COLLOQUY Responses
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COLLOQUY Responses
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 In the article, one of the possible reasons mentioned for increased incivility in the classroom is the increasing "consumerism on the college campus." The student attitude as quoted in the article of "I pay your salary ... I should be able tell you when I want to come to class and when my paper should be due." This a comment I have heard off and on for over twenty years of teaching, so it is not really a new attitude. As often reported in this publication and several other resources, student tuition covers only part of the operation of a college. A good portion of the money to pay for a student's education come from local, state and federal funds supported by the taxpayer. In addition, if the student is on some sort of financial aid, a greater portion of their education is funded by the taxpayer. So to defuse "I pay for your salary" attitude, I make it clear to the students at the beginning of the term that their education is a partnership between the student, taxpayers and their career industry. Since both the faculty and many of the older students are full fledged homeowners and taxpayers, all students have a responsibility to themselves and everyone else in the classroom to make best use of "our investment." Since I have started making this statement of shared responsibility in the courses I teach, I do not seem to have the problems of unruly students as in the past. This may be in part due to a larger number of older students in my courses who, to make sure they get their money's worth, keep the younger students on track in the classroom.
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