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johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

Last term I had a student in a class who was so unruly and disruptive that I had him removed from the class. I ASKED him several times to stop, then I TOLD him several times to stop. When I told him it was his last warning, he put his face about two inches from mine and snarled "What are you going to do about it?" I told him he would find out. He snarled "You going to hit me?" This student was practically challenging me to a fight. I went to the dean, told him I wanted him out of the class. The dean went and talked to the student and then the dean called me and said the student wanted to apologize. I told the dean that if my warnings weren't enough for him he was seriously out of line. I stood my ground and refused to change my mind. The student came to my apartment one morning shortly thereafter and pounded on my door and yelled that he needed to talk to me. I told him that he woke me up, I wasn't dressed and that we had nothing to talk about (on-campus apartment). He continued pounding on my door and yelling for another twenty minutes. I reported this to the dean and told him I didn't want this individual around me.

This term, the student is back. The dean asked me yesterday if I would reconsider and let him back in. I said no. I really do not believe that this student has any remorse for his actions, he's just sorry that he got the ax.

I have no doubt that the dean will ask me again to reconsider. I am going to refuse. I'm tired of dealing with this situation; I believe my decision was the right one.
Any thoughts?

oldboy · Joined: 03 Jan 2010 Posts: 38

I don't have too much teaching experience but I can see a potential route this could go down. If the dean keeps being pushed, he may be put in a situation where he has to put the boy back in your class despite your efforts to stop it. Then if this happens, against your consent, then the boy has in his mind won the battle. So if you see this likely to happen, you'll need to manipulate the situation back into your hand. For example say you'll allow him back into class under certain conditions, or he has to complete a task for you etc and if he fails, thats the last chance he had gone (that you kindly gave him) that way the balls still in your court.

Who knows? I watch to many films

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

mnguy29 · Joined: 23 Jan 2008 Posts: 155 Location: USA

I totally agree with you that you should stand your ground and NOT let him back in. If you do, you are just asking for more problems. Maybe even from other students. These Deans have to quit spoon feeding students just because they have paid for a class. They have to learn discipline.

oldboy · Joined: 03 Jan 2010 Posts: 38

If he does come back just be sure to have a seat ready for him right at the front. I remember seeing that one teacher forced some students that constantly misbehaved, to attend after class sessions. The reason that's such a good idea, is because if the student is misbehaving, that would suggest they show little interest in the subject. So, by forcing them to come after class or after school to do extra work, they'll get really pissed because they won't want to be there, so in future normal classes, they behave to avoid the extra classes.
I've never tried this myself, I think someone on this forum did it..

One of the potential downsides to this I can see, is if the good students start misbehaving to get extra classes for free..

It's really interesting though, isnt it? The psychological aspects behind student-teacher interactions

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

The big downside to me is that this person is a SECOND YEAR COLLEGE student. What sort of mind-set could possess an adult to ignore an instructor's requests for order in the classroom? I can't make them respect me, but I do expect courtesy. He practically DARED me to retaliate.

oldboy · Joined: 03 Jan 2010 Posts: 38

XiGua · Joined: 13 Dec 2009 Posts: 91 Location: Hunan

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

oldboy · Joined: 03 Jan 2010 Posts: 38

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

So in addition to everything I've already gone through because of this student, I have to use my free time to punish him. No, don't think so.

oldboy · Joined: 03 Jan 2010 Posts: 38

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

I understand. I did ask for opinions and thoughts. But the thing that keeps coming back to me is how much I've had to go through already because of this individual, including what's going on here on the forum. He's caused a lot of extra trouble for a lot of people already. I wish we all lived in Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood.

chengdu4me · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 7:43 pm Post subject:

This student of yours has a problem. How is he going to explain this to his parents? To quote an old timers saying..."his alligator mouth has overloaded his hummingbird ass".

He expected the FT to be a pushover so he could sail through class and get his worthless degree, make Mom and Dad happy and sail on through life.

You screwed that up for him! How dare you! He is now losing face big time and he has to find a way out of this!

I would agree with others that say you shouldn't let him back in. If one of my 8th graders acted this way, he would be out and he would stay out. I've had to kick one kid out of school this year. The Head Master asked me if I would give him another chance and I had already given him three chances, called his parents and suspended him from class for three days. Enough is enough. I didn't give in and the kid was expelled. His parents were paying 20K RMB a year for him to be there. I saved them a lot of money! End of story.

I'm sure your ex-student can find another class that is teaching the same subject that he can worm his way into with the Deans help. It may upset his social schedule to have to rearrange his classes, but that is little concern of yours.

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258