Dr Jekyll Mr. Hide. How could I have handled this better?
I had a very disturbing female student situation. She seemed quite eager to learn and a little demanding of attention but a rather capable young lady. Near the end of the term, she became anxious; because I had been working w/ her throughout and thought we had established an open dialogue, ignored the signs.
I was working w/ another student, she intervened as usual, told her I would be w/ her shortly but she insisted I work w/ her then. The situation escalated so I left the classroom, she followed me. When I reached my office and tried to close the door, she put her foot in it. After some discussion, she left.
I couldn’t reach security but found them after she left, this was an evening class. Spoke w/ my supervisor, had her removed from my class and asked that she not be put in any other class of mine.
In reference to your response which I greatly appreciate, she was a senior having one more quarter to complete. One of the next quarter classes was to have been w/ me; however, I refused to teach if she were assigned to my class. They school made other arrangements.
I’m sure her reaction was a mix of jealousy, end of class anxieties plus.
The school sought not to expel her soo close to graduation but rather, a meeting w/ my department chair and I to discuss proper classroom behavior arranged.
Was I happy w/ the solution? I was happy not to have her in my class again. It was uncomfortable to run into her during the following quarter however, that was rare.
Hi Teague,
This student was totally out of line. You had every right to remove her from your class. She owed you as apology as well. At my institution she would have been suspended with the right to appeal.
Patricia
Hi Anthony,
At times, it is necessary to remove a student from your class and even from the institution.
Patricia
Evening classes are always more challenging as support personnel, including security, is not always fully staffed.
Since you said you had been working with the student thoughout the course and she interrupted you as you were working with another student, could this be a manifestation of jealousy? She was not getting the attention she wanted? What kind of discusiion took place at your office?
No longer having the student in your class is a great solution, however short-term, because I assume she is still attending classes at your school, and you may still be running into her.
