Angry students
Getting the students to write down any grievances is a very good way of 'diluting' the situation. It works in personal situations, so this can be applied at colleges too.
I agree with taking the students outside the class room to vent. Often they have some pent up anger, that may have nothing to do with your class and want someone to listen. After you listen, the you could try to come up with a resolution.
Hi Bee Koon:
I have not had that many angry student experiences, but I can appreciate that writing down the grievance or complaint would likely defuse the situation. Unfortunately, once I had a pair of students that had previously dated (I found out later) get into a vocal, nasty shouting match in class and had to grab a nearby administrator to help me physically get them out of class. It is different if the student is angry at me, or the class, or the school rather than with each other.
John
Hello Bee Koon,
The student calms down as he or she is writing. This is a good practice to let the student simmer. You can not rationale with an angry student.
Patricia
Hello Anthony,
Sometimes angry students need to be seen by someone of higher authority, therefore as mentioned know proper procedure/process.
Patricia
Hi Deborah,
You must be very cautious with angry students.
Patricia
Hi Ted,
It is important for us to let the angry student vent. This strategy usually calms the angry student.
Patricia
Taking an angry student outside the class room and just lisening to thier complaints without responding may help to defuse the situation (let them vent)
Anthony,
I wholeheartely agree that knowing the proper procedures is very important not only for the obvious legal reasons but it also reflect the importance of professionalism in the "real world"
Deborah Balentine
Also know the exact process/procedures to manage complaints, especially the formal ones, will help in the long run.
