Sexual exploitation and grade corruption in college institutions

Ethic and Moral

ABTRACT

Ethical and moral principles

Case

Case

Issues of Liberia Educational Division

Sexual Exploitation

Power

Experiences

Money

Spoiled Child Syndrome

Teacher's salary issues

Psychological stress

Peer Pressure

Personal Observation

ABTRACT

In this research paper we are going to discuss the unethical practices in colleges where instructors exchange grades for sex or money. It has been observed that not only girls are the victim of sexual harassment or money from their college instructors, but boys are also the victim of the same course. The focus of this study is to identify the ethical perceptions in the colleges. The case studies will explore the colleges moral and ethical principles that are contravene by college instructors. Disregard of gender, there have been many cases regarding instructors who exchange money or sex favors from their students. The researcher has found many unethical practices in college from many aspects.

Introduction

Today, college instructors exchange grades for sex and money. Grades are very important for some students more than their self-respect and values. So, students are being accused for paying school staff and college teachers for academic favors or grades. There are so many colleges where college instructors have been charged for accepting gifts in the exchange for higher grades. There are some colleges and universities where grades are already confirmed before final exam. This act is unethical and we have found two reasons why teachers and students perform this unethical practice. The first is that school staff members or teachers are become dishonest or unsupportive of teaching values and morals to students. The second is that students have pressure on their minds from their parents or family members to get higher or good grades. When students are in pressure and in trouble, then they commit dishonest acts. This pressure could be from two ways; either they want to get higher grades for their self-satisfaction while some students are pressurized from their parents' side.

Sexual harassment can be done by both peers and individuals in a position of power on the person being harassed. In educational establishments, although sexual harassment initiated by students is the most common, can also be done by the teachers or other employees of the establishment, and the victim may be a student, teacher or other employee of the establishment. Sexual harassment of students by teachers or other members of the establishment can have dire consequences and harmful to the victim. While sexual harassment is defined as behavior "unwanted," many experts agree that even consensual sexual interactions between students and teachers constitute harassment because the differentiating power between the two creates a dynamic in which "mutual consent" is impossible.

Literature Review

According to the many researchers and respondents it has been identified that poor countries are the majority who is the victim of such cases. College instructors in these countries are violating the academic ethical and moral values. They are spoiling their young nation just for the sake of sexual pleasure or money. The sexist humor or racism issues should be highlighted in every college to have an understanding of the law, which exists and encourage one to take action. There is nothing important more than code of ethics in the colleges/universities; instructors should be reflected as a role model for their students in the process of learning.

In this research paper we have found other interesting facts require to be taken into consideration such as plagiarism issues in assignments, which is taken as a serious issue in all the colleges. But regardless of this key issue instructors are constantly passing their students with good grades in exchange for money or sex.

Ethical and moral principles

Lawenson et al. (2005) demonstrated the educational institutes ethical values that were contravene by a faculty member and students throughout the exams duration. Bray (1999) highlighted the ill-suited recruitment and admission operations passing students' assignment/project/research work as acceptable, and other unethical conducts noticeable in college environments.

Keeping & Robie (2004) discussed the three important examples of unethical conducts in colleges and these are comprise of sexual activities involvement for grades with students, receiving gifts or money for grades, and accept plagiarized work from student. Korschgen & Morgan (2001) reflected ethical issues in colleges, which is concentrated as amongst the hot subject for instance sexual harassment, and matters emerging from student-teacher relationships.

1. Case

The sports coach named Francis Murphy aged 39, offered 11th grade student to have sexual favor by offered the student that he will be a trainer and athletics gear of college in return. The police have arrested him after interrogate the boy's facebook, and planned a meeting by posing as a same boy. Murphy also offered student that he would help him in his financial issues in exchange for favors (Dailymail, 2011).

2. Case

Another case of Arlie Haddox aged 46 who have been suspended for the sexual offers he made to the students for grade. The evidence provided by the student that his instructor is texting him for sexual favor in exchange for good grade (Koko, 2010).

Issues of Liberia Educational Division

In Liberia mostly girls are the victim of Gender-based violence in the education division. Sexual harassment and sexual exploitation and abuse is the key issue in communities, education sector, and even homes, which is executed by community members, teachers, class fellows, and parents as well, who compelled them into this exploitative relationship in order to support their families financially (Marsh & Ward, 2006).

In 2006, UNICEF and CCF-Liberia initiated a program in order to protect abuse, and prevent sexual activities among the country's youth. This research program found that female youth is violated constantly and have a very risky life. The sources demonstrated that sexual exploitation and abuse is the major issue due to which girls are getting fail as they refused to give sexual pleasure to their teachers.

In tackling sexual harassment, and gender-based violence in colleges by instructors, the entire approach including administration, instructors, students and the curriculum is required to make sure that the bulletin is accordant and strengthen by instructor and students alike. Instructors can be a major instrument to change. Therefore, instructor who is the role model of his student should understand the effective role by undertaking gender-based violence, which also helps instructors to realize their own experience and attitudes about violence and gender.

Provided that some instructors are executors of abuse, and other might be a victim of unjust, it is significant that approaches to signify gender violence in colleges acknowledge the intended instructors' experience as well as students, so that collaborative and constructive association can be supported. The instructor training curriculum needs to prepare instructors for such a role.

In order to eradicate the abuse on students there should be a systematic cultural change with respect to the gender value. Their needs can be a good transformation in behaviors and attitudes among the people. There must be a social development, and economic growth which enhance the quality of education (Mirsky, 2003).

Sexual Exploitation

Power

The structure of the college is primarily formalized, where students have to follow certain rules and regulations of the college. The colleges usually have policies and regulations to give direction to the instructor and control the students. Since the instructor has the power to pass or fail the student, this power is often misused and leads towards the sexual abuse or money in exchange. Another unethical perspective is where the researcher has found that some instructors force student for sexual or monetary favor, to pass them in their research project. If a student refuses to accept instructor's offer, then instructor restrict or reserved all the material of research which has been done by a student or may be published by his name. This practice is usually fall into the power category where students are compelled to perform unethical activity, which has been forced by the instructor (Mirsky, 2003).

Experiences

It has been found that girls are mostly the victim of sexual abuse at college from their instructor. South Africa contains higher rate of sexual abuse that is why many of the girls have left their colleges, mostly those who have been a victim of such violence.

Money

Student can get a good grade by exchanging money, but it leads him/her towards severe demolishes. The instructors who charge for giving good grades are spoiling the education system, and also the future of our new generation. Few previous studies demonstrated that instructors usually charge money from the male student for good grades, and ask for sexual favor from female students (Mirsky, 2003).

The commercialization of project management and grades is becoming very common, and lecturers have developed this pattern to gain a monetary favor. In this scenario, college students pay money in order to get good grade without putting their single efforts in it. Another aspect of this study is where we have found the domination of males which signifies that some instructors ask for sexual favor from male students. They not only ask for sexual favor, but also for other monetary favors such as exotic gifts, etc. (Mirsky, 2003).

Spoiled Child Syndrome

This issue is become a common in most of the families where children are ill-mannered or spoiled. The spoiled child is characterized as an immature and childish behavior, which parents are failed to tackle. Sometimes it is derived by the circumstances of home environment, which is neglected by parents. This type of children usually found who are from rich family background.

Teacher's salary issues

In some countries the salary is the key issue for the college instructors, which they think that they are not getting what they deserve. In this way, they start doing unethical activities in college by exchanging grades for sex or money from students' .Therefore, we need to exercise the system of education, and look at the areas where institutions need improvement. In order to follow a centralized system which primarily avoids uncertainty can be done by eliminating the flaws and make amendments in policies and structures (Hanushek, 2007).

Psychological stress

Boswell, (2012) highlighted the most of the time it's the pressure from parents to perform well in college is another story, which leads students into sexual activities. Student often think that this is the easiest way to get good grades. Sometimes parent's pressure leads a child in other spoiled activities just because of the mental pressure they perceive from parents. Let your child do whatever he/she wants to do by following this tactic by parents, student develop a sense of responsibility, and associate essentials of life with them (Ellen et al., 2008)

Peer Pressure

It is significant to keep your eye on your child, let your child make his friends by his/her choice, but take their activities into your acknowledgment. Peer pressure sometimes makes children do drugs, porn movies, smoking, etc. Peer pressure is the significant element of this study, which affects student at the greater extend. Colleges should conduct ethical conference where they give chance to the students to share their point-of-view over ethical and unethical issues on various subjects (Kremer & Levy, 2008).

Discussion

Sexually harassment from college instructors

Sexually harassment from college instructors is getting very common these days. There are so many colleges where teachers do this in order to give grades to students. Most of the time this unethical acts done by male teachers to female students. Male teachers harass to female students by giving them sexual offers. When female student refused to do this act then there will be possibility that they will get failed this course or they will get C. grade (Morgan & Korschgen, 2001).

Sexual harassment is common in all levels of education. Verbal and physical harassment begins in basic education, and 4 in 5 students experience some form of sexual harassment or bullying. Eight out of ten will experience this at some point in their school lives, and about 25% will experience this on an ongoing basis. Students are more likely to physically harass and bully or being bullied themselves. Girls are more likely to use and experience verbal and physical harassment and bullying. Six in 10 students experience some form of physical sexual harassment (Morgan & Korschgen, 2001).

Sexual harassment from teachers includes

Direct sexual offers by the teacher to student to get A grade in particular course or final exam

Written contact that containing sexual meaning, it can be letters, notes or invitations

Physical contact with student, for example touching, blocking movement

Uses of unwelcome display of objects, gestures, pictures or cartoons which can show sex

The email posting to the students of provocative or nude photos

Threat her that if she won't be ready for the sexual favor, then she would get failed or get C. grade.

Sexual harassment by the student

Sexual harassment by the student is also common these days in order to get good grades or simply pass the course. We cannot say that only teachers are doing unethical act, but students are also involved in it. There are so many cases where teachers are being harassed by the students and they have sexual relationship by mutual understandings. There are so many students who have been pressurized by their parents to get high grades. The instructor becomes vulnerable to the claim that a student has been promised a good grade in exchange for sexual favors. This may not be the case, but that might be what it looks like. Sexual harassment can end a professor's career, even if he or she has tenure. And students who date professors can come under suspicion of sexual harassment as well (Morgan & Korschgen, 2001).

Research statements

1. Instructor harass student regardless of the gender.

2. Girls are usually the victim of sexual abuse.

3. Poor students are the victim of sexual harassment.

4. My college instructors strictly follow ethics and moral principles.

5. My college conducts the awareness programs regarding ethical and moral values.

6. Exchanging money is the easiest way to get good grades.

7. I don't have any problem regarding sexual relation with my instructor.

Personal Observation

From the personal observation of the research the following results came out:

Some student thinks that exchanging money is the best way to get good grades.

Some of the students have no problem in making sexual relationship with their instructors.

Rich students think that they can buy anything with the help of money.

The passion of studies sometimes lead student towards the wrong path.

Pressure from parents has generally seen, which is observed from the student frustrated behavior.

Findings

1. From the overall analysis we have observed that the student-instructor relationships is the result of parents pressure for good grades, lack of awareness, and the very interesting fact derived while conducting this research study is spoiled child syndrome.

2. The persuading evidence of this prevailing subject is demonstrated by researchers on student indifference or rejection of college. One of the most important factors was interest of instructor in student from which we have found many evidence relevant to the study.

3. The students, who drop-out the college due to the financial or other issues, are probably the victim of this subject. But on the other hand it is significant for the instructor to provide a supportive and caring environment which leads student towards getting good grades and this would increase the probability of students staying in college rather than dropout.

Conclusion

In conclusion, college instructors and student are exchanging grades for sex and money. Grades are very important for some students more than their self-respect and values. So, students are being accused for paying school staff and college teachers for academic favors or grades.

Students have pressure on their mind from their parents or family members to get higher or good grades. When students are in pressure and in trouble, then they commit dishonest acts. This is an ethical issue of every school or college these days.

Ethical consideration is the key for the internal function of a college; it tells students their role in the society, discussion of moral values and its importance in every society. The reaction of children to sexual exploitation is usually shocking due to the less care of parents. We have also observed that most of the victim of this hateful reality is female students, and especially in the poor countries they are used as a financial support for their families. Issues discussed in this study have few previous studies, and this approach helps research in gaining the broad scope of the future investigation. This approach usually gives the deeper understanding of the subject matter, and it also finds out the cause of the problem and its effects. It also requires a theoretical illustration to have strong evidence and strengthen the reliability of the outcome. This type of unethical practice is a curse for educational institutes where instructors are spoiling the future generation.

The key solution is parent's care and the ethical policies of college, parents shouldn't pressurize their children for getting good grade, they don't need to impose anything which a child don't want to do. Give awareness to the student about the ethical policies of college; keep evaluating the student by implementing the policy of assessment by different teacher who can resolve students issue or counseling committee of the college.