How to work with students who are disrespectful?
No matter how creative I have been or remind them to be open to others points of view. Still have students saying disrespectful statements.
Hi Lawrence,
I concur! It is better to start off strict and then ease up if there is a need than to start off easy and then try to become strict.
Patricia Scales
I find that using tuition costs to influence student behavior is a double-edged sword. It can work against you the first time there is dis-satisfaction in your methods of presenting course material.
I am fortunate in that the vocational school where I teach we already have demerit system in place where students begin at 100% per each course and infractions deduct from there.
I have found that it is better to come out of the gate very strict because it leaves room to let up if they behave. I also employ tactics that reward the class as a class or penalize the class as a class. This forces the rest of the class to "police" the "bad apples" themselves.
I also look a lot less like the bad guy.
Hi Jackie,
Smart tactic! What a great way to open your students eyes. It is always tough when you take over someone's class, and the students are out of control. It can be a challenge trying to gain discipline as well as structure.
Patricia Scales
I found myself taking over a position where the previous Program Director/Instructor ran a very loose classroom. Instead of an adult learning atmosphere I found a middle school atmosphere.
After a couple of unprofessional situations that had occurred with substitute instructors and campus staff, I started the class with a five-digit number on the screen. I asked the class if they knew what the number meant and after a few guesses, one student identified the number as the tuition cost to attend the institution.
I then asked the class why they would be willing to spend that amount of money to obtain a degree yet act in such an unprofessional manner that reflected on their chosen career path. I assigned them a written APA project in which they were to discuss professionalism in the academic world, the employment world, and in their personal world. It made a tremendous difference in their behavior afterward.
Hi James,
Great advice to give to students. I make my rule simple with disrespectful students, I will warn them the first time. After the first time, I will remove them from my class. As instructors we do not have to tolerate disrespect from students.
Patricia Scales
Randa,
Are the students being disrespectful to you or other students on a personal level or are they being disrespectful to new ideas or concepts? Some students get very defensive when their ideas or views of the world are challenged but they should not be allowed to do that in a rude,or disrespectful way.
The college learning experience is all about critical thinking and examining individual ideas/thoughts about course material. I tell my students the classroom is business environment and all discussions are business, never personal. If they can't conduct themselves professionally they then should either remain silent or leave the classroom.
Hi Glenda,
You are on point! Documentation is extremely important when meeting with students. Students can not try to wiggle their way out of things when you have appropriate documentation.
Patricia Scales
Hi Kim,
Great way to handle the disrespectful student, and you are being fair as well.
Patricia Scales
I will ask the student to meet with me at the next break so that I can reinterate that disrepect with not be tolerated in our program and if they have a problem with my opinion of i feel is disrepectful to someone then we can meet with the prgram director and try to come to an mutual understanding. I feel they need to be aware of other peoples feelings within thier surroundings and to be sensitive of what they are saying.
I like the idea of a conference with the policy in front of them & reminder that this is 1st step. I would also like to add that specific documentation over a period of time is helpful during conference. For example, on Feb 2nd, you told me .... On Feb 16th you said ... to another student...etc. this avoids the teacher exaggerating & saying "you always, never, consistently... A student will argue this. But when you have date & specific word/behavior, they can't get out of it.
Hi JanetMarie,
You are definitely on point! This is exactly the best way to handle a disrepectful student. This way you are giving the student more than a fair chance, and you are really putting the responsibility on the student, which it should be. If the student messes up, it is definitely the student's fault. You did not leave any stone unturned in your response.
Patricia Scales
Set up a conference with the offensive student and discuss the behavior. Have a copy of the student catalog/handbook and refer back to the appropriate pages that deal with the infraction. Insure that the student understands that the conference is the first step in disciplinary action should the behavior continue. Make sure you have something in writing in front of you that has specific examples of the infractions and the consequences (from the hand book) should the behavior continue. If possible, have your department head or a co-worker in the meeting with you to serve as a witness. It protects both you and the student.
I always remind students, although they pay for their education, I am in charge of the classroom and disrespect to myself or other students is unacceptable. I agree. If they are disrespectful show them the door. An employer would never tolerate such behavior and they need to understand that.
Hi Randa,
Put a stop to it! The next time a student gets disrepectful in open forum let them know in open forum to refrain from those type comments, otherwise you will remove them from the class, and remove he/she if it happens again.
Patricia Scales
