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[whatsmyname]

I have occasionally encountered and have this term, a student who feels as if they are able to tell the instructor what to do. This student is trying to tell me how to run the class, how to write exams, how much work to assign.

I am trying to remain diplomatic and professional, but this is really trying my patience. This student has openly taunted me in class, with half audible sarcastic comments. This student is starting to behave like this consistently, and I want to nip this in the bud.

What are your suggestions on how to manage this particular student?

[yellowtractor]

You haven't really offered enough information, I think, for us (or me, at least) to say anything specifically helpful.  Is the problem one of tone, or content, or abrasiver personality, or all of the above?

The last time I had a case of "all of the above," I demanded that the student come see me in office hours, where I lectured him on professional behavior in the classroom, on both my part and his.  He was argumentative.  I was insistent.  He was also ambitious, though, and since I had keyed enough of my grading rubric to "class participation" (on which count I told him I would dock his semester  grade if he continued), he did eventually concede.

I did not enjoy his sulky countenance for the rest of the term, but it was, for the most part, a quiet countenance.

The point is not that you feel "taunted," or that the student has a "sense of entitlement."  The point is that the student's behavior is disruptive in the classroom and has reached an intolerable level.

[mended_drum]

Pull the student aside and explain, very calmly, that you expect to be treated with respect by students, and that, because class time is valuable, all complaints about class policy or specific assignments must be communicated in writing, in a formal letter.  If the student acts up in class again, give one, public, warning as an immediate response (waiting, even until the end of the class period, may not work).  After that, take whatever steps your institution allows to remove the student from class, either for one period or permanently, depending on the severity and frequency of the behavior.  Frankly, it shouldn't get that far.

[whatsmyname]

I would say, "all of the above."

Actually, there is a second student who sits right next to the one who is the biggest problem. And this second student is also engaging in the taunting, disrespectful behavior, and has done this more than once. So, it's actually those two students who sit right next to each other.

You haven't really offered enough information, I think, for us (or me, at least) to say anything specifically helpful.  Is the problem one of tone, or content, or abrasiver personality, or all of the above?

The last time I had a case of "all of the above," I demanded that the student come see me in office hours, where I lectured him on professional behavior in the classroom, on both my part and his.  He was argumentative.  I was insistent.  He was also ambitious, though, and since I had keyed enough of my grading rubric to "class participation" (on which count I told him I would dock his semester  grade if he continued), he did eventually concede.

I did not enjoy his sulky countenance for the rest of the term, but it was, for the most part, a quiet countenance.

The point is not that you feel "taunted," or that the student has a "sense of entitlement."  The point is that the student's behavior is disruptive in the classroom and has reached an intolerable level.

[llanfair]

The point you want to be sure to stress is that it's interfering with other students' learning.  That's not on, and most universities have a policy to that effect.  If this student doesn't know that, you should be sure to tell him about it, and about the consequences of violating it.

[mountainguy]

All of the suggestions that have been made so far are solid ones, but I would not specify consequences with the student unless you are absolutely willing to follow through with them the next time the student acts up. If you don't, the student will conclude that these are empty threats and the negative behavior will continue.

If a student acts up like this during class time, I say in a firm but not shouting tone "this behavior is unacceptable. Knock it off." If the behavior continues, I will ask the student to leave class for the day. This very rarely happens. Be prepared that the student may resist leaving initially. Make direct eye contact and refuse to continue teaching until he/she packs up their stuff and leaves. You may also want to check with your department chair about policies for dealing with this type of student.

[john_proctor]

I don't want to sound ominous, but your latter post shows the problem may be spreading (you mention, now, two miscreants).

First problem: conversation after class; second problem: call down publically in class and, in class, insist on a later conversation.

In the meantime: discover what support you have for removal of a disruptive student.  Document all behaviors and your responses (this need not be extensive.  It's no dissertation or deposition.  "Monday, September 22: student was persistently talking.  I requested silence.  Student became beligerent.  I issued a verbal warning.") 

Third problem: toss the idiot out.

I've honestly never had it go past two.

You need to do something, though.  The challenges are happening in public.  Other students watch.  They'll lose confidence in you, in time.  More challenges can result.

[larryc]

Pull him aside tomorrow. "Billy, you need to shape up or drop this class." He will launch into some B.S. and you will cut him off. "If you feel that way I will be in my office tomorrow to sign your drop slip. Have a nice day."

[whatsmyname]

What if I were to call out the student's behavior in class, along the lines of "you know, SOME students think that it's appropriate to tell their instructors how to teach, ridiculous, isn't it?" Or, will that just create further tensions?

[yellowtractor]

What if I were to call out the student's behavior in class, along the lines of "you know, SOME students think that it's appropriate to tell their instructors how to teach, ridiculous, isn't it?" Or, will that just create further tensions?

A) Yes, it can result in further tension.  You don't want to create an us-vs.-them phenomenon in the classroom.  You want to isolate the troublemaker, not hand him (or her) allies.

B) Calling him (or her) out in class reduces your options for maneuvering and forces you to think on your feet.  Be very, very sure of yourself before you do this, IF you do this.  If you make some ridiculous promise or threat, the entire class will hold you to it (and rightfully so).

As always, LarryC's advice is excellent.

The original semester of my Problem Student, I did not have to resort to calling him out (or down) in class.  He did, however, enroll in a subsequent class with me, prior to which I called him into my office and explained, simply, that his behavior must be different from the get-go this time.

The first time he acted out in class #2, I interrupted him, reminded him of our meeting prior to the commencement of term, and told him that if he insisted on disrupting the class he would have to leave immediately.  Before the stunned silence could sink in--or he could protest--I continued with what we had been doing.

This worked, but I had set the stage for it very, very carefully.

Do not call the student out in front of his or her peers.  Deal with it privately.  If the situation subsequently becomes unmanageable in the classroom, shut him down or toss her out.  The classroom is not the place to negotiate (in)appropriate professional behavior.

[cc_alan]

Do not call the student out in front of his or her peers.  Deal with it privately.  If the situation subsequently becomes unmanageable in the classroom, shut him down or toss her out.  The classroom is not the place to negotiate (in)appropriate professional behavior.

Good advice.

I called a student out the previous term when she started arguing about something and it resulted in her initially gaining some allies and they tried to gang up on me. What saved me was that it was over something very minor that they tried to escalate and even though I helped escalate the situation by the way I handled it, I was able to shut it down immediately in a verbally abrupt way.

It affected some people's attitude towards me for about a week and I had to rebuild some trust but everything worked out. The student I called out did have a good attitude in class and participated well (I made sure to try in draw her into discussions) but I wouldn't be surprised if she thought I was an @$$. If so, I earned it.

So, be careful when confronting someone in class.

Alan

[whatsmyname]

This may be misreading the situation but I get a strong sense of "evil" from these two students. As in, they seem to have a complete lack of concern over the classroom environment and the institution. I don't want to irritate them, if you know what I mean.

[figee]

This may be misreading the situation but I get a strong sense of "evil" from these two students. As in, they seem to have a complete lack of concern over the classroom environment and the institution. I don't want to irritate them, if you know what I mean.

I'm worried about this response, because it indicates to me that you're taking this personally.  Try not to.

Look, I've said it before, but it does bear (bare?) repeating, that everyone who is in academia professionally are, in fact, professional nerds.  That is, we love teaching and learning and so get upset when other people don't take it (or us) seriously.  We need to remember that our students aren't necessarily like us - most of them don't care about learning in the same way we do.  So, although we find early medieval basketweaving and it's impact on the development of the Magna Carta fascinating, for them, it's just another required and pointless class, where they're learning about an irrelevant topic.

This is not to say that you don't need to manage the disruptions, because obviously you do, and you've been given plenty og advice about this.  But it does mean that you might benefit from seeing this as less about you per se, and more about them.  I think that characterising students as evil is a little bit OTT.  Sometimes they're just as cute as little buttons, whether or not they care about the subject.

[larryc]

This may be misreading the situation but I get a strong sense of "evil" from these two students. As in, they seem to have a complete lack of concern over the classroom environment and the institution. I don't want to irritate them, if you know what I mean.

They have you buffaloed. You need to grow a pair and retake control of your classroom.

[figee]

This may be misreading the situation but I get a strong sense of "evil" from these two students. As in, they seem to have a complete lack of concern over the classroom environment and the institution. I don't want to irritate them, if you know what I mean.

They have you buffaloed. You need to grow a pair and retake control of your classroom.

And if that's the case, I'd strongly suggest the Crocodile Dundee 'finger waggling' method of forcing submission from a buffalo.