Respect
I have been seeing more disrespect to the older students. The younger students tend to feel entitled to an A where as the older students believe they have to work hard to achieve. I have trouble communicating on this topic at times since I am from the old school way of things.....does anyone have this same problem? If so, how do you bridge the gap?
Jeff,
Thank you for these good comments about respect. I get very tired of dealing with entitlement in terms of having paid tuition and being entitled to an A as a result. You are so right a person is not owed anything and grades must be earned. This is how you build self discipline and create a future for yourself!
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Anytime entitlement rears its ugly head, I try to reinforce that the field we teach is incredibly competitive. Nobody owes you anything, and if you give off any feelings of entitlement, no one is going to want to work with you, especially those that had to pay their dues without questioning or attitude. Some of the students get the message and adjust accordingly, but unfortunately, some students always appear to choose learning things the hard way and appreciating your words more so once entering the real world after graduation.
Etibar,
I have done the same thing and yes it does work and it works well. Mixing students like this helps the different generations develop an appreciation for what each person can contribute to the solving of a problem or leading a discussion. Thanks for sharing this strategy with us.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Group study is very helpful in the class.I am a lab instructor.I divide class on the groups mixing older and younger students.They learning together helping each other.Younger learn how to listen.They know better computer and typing.Older students share with them their life experience.It works!
Andric,
Nothing wrong with self discipline and hard work. With the culture of entitlement in our society it is a challenge to work with students and convince them that it is up to them to shape their career and their future. We instructors can only provide instruction and support the rest is up to them.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
well im am old school to so i believe the harder you work the more you gain from it and it still works even when im studying some thing for the first time the more effort i put into i know what the out come is going to be. and the less apply myself if shows so i stil just try to keep it simple between the old and the new just to make it easier and why change something that you know works and works very well you might have change up a little bit for the younger generation but it should;nt have to be much to keep there attention.
Carl,
You are part of a living legacy for your field with the years of experience you have and are sharing with your students. Hopefully they see the value of your experience and how you are able to teach them content that has come via direct experience and well as career growth.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Life experience is a key to proper respect. As the instructor, I explain that I have been working in the industry since 1969, which gives me insights and understanding not available to those new to the industry. The people with greater experience are to be seen as assets to the class with special insight and are to be valued.
Imelda,
This is a key point for students to understand. They are in college to acquire knowledge and skills that will enable them to be successful in their career field. In the real world they are very few do overs so they have to learn that they need to do the work on time and correctly. They need to reset their minds from being entitled to a grade to earning a grade.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I think the younger students feel entitled because, as I have noticed, they tend to get passes. For example, when I was in high school, many of my peers missed a lot of days, and this threatened their graduating. However, the school allowed the students to make up those missing hours, and they were able to graduate. An older student once told me that was not the case when she was in school. If they missed too many days, they didn't graduate. Period. No second chances whatsoever.
Roger,
Good analysis on your part. By planning carefully and preparing to the best of your professional ability you are living up to your part of the learning formula. It is up to them to put forth the necessary effort in order to be successful. As you say you cannot do that for them they must do for themselves.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I deal with this same challenge regularly also. At first I wondered if part of it was a difference in learning styles that I missing. This was difficult for me because I thought I wasn't doing a good job for my students. After dealing with this and a grade appeal, I went the rubric route for EVERYTHING and explain and document everything in detail. As far as feeling like I was letting students down, I made sure to do my best to cover the material in a well rounded manner and eventually realized that the "entitled" students weren't doing as well because they expected me to teach them, but didn't want to do their part to learn and I can only do so much. It is still frustrating when they expect to get an A without putting in the work, but at least I know I am providing them with a solid education.
I allow the older students to possible share some of life experiences and the younger to do the same so maybe they will understand that we all have been there and we are working toward the same goal.
Jackie,
Like what you are doing a lot. This way there is no misunderstanding about expectations, polices, or requirements. From then on it is a matter of consistency in relation to following the information that has been shared with them.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
For each course I have taught, I present a one page titled "Classroom Requirements" along with the syllabus, any necessary addendum, rubrics for projects, etc. Then, we as a class go over the requirements ~ among them NO cellphones in class, respectful speech towards others at all times, etc. It's been easier to manage the classrooms with that set of requirements in place because the "Olders" understand that the "Youngers" are being held to a code of conduct as are they. It doesn't alleviate all problems, but, for the most part, it does seem to reduce much of the problem creating behaviors during classtime.
Toni,
It is sad we have to do this in our adult classes but in many cases it is needed. I have had many very competent students go through my program but their social skills were so poor they were not able to get hired. I work on the soft skills with all students because these skills get the doors to open and the career growth to occur.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Once I introduce myself to the students, i start verbalizing a few house rules, which i have also including in my orientation package. I go around the room and have each student read a different paragraph of what is acceptable and unacceptable behaviors. And all unacceptable will be taken care of in an imminent manner.
BUT, YOU ARE RIGHT WHEN YOU SAY,WE AS INSTRUCTORS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO EXPLAIN OR TEACH OTHERS HOW TO TREAT AND BEHAVE AROUND OUR ELDERS.
Sonya,
It seems to be a constant effort to help the younger students to see the value of respect, courtesy and effort. Sometimes it works and sometimes they are asked to leave the program because they are not a good fit.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I have the same problem in my class. The younger students are disrespectful to the faculty and the older students. The older students are frustrated with the younger ones.
