Professor to Stutterer: Your speaking is disruptive

Randolph, New Jersey – As his history class at the County College of Morris discussed exploration of the New World, Philip Garber Jr. raised his hand, hoping to ask why China’s 15th-century explorers, who traveled as far as Africa, had not also reached North America. He kept his hand aloft for much of the 75-minute session, but the professor did not call on him. She had already told him not to speak in class. Professor Snyder suggested, “I believe it would be better for everyone if you kept a sheet of paper on your desk and wrote down the answers.” Later, he said, she told him, “Your speaking is disruptive.”  ..more