COLLOQUY Responses
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COLLOQUY Responses
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 Although I agree that the responsibility for classroom behavior, respect and order should be shared equally between student and teacher, I think an important aspect of the equation has been overlooked: The students are making a contract with teachers when they enter the classroom. A contract that states, "I am here to learn from you and I will give you the respect you deserve as long as you merit it, and in turn respect my position as pupil." In such a contract both parties must hold up their respective ends of the agreement. But what I see and what I read in this and other related journals is a new trend that frightens me. It seems that professors are so intimidated by their students (i.e. disruptive behavior, possible bad student reviews) that they are spending more time worrying about whether or not Mr. or Ms. student is happy and content and less time worrying about whether or not Mr. or Ms. student is learning anything. I know that there has always been an element of disruptive behavior from students, they are young and testing their limits. But if a student in my class ever threatened me with physical harm, or left my class and brought back a newspaper to read, or would not be quiet when asked, I would take action to make sure that they knew the rules of mutual respect. And in the case of threatened violence, if the university took no action I would call the police and file a complaint and if it continued, have a warrant sworn out for their arrest. We can no longer have a sense of intimidation in the college classroom either from the student to the professor or vice versa.
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