Trust Me. Your Students Want You To Be In Charge

On those days when you are wondering if you have the time and energy to address student issues such as tardiness, or whining, or late papers, remember that the majority of the students are looking to you to manage your classroom.  I received the following email from a student in an engineering program at a large state university that I think illustrates the importance of being in charge.

Dear Dr. Kirk:

I returned to college at the age of 46 to complete a bachelor’s degree I had begun at age 18.  I was absolutely appalled at the behavior of my younger classmates.  The thing that shocked me the most was the amount of whining the students were doing – and the willingness of many instructors to give in to their ridiculous demands.  My worst experience: an economics instructor who, on the day of an exam, let the class convince him to make a 50-question multiple choice test a group project.  The students wanted to collaborate with previously assigned team members and turn in only one test per group. I was flabbergasted when the instructor said that would be OK as long as no one in the class objected.  I objected.  Loudly.  I was booed by the class.  Loudly.  I told them to grow up.  Loudly.  The instructor then said that since I had objected, we had to take the test individually.  More booing ensued.  He gave in.  I refused to collaborate with anyone and took the test individually.  When I turned in my paper, the instructor said, “I’m sorry you’re upset, but what’s the big deal?  This isn’t worth that much of your grade.”  My response: “You want to know what the big deal is?  The big deal is that you run this class like a preschool.  It’s supposed to be college." 

Comments

[Phil Gerbyshak]

This one hit the nail right on the head. As a professor that I am paying, I completely expect they will lead the class. I also expect that instructors will be smarter than me, or be willing to say they are not and find the answer. I expect to be challenged, and I expect to learn from the other students in the class.

Most of all I, like this student, expect that the professor will have the final say unless the demands are so unreasonable that the dean needs to take over.

I'm planning to go back to get my MSM (Master of Science in Management) in the spring, and I hope I have a professor or two with as much passion as you have Delaney. Thanks for sharing it in such a public setting!

[Delaney Kirk]

Thanks Phil. I think professors want to be in charge--they just haven't been trained on how to set expectations, discipline students, or handle conflict. Good luck with your Masters program-I hope it's everything you want it to be.