Sociology Professor Questions Australia’s Status
Meet Sarah, a 27-year-old stay-at-home mom from Idaho, pursuing her sociology degree through Southern New Hampshire University, an online institution. For her final project, she chose to explore social media usage in the United States compared to Australia. That’s when things took a hilarious turn.
Last month, Sarah submitted an outline for her project, and when grades were released on February 1st, she was stunned to find that her professor, who holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy, had awarded her an F. The reason? “Australia is a continent,” the professor asserted, “not a country.”
Setting the Record Straight
In disbelief, Sarah emailed her professor, explaining that Australia is indeed recognized as both a continent and a country. She provided references to support her claim. “I believe I received a failing grade because the instructor stated, ‘Australia is a continent; not a country,’” she wrote. “However, the full name is the Commonwealth of Australia, making it both a country and a continent.”
In an attempt to clarify, she included a link to the Australian government’s official website, but her professor remained unyielding. “Independent research,” the professor insisted, as if Sarah’s well-researched points lacked merit.
A Battle of Wits
Sarah found it baffling that a highly educated professor could question such a basic fact. “If she’s uncertain about this, why not just look it up?” she pondered. In a follow-up email, she reiterated her point and expressed her hope that the professor would use available resources to verify the information.
This exchange felt reminiscent of the kind of whimsical debates parents often have with young children—“Yes, dogs are animals! Why are we even discussing this?”
Eventually, after much back and forth, the professor amended Sarah’s grade to a B+. However, she cautioned her to ensure that her project focused on “Australia the country, not Australia the continent.” But, they are the same thing!
A Lesson in Advocacy
Sarah was relieved to have her status as a student validated. More importantly, she felt empowered for standing up for herself. “As a mom going back to school in my late twenties, I often feel out of place,” she shared on social media. “But this experience has taught me I can advocate for myself, even against a professor with a Ph.D.!”
In a follow-up conversation with a parenting blog, Sarah revealed, “My grade has been changed to reflect what I earned, and I’m now in a class with a different instructor. The university has been supportive throughout this process, and I’m excited to graduate in May.”
And we’re sure that Australia, the country, is ready to welcome her with open arms.
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Summary
In an unexpected twist, Sarah, a stay-at-home mom and sociology student, received an F from her professor who mistakenly claimed Australia isn’t a country. After a series of emails, Sarah successfully advocated for herself, resulting in a grade change to B+. This amusing incident highlights the importance of standing up for one’s knowledge and the power of research.
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