking at anyone else's paper. No talking to anyone other than me. You want to borrow something from your friend? You tell me and I'll ask them.
- Have your student ID visible (and current). Make sure it's actually you in the photo (yes - I've had people send friends in to do exams for them).

And so on - just getting set up so we can start.

I handed the papers out, told the students to fill out the front page with their details but under no circumstances to open them or start writing until I gave them the go ahead.

No sooner had I finished doing this, than I turn around and see this girl taking photos of her paper with her phone.

I went to her, took her paper off her, told her to pack up and leave the room.

She freaks out on me, telling me she's just taking photos to post to her Instagram account.

(and I'm like - are you fucking retarded or what?).

Claims she was only taking a photo of the cover page.

Bad luck - I've been through the rules, I told you to lose the phone, and I catch you photographing an examination after this has been done. I hadn't officially given them the go ahead to start at this stage.

So shit has hit the fan big time. I've had her parents contact the university chancellor, who has been slamming my boss, who has been slamming me. The uni has been threatened with a law suit. I'm looking at losing my job (which I really enjoy).

The upshot is, the examiners have always been told to use their own judgement. There is nothing official written anywhere that steps out a formal protocol for setting up an examination (which I never actually knew until yesterday). As far as I'm concerned, I did what was said and used my judgement. From what I've been hearing, the uni (or the parents) is suggesting I overreacted badly.

Things were getting a bit heated with my boss yesterday because I expected a bit more support than what he was showing me, but I guess he's getting squeezed from the top and examination time is always a stress for him.

Am I so out of touch with the younger generation that I should have let this slide? I don't think so (obviously), but like I said, I may be about to lose my job over this.

What would you guys have done?

[IRON CROSS]

What would you guys have done?

Fuck her , she must be virgin 

[gib]

You did the right thing. And she will have learned a lesson.

[affeman]

You did the right thing. And she will have learned a lesson.

Probably not - that's the sad part...

[Pray_4_War]

This is how things were done back in the day and that's the best way to do things in my opinion.

If you can't listen and follow the rules, get the fuck out.

[Powerlift66]

Instagram account, oh brother 

If it were my daughter, I would have told her, its her fault, nd she'll have to deal w/ it. Luckily I brought my 2 girls up correctly and they don't, and never did shit like this.
Modern society, led around by their moron remotes (phones) think its OK to behave this way.

[rocket]

This is a real thought provoker.  I've certainly experienced my fair share of rule crazy arrogant twats running the show at university - but I'm struggling to see how you could be one of them.

My feeling is that you should hard line it and say - look, someone who pulls out a phone to take photos of an exam can just as easily receive messages back from people with answers to said pages and attempt to cheat so some policy needs to be in effect.

I think in this situation, forget that they hung you out to try, just go back to telling them "Make some policy and I'll follow it".  Don't lose your job over the dickheads above you.    Eat their shit and live another day.  Make it better for people the next time this bullshit happens by asking them to come up with policy.

Obviously, upon retrospect, you could have opted to take her phone from her - but there's always the chance that the arrogant bitch would be still complaining.  

I'm surprised the university sided with the kid, to be honest.  I really don't think many universities would.  

I would suggest you post this here, but be sure to word it so that if someone who is part of it sees it, you're not considered to be divulging information / betraying the university.
https://www.reddit.com/r/AmItheAsshole/

Edit:  Also specifically cite this situation in your preamble, moving forward.  State exactly what you will do.

[affeman]

Maybe she thought Yolo like this young gentleman

[galain]

This is a real thought provoker.  I've certainly experienced my fair share of rule crazy arrogant twats running the show at university - but I'm struggling to see how you could be one of them.

My feeling is that you should hard line it and say - look, someone who pulls out a phone to take photos of an exam can just as easily receive messages back from people with answers to said pages and attempt to cheat so some policy needs to be in effect.

I think in this situation, forget that they hung you out to try, just go back to telling them "Make some policy and I'll follow it".  Don't lose your job over the dickheads above you.    Eat their shit and live another day.  Make it better for people the next time this bullshit happens by asking them to come up with policy.

Obviously, upon retrospect, you could have opted to take her phone from her - but there's always the chance that the arrogant bitch would be still complaining.  

I'm surprised the university sided with the kid, to be honest.  I really don't think many universities would.  

I would suggest you post this here, but be sure to word it so that if someone who is part of it sees it, you're not considered to be divulging information / betraying the university.
https://www.reddit.com/r/AmItheAsshole/

Edit:  Also specifically cite this situation in your preamble, moving forward.  State exactly what you will do.

Thought about posting to reddit but I'm not much of a redditor. I'm thinking the same as what you're suggesting. My line is I gave clear direction to turn all phones off and put them away and this student could have been sending images of the exam to other students who are yet to do it.

And perhaps the university should have some explicit rules in place to avoid situations like this.

She is complaining that she only took a photo of the cover page to post to social media. She is obviously an idiot.
Apparently the parents are asking why I just didn't take her phone off her and pointing to my lack of control over the situation for not simply doing this instead of throwing her out and ruining her entire future.

All I'm left with is that I was told to use my best judgement, I explained clearly what I expected and when that person transgressed I used my best judgement. Either the uni put me in the room to be the authority or they didn't.

Monday's going to be interesting.

[Humble Narcissist]

Working with these young twats must be hell.

[SF1900]

I’ll get you a job at Auto Zone.

[galain]

I’ll get you a job at Auto Zone.

Thanks mate!

[rocket]

This story could just as easily be multiple students complaining about a person operating their phone taking photos of the exam and you getting in trouble for not applying the rules.

And I'm sure that in that situation, popular opinion would not side with you.. 

[Kwon]

Obligatory old bastard "In MY day we never would have behaved like this" to get it out of the way at the start.

I teach at a uni. Yesterday I spent the day supervising exams.

Yesterday after getting a group of 50 students seated I start going through the basic rules in German and in English.

- ALL mobile phones turned off and put away in bags, or on my desk at the front to be picked up at the end of the exam.
- No extra shit on the tables. Have what you need to write with, have an extra, have an eraser if you're working in pencil, have your ID out, everything else - get rid of it.
- No looking at anyone else's paper. No talking to anyone other than me. You want to borrow something from your friend? You tell me and I'll ask them.
- Have your student ID visible (and current). Make sure it's actually you in the photo (yes - I've had people send friends in to do exams for them).

And so on - just getting set up so we can start.

I handed the papers out, told the students to fill out the front page with their details but under no circumstances to open them or start writing until I gave them the go ahead.

No sooner had I finished doing this, than I turn around and see this girl taking photos of her paper with her phone.

I went to her, took her paper off her, told her to pack up and leave the room.

She freaks out on me, telling me she's just taking photos to post to her Instagram account.

(and I'm like - are you fucking retarded or what?).

Claims she was only taking a photo of the cover page.

Bad luck - I've been through the rules, I told you to lose the phone, and I catch you photographing an examination after this has been done. I hadn't officially given them the go ahead to start at this stage.

So shit has hit the fan big time. I've had her parents contact the university chancellor, who has been slamming my boss, who has been slamming me. The uni has been threatened with a law suit. I'm looking at losing my job (which I really enjoy).

The upshot is, the examiners have always been told to use their own judgement. There is nothing official written anywhere that steps out a formal protocol for setting up an examination (which I never actually knew until yesterday). As far as I'm concerned, I did what was said and used my judgement. From what I've been hearing, the uni (or the parents) is suggesting I overreacted badly.

Things were getting a bit heated with my boss yesterday because I expected a bit more support than what he was showing me, but I guess he's getting squeezed from the top and examination time is always a stress for him.

Am I so out of touch with the younger generation that I should have let this slide? I don't think so (obviously), but like I said, I may be about to lose my job over this.

What would you guys have done?

You were 100 % right!



Do not Fold!



Don't let the Snowflakes get what they want!

[illuminati]

Should’ve
Shot Her.

[Tapeworm]

Suggest she re-sit. No fucking phone.

You got to apply the rules. She doesn't flunk over a brainfart moment. That's the middle ground.

[Marty Champions]

U dont get it gaylain university is about money not integrity. How hot is slut any pics?
U just learned ur uni is about money first!

Seek out another university inquire about there policy if u must

Otherwise shut ur mouth dont bite the hand that fills ur wallet and give u teen sluts to look at

[kreator]

You‘re a getbigger galain, you‘re always right no matter what u do! And fuck the crying bitch.

[Virgil]

You did the right thing, but let's see if the school backs you. Which I'm guessing they'll cave.

[Svengoolie]

The lack of even the slightest amount of discipline and self-control in that younger generation makes me sick (and it's not like I'm super old at almost 40).  I hope you can stick to your guns on this and maybe even throw in some berating. Instagram. Fucking worthless 18 year fetus she is.

[funk51]

Obligatory old bastard "In MY day we never would have behaved like this" to get it out of the way at the start.

I teach at a uni. Yesterday I spent the day supervising exams.

Yesterday after getting a group of 50 students seated I start going through the basic rules in German and in English.

- ALL mobile phones turned off and put away in bags, or on my desk at the front to be picked up at the end of the exam.
- No extra shit on the tables. Have what you need to write with, have an extra, have an eraser if you're working in pencil, have your ID out, everything else - get rid of it.
- No looking at anyone else's paper. No talking to anyone other than me. You want to borrow something from your friend? You tell me and I'll ask them.
- Have your student ID visible (and current). Make sure it's actually you in the photo (yes - I've had people send friends in to do exams for them).

And so on - just getting set up so we can start.

I handed the papers out, told the students to fill out the front page with their details but under no circumstances to open them or start writing until I gave them the go ahead.

No sooner had I finished doing this, than I turn around and see this girl taking photos of her paper with her phone.

I went to her, took her paper off her, told her to pack up and leave the room.

She freaks out on me, telling me she's just taking photos to post to her Instagram account.

(and I'm like - are you fucking retarded or what?).

Claims she was only taking a photo of the cover page.

Bad luck - I've been through the rules, I told you to lose the phone, and I catch you photographing an examination after this has been done. I hadn't officially given them the go ahead to start at this stage.

So shit has hit the fan big time. I've had her parents contact the university chancellor, who has been slamming my boss, who has been slamming me. The uni has been threatened with a law suit. I'm looking at losing my job (which I really enjoy).

The upshot is, the examiners have always been told to use their own judgement. There is nothing official written anywhere that steps out a formal protocol for setting up an examination (which I never actually knew until yesterday). As far as I'm concerned, I did what was said and used my judgement. From what I've been hearing, the uni (or the parents) is suggesting I overreacted badly.

Things were getting a bit heated with my boss yesterday because I expected a bit more support than what he was showing me, but I guess he's getting squeezed from the top and examination time is always a stress for him.

Am I so out of touch with the younger generation that I should have let this slide? I don't think so (obviously), but like I said, I may be about to lose my job over this.

What would you guys have done?

                                                                                          just ask yourself one question.                                                                   by the way i agree with you and how you reacted. that being said you will probably be reprimanded for your adherence to the rules.

[Hulkotron]

Social media oh brother

[Irongrip400]

It’s insane that the university is not backing you up. Wtf, she could’ve been cheating. Who takes a photo of an exam?

[harmankardon1]

Thought about posting to reddit but I'm not much of a redditor. I'm thinking the same as what you're suggesting. My line is I gave clear direction to turn all phones off and put them away and this student could have been sending images of the exam to other students who are yet to do it.

And perhaps the university should have some explicit rules in place to avoid situations like this.

She is complaining that she only took a photo of the cover page to post to social media. She is obviously an idiot.
Apparently the parents are asking why I just didn't take her phone off her and pointing to my lack of control over the situation for not simply doing this instead of throwing her out and ruining her entire future.

All I'm left with is that I was told to use my best judgement, I explained clearly what I expected and when that person transgressed I used my best judgement. Either the uni put me in the room to be the authority or they didn't.

Monday's going to be interesting.

You did the right thing.

The fucking Uni should be standing firm on this with you.

You cannot have your phone out much less take pictures of exam papers! exams are a very formal, strict rules apply environment.

I was sitting over from a young first year looking guy one exam, so the exam ends and pens down was called.... So this kid has written the whole paper and hasn't written his name, student number or anything on the finished paper, starts trying to do it after pens down. The supervisor said no, you can't do it now..... And she collected his nameless paper, he would've failed the whole subject for that move.

I just thought to myself, you idiot you were told that's the first thing to do, I bet he never made that mistake again.

Anyway I hope it works out for you, it doesn't sound like you have done anything remotely wrong or against university policy so I'm sure it must simmer down.

[That_Dude]

100% did the right thing. In showing this imbecile that there are consequences for not following the stated rules you have provided her a lesson that she has obviously not yet learned, most likely providing the most important lesson this individual has learned to date.