Difficult Students

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College Professors Chatboard

Difficult Students

by Candace

Feb 23, 2011

I need some advice. I am an adjunct professor at a junior college, and I have been subbing for some of my colleagues lately here at the college. I am quite young at 27 and am often confused for a student. Anyway, I have had a terrible time dealing with male students making sexual advances and lude jokes. EVERY class I walk into comments on my age. I have been ignoring the age comments and even laughing with them about how young I look, but I simply cannot get over the sexual references and whispers by the male students. I am usually very direct and would not hesitate to stand up for myself, but for some reason feel completely handicapped and incapable of dealing with the situation effectively. Any thoughts? I have never had problems in my own classes because I have the time to establish a high level of professionalism; however, I do not have the time to develop that environment when I am simply subbing for a colleague.

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marjoryt I'm very sorry you are going through this, and I feel very badly that you don't have a mentor at your institution to help you through these issues. And, if you as the instructor are receiving this, you can rest assured that your female/gay/smaller, other students are receiving the same misery. It must stop, and you must clearly establish that YOU a...See MoreI'm very sorry you are going through this, and I feel very badly that you don't have a mentor at your institution to help you through these issues. And, if you as the instructor are receiving this, you can rest assured that your female/gay/smaller, other students are receiving the same misery. It must stop, and you must clearly establish that YOU are in charge of the room. Here's what I'd like you do immediately.

1. Find in the student handbook (it's probably in the college website), the section on harassment. It's going to be extremely explicit about appropriate behavior. ALL of your students are expected to know this information AND to abide by it, most especially towards instructors. You are about to ensure they know about it, because you will be running a copy for EVERY student to distribute in the next class meeting. 2. Call the campus police/security. Make arrangements to meet with them well before the next class meeting. About 1/2 hour will be sufficient. Tell them exactly what you have described here, and if at all possible, include names/id numbers. Tell them you will be attempting to handle this issue in the next session; mention you will be distributing the policy. Ask them to be nearby - not in the room, but at least in the building, just as a precaution. Put their number on your cell phone speed dial. 3. If this is occurring when you sub, you must tell the official instructor. It is, after all, his/her course. He/she may decide that you should not be handling the course, and may even blame you. Don't accept this blame - just move on - there will be other courses. I assume most instructors will be very upset to learn their students are misbehaving. 4. When class convenes, distribute the papers. Ask them to read it. Tell them you will be following campus policy strictly for this matter. Tell them this will be nonegociatable - infractions to you or to other students WILL be reported, and the student will IMMEDIATELY be told to leave the classroom. And, if the student refuses to leave, you will be contacting campus security. Don't mention grades whatsoever - stick with the "removed from class immediately." From there, move IMMEDIATELY into the course activity. Keep the session hopping.

Finally, you must, in the words of Ann Landers, stop feeling like a doormat. When you decided to let the first comment pass, it sent a signal that you would allow it. So....take control of your reputation and don't allow this to happen. Ask an older female instructor to look at your clothing, just to make sure you aren't sending an inadvertent signal. It's very common with young female instructors; I've spoken to some at my own college. Think: Banking professional, not nicely dressed.

BTW, you can turn on your cellphone recorder before and after class, to catch those remarks. Check with campus security to see if you can record in class - it might be against college policy.

I hope this helps.

Feb 24, 2011

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marjoryt On 2/24/11, marjoryt wrote: > I'm very sorry you are going through this, and I feel very > badly that you don't have a mentor at your institution to > help you through these issues. And, if you as the instructor > are receiving this, you can rest assured that your > female/gay/smaller, other students are receiving the same > miser...See MoreOn 2/24/11, marjoryt wrote: > I'm very sorry you are going through this, and I feel very > badly that you don't have a mentor at your institution to > help you through these issues. And, if you as the instructor > are receiving this, you can rest assured that your > female/gay/smaller, other students are receiving the same > misery. It must stop, and you must clearly establish that > YOU are in charge of the room. Here's what I'd like you do > immediately. > > 1. Find in the student handbook (it's probably in the > college website), the section on harassment. It's going to > be extremely explicit about appropriate behavior. ALL of > your students are expected to know this information AND to > abide by it, most especially towards instructors. You are > about to ensure they know about it, because you will be > running a copy for EVERY student to distribute in the next > class meeting. > 2. Call the campus police/security. Make arrangements to > meet with them well before the next class meeting. About 1/2 > hour will be sufficient. Tell them exactly what you have > described here, and if at all possible, include names/id > numbers. Tell them you will be attempting to handle this > issue in the next session; mention you will be distributing > the policy. Ask them to be nearby - not in the room, but at > least in the building, just as a precaution. Put their > number on your cell phone speed dial. > 3. If this is occurring when you sub, you must tell the > official instructor. It is, after all, his/her course. > He/she may decide that you should not be handling the course, > and may even blame you. Don't accept this blame - just move > on - there will be other courses. I assume most instructors > will be very upset to learn their students are misbehaving. > 4. When class convenes, distribute the papers. Ask them to > read it. Tell them you will be following campus policy > strictly for this matter. Tell them this will be > nonegociatable - infractions to you or to other students WILL > be reported, and the student will IMMEDIATELY be told to > leave the classroom. And, if the student refuses to leave, > you will be contacting campus security. Don't mention grades > whatsoever - stick with the "removed from class > immediately." From there, move IMMEDIATELY into the course > activity. Keep the session hopping. > > Finally, you must, in the words of Ann Landers, stop feeling > like a doormat. When you decided to let the first comment > pass, it sent a signal that you would allow it. So....take > control of your reputation and don't allow this to happen. > Ask an older female instructor to look at your clothing, just > to make sure you aren't sending an inadvertent signal. It's > very common with young female instructors; I've spoken to > some at my own college. Think: Banking professional, not > nicely dressed. > > BTW, you can turn on your cellphone recorder before and after > class, to catch those remarks. Check with campus security to > see if you can record in class - it might be against college > policy. > > I hope this helps.

Feb 24, 2011

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bernoulli On 2/24/11, marjoryt wrote: > I'm very sorry you are going through this, and I feel very > badly that you don't have a mentor at your institution to > help you through these issues. And, if you as the instructor > are receiving this, you can rest assured that your > female/gay/smaller, other students are receiving the same > miser...See MoreOn 2/24/11, marjoryt wrote: > I'm very sorry you are going through this, and I feel very > badly that you don't have a mentor at your institution to > help you through these issues. And, if you as the instructor > are receiving this, you can rest assured that your > female/gay/smaller, other students are receiving the same > misery. It must stop, and you must clearly establish that > YOU are in charge of the room. Here's what I'd like you do > immediately. > > 1. Find in the student handbook (it's probably in the > college website), the section on harassment. It's going to > be extremely explicit about appropriate behavior. ALL of > your students are expected to know this information AND to > abide by it, most especially towards instructors. You are > about to ensure they know about it, because you will be > running a copy for EVERY student to distribute in the next > class meeting. > 2. Call the campus police/security. Make arrangements to > meet with them well before the next class meeting. About 1/2 > hour will be sufficient. Tell them exactly what you have > described here, and if at all possible, include names/id > numbers. Tell them you will be attempting to handle this > issue in the next session; mention you will be distributing > the policy. Ask them to be nearby - not in the room, but at > least in the building, just as a precaution. Put their > number on your cell phone speed dial. > 3. If this is occurring when you sub, you must tell the > official instructor. It is, after all, his/her course. > He/she may decide that you should not be handling the course, > and may even blame you. Don't accept this blame - just move > on - there will be other courses. I assume most instructors > will be very upset to learn their students are misbehaving. > 4. When class convenes, distribute the papers. Ask them to > read it. Tell them you will be following campus policy > strictly for this matter. Tell them this will be > nonegociatable - infractions to you or to other students WILL > be reported, and the student will IMMEDIATELY be told to > leave the classroom. And, if the student refuses to leave, > you will be contacting campus security. Don't mention grades > whatsoever - stick with the "removed from class > immediately." From there, move IMMEDIATELY into the course > activity. Keep the session hopping. > > Finally, you must, in the words of Ann Landers, stop feeling > like a doormat. When you decided to let the first comment > pass, it sent a signal that you would allow it. So....take > control of your reputation and don't allow this to happen. > Ask an older female instructor to look at your clothing, just > to make sure you aren't sending an inadvertent signal. It's > very common with young female instructors; I've spoken to > some at my own college. Think: Banking professional, not > nicely dressed. > > BTW, you can turn on your cellphone recorder before and after > class, to catch those remarks. Check with campus security to > see if you can record in class - it might be against college > policy. > > I hope this helps.

Marjorie has some good advice. You many not feel compelled to do everything, but you definitely should not let the remarks go on any longer. I agree it is too bad this is happening to you. My guess is that your department head and others on the faculty would support you in nipping this in the bud.

Sadly, some men disrespect female authority. Some men disrespect authority if it is younger than them. That is not your fault or your responsibility. If you have to show some authority, then so be it. Like Marjorie said, others will be happy if you stop the disrespectful behavior.

Hopefully you can find a mentor to help also.

Feb 27, 2011

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sspil The only thing I can recommend is that you have to address it early and be firm. If you hear it happening, stop it right away. Sometimes a stern look is enough, but sometimes you need to say something. Let the offender(s) know you consider it offensive and you won't tolerate it. You can let them know that if it continues, they will be invited to le...See MoreThe only thing I can recommend is that you have to address it early and be firm. If you hear it happening, stop it right away. Sometimes a stern look is enough, but sometimes you need to say something. Let the offender(s) know you consider it offensive and you won't tolerate it. You can let them know that if it continues, they will be invited to leave. You have to be prepared to follow through though. You would be surprised how word/reputation travels among students. You may have a rep. as the cool, young, hot professor. Because these students talk to each other this way (which is not right and another subject all together) they think they can treat you like a peer and talk to you this way. Once word travels that you won't allow it, I think you will see a reduction, even in classes where you sub.

I had a problem with disrespectful behavior in one of my classes last semester. As a new teacher, I was completely unprepared for it because I thought students would be more mature in a college environment. Unfortunately that is not the case, especially at community college. I'm afraid I didn't handle it well. I ignored it in the beginning, I was never able to fully regain student respect in that class and students kept trying to push boundaries all semester. My reputation among the students was that I was a pushover. If I would have addressed it immediately, things would have been different. I learned a valuable lesson.

On 2/23/11, Candace wrote: > I need some advice. I am an adjunct professor at a junior > college, and I have been subbing for some of my colleagues > lately here at the college. I am quite young at 27 and am > often confused for a student. Anyway, I have had a > terrible time dealing with male students making sexual > advances and lude jokes. EVERY class I walk into comments > on my age. I have been ignoring the age comments and even > laughing with them about how young I look, but I simply > cannot get over the sexual references and whispers by the > male students. I am usually very direct and would not > hesitate to stand up for myself, but for some reason feel > completely handicapped and incapable of dealing with the > situation effectively. Any thoughts? I have never had > problems in my own classes because I have the time to > establish a high level of professionalism; however, I do > not have the time to develop that environment when I am > simply subbing for a colleague.

Mar 24, 2011

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rw Hmm. I've never encountered that and I was teaching college at 27/28. Would it help to wear really dowdy clothes? But I do think you should certainly give them a stern look and say something like "not appropriate!" if they're making sexual references.

On 2/23/11, Candace wrote: > I need some advice. I am an adjunct professor at a junio...See More

Mar 26, 2011

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