Passive-aggressive college instructor. What to do???

Question

I am taking classes where the instructor ignores all the people talking in the back of the class and who talk on their cell phones. The class is small, only about 15-18 people and attendance is mandatory. She ingores the bad behavior and rewards these people with a C grade. I work fairly hard and participate and get an A grade. It drives me nuts trying to listen to the lecture with all these rude people talking while the teacher is talking! I wish the instructor would just say, "I will mark you absent if you talk while I'm lecturing." Instead, she rewards them with a C grade and she thinks that a "C" is punishment enough. I don't know what to do about this. Am I being too picky about classroom rules for a college class?

Answer 1

I don't know how you feel about confrontation, but when I was in college, many of my professors in classes that small left the policing up to the students. If you feel comfortable, say something. The classroom is a neutral environment, and I'm sure there are others in the class that feel the same way you do. College is about learning, not just material, but how to be an adult. My advice: ask them politely to be quiet, or kindly refund the money you paid for the class. You earned your spot in the class, and you have the right to a distraction-free classroom environment. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Sounds like WATER DOWNED CLASS.

Answer 3

It's a shame you see her as 'ignoring' the bad behaviour of some and concentrating on the ones who want to learn, because that is how it should be don't you think? If she was constantly reminding them of what was expected of them etc, this would take away from the time she had to teach you and give them the attention they are obviously craving. I think it is up to you to ask them to be considerate to you and let you hear what is being taught. They may grumble, but ultimately they will be embarrassed that their peers are not impressed by their selfish behaviour. More embarrassed by that than being reprimanded by the teacher that are trying to force a reaction from. Well done for working hard and achieving the high grades you deserve.

Answer 4

Am I assuming too much that you have already talked to the intructor about this?  If you are bothered by her teaching techniques, don't take her classes aren't there other professors you can sign up for?

Answer 5

Unfortunately, you have classes with required attendance but also have instructors who ignore the behavior of others.  I think you can do a number of things and that does include possibly confronting the individuals before or after class telling in politely that their use of cell phones and talking is distracting you during class.  I recommend that you don't bring up the grades.  Be sure that you are seated at the front of the room so hopefully they will be less distracting.  Be sure that you are careful that you are appearing critical of them but rather that you can be distracted easily when these activities occur.Confronting them won't win you any friends just a better education. Finally, the other suggestion is to see the instructor during office hours and explain that you are being distracted by the talking and use of cell phones during the class.  Explain that you want to get the most from the class and that you believe it is disrespect of both the instructor and the students who are working hard to have these distractions.  Perhaps, if this is an open minded instructor, he will address the problem.  Definitely, you need to put something on the end of course evaluation so that the department chair can help the instructor with these concerns.  There is a chance that the instructor is new and doesn't want to make waves with the students.

Answer 6

You're not being picky...  you are paying a lot of money for an education.  The least that they can do is provide a suitable learning environment.

Chances are you can't do much about the grades they are getting but you can do something about the distractions.

Talk to the instructor.  She may not be aware of just how annoying the distractions are.

If you don't want to confront the instructor by yourself then, find other classmates who also find the behavior annoying and talk to the instructor as a group. Say 'hey, we're paying an arm and a leg for this course, if the other students want to waste their money then that's their choice, but we expect to learn something and are having a tough time following the lecture with all of the distractions."

Another option:  go up the chain until you get satisfactory results.  (i.e. the associate dean, the dean, VP Student Affairs, VP Academic Affairs, etc.)   Explain the situation and that you went to him/her because you didn't want any reprecutions coming back at you (i.e., a lower grade because you might have irked the teacher).

good luck...