Disrespect
How do you advise disrespectful students?
I teach teenagers (13-16)during the day in public school and night courses every night at a local college. The teens who are disrespectful are mostly "showing out" to impress their classmates, and often treat their mothers the same way. Unfortunately, they don't care if they get sent home, because they can hang out or play their Nintendo etc all day while the adult(s) in the house are gone.
With adults, however, I have rarely run into a disrespectful student.I said rarely, not never!
On the very first night in every new course I have them read a list of classroom rules/expectations...and have them sign and date it and pass it back to me. If someone is aggressive or perhaps continually talking while I'm writing on the board or lecturing, I remind them of the zero they are aware they will be getting for that night's participation grade. It usually doesn't take but one or two of those to curtail that inappropriate behavior. They can see all of their grades on the computer dail, so they know I wasn'tlying!!)
Hi Steve,
I concur! When you ignore disrespect, it is certainly not going to get any better. This type of behavior needs to be dealt with swiftly and firmly.
Patricia Scales
I am retired military and i have found that if disrespect is not addressed promply and with corrective action it will continue. I do not ignore disrespect, rather than take the individual aside and state any action that may be taken to correct the behavior.
Hi Thomas,
Students will generally give the instructor respect, if the instructor respects the student.
Patricia Scales
Hi all; I find that students are often from backgrounds that did not value respect as owed but rather is earned before given.Just as often they feel the traing is not valid to them.If I demonstate the validity of both to them clearly and effectively as well as showing them I respect their view but require their respect of mine;they come around.
Hi Herbert,
Most of our students enter school with a lot of issues. Their life has been very dysfunctional. Sometimes they just need to know that someone genuinely cares about them and have their best interest at heart.
Patricia Scales
Only a few times thankfully, I’ve had students that would fall into the category as disrespectful. In each case I have met with the student one on one and asked why their attitude was such as it was. In the couple of cases I have dealt with, I found their disrespect was a product of some interaction they’ve had with other people and they act out to others as they have had done to them at one time.
In the few instances I’ve encountered, by talking with them and showing I’m respectful of their thoughts, concerns, and feelings, I’ve been able to turn them around.
People who disrespect others often don't have self respect in themselves. When I talk with a student about this I always show them respect and try to find something good about that person. Something they can respect themselves for. I will always let these students know that lack of respect for others in the classroom and on campus will not be tollerated. I will always get the Education Manager involved in these students.
Hi Linda,
I try working with them 2-3 times and after that I wash my hands to them because I will not subject myself to their disrespect. I let my director know about the situation and how I am DONE with the student. I do not let my own children disrepect, and I am certainly not going to let anyone else disrepect me.
Patricia Scales
