Donald Carter Davis asked about confrontations with volatile students.
Here's my two cents's worth.
Do not tolerate screaming. It is perfectly acceptable -- I would argue it's
your professional responsibility -- for you to insist on a baseline level of
civility in all interactions. Remember, we're not just teaching psychology
content, we're also teaching our students how to be professionals. If the
student goes over the line (however you define it), tell them calmly that
the conversation is now over and ask them to leave. If they refuse, calmly
pick up the phone and call the campus police.
Invite her to come back when, and ONLY when, she can behave civil fashion.
Until then, tell her she's not welcome in either your office or your class.
What your other students are telling you is that this student's behavior is
impairing their educational experience in your class. If she's doing half of
what they claim, they're right. It is your responsibility to draw the line
and enforce it. You can also use this situation as an occasion to teach the
other students about their responsbilities as members of an academic
community. If a student demands to "borrow" their homework, they have to
strap on a spine and say no.
Students (and some of our colleagues) continue with this kind of behavior
because it works. If you allow the student to control the agenda, however
subtly, by being a screaming so-and-so, then it's working. You can't fix
whatever's wrong with this student, but you can probably prevent her from
ruining the class for everyone else.
Stick to your guns, and good luck.
Michael Renner
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Michael J. Renner, Ph.D. voice: 610-436-2925
Professor of Psychology fax: 610-436-2846
Institutional Research Fellow [EMAIL PROTECTED]
West Chester University
West Chester, PA 19383-2145
Office hours for Fall 1999 (Peoples 32):
Tuesday & Thursday 9:15-11:00 am; Friday 1:00-2:30 pm
"The path of least resistance is always downhill."
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