The LIGHT Center, T-90, College of the Redwoods (476-4290) - March 20, 2000

The challenges that typically face instructors in an educational setting like CR have changed significantly over the past few years. Partially due to the evolution of educational philosophy, as well as changing student demographics, the way we interact with students continues to be influenced. Gone are the days of guaranteed respect merely because of the title "Instructor".

As our interpersonal practices change, so do our expectations and requirements in the classroom. Likewise, our perceived need for classroom management strategies waxes and wanes in the sea of the instructional milieu. I am reasonably certain that most of us can remember when classroom management techniques included being sent to the office for "the strap", having chalk hurled across the room at one's head, or a meter stick being whacked across one's desk. My personal sin resulting in a year's expulsion from Home Economics class was rolling my eyes at a gender degrading remark made by the instructor. Today the rules have changed for both the student and the instructor.

One can argue that classroom management strategies should not be needed when dealing with an adult population. Moreover, we have a Student Code of Conduct that outlines the "rules" for the students. I wonder how many students and instructors know what the Code of Conduct actually says? The need for classroom management does not necessarily rely on violation of the Code of Conduct. There is a wide range of behaviors exhibited by students that don't violate the code, but still leave the instructor feeling uncomfortable or even threatened. Typically we respond to the behavior after the fact, being reactive to the situation. Classroom management relies on being proactive; reducing the factors that could contribute to an unpleasant situation.

There are a number of possible reasons for why we require skilled classroom management even when the population is adult, and presumed to be mature and responsible. One contributing factor is that there are students who come onto campus ill-prepared for college level work. Their reading and writing skills are at a level which creates frustration for them, and concern for the instructor. We all want our students to do well, but when they come to the task without the skills necessary for success, tension and anxiety can result.

No minor problem at CR is personal space. We are crowded into small areas. Students and instructors are jostled about in classrooms. This creates tension for all students, and especially those who have additional concerns such as social phobia. Speaking of such concerns, the decline of mental health resources in the community may be resulting in students coming on campus because there are few other options for them. Then of course, there's history. Both the student's and instructor's beliefs and history play a role in how they respond interpersonally.

Behavior is a mirror in which every one displays his image.
-- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

What a given instructor finds acceptable or unacceptable behavior in the classroom is certainly a product of training, experience and personality. If the behavior violates the Code of Conduct, the subsequent actions to be taken are spelled out clearly. When the Code is not violated the instructor can feel "on their own" dealing with the problem.

Want to find out how some of your colleagues are dealing with classroom problems? Here's your chance. On March 24^th there is a Brown Bag Lunch in the Lakeview Room from 12:00 - 1:00 PM. This event is organized by the Diabasis Committee on campus, and has support of both Academic Senate and Student Services. There will be a panel of invited faculty including Mike Butler, Michelle Olsen, Marla Gleave and John Regli. This will be an informal opportunity to come and discuss concerns, problems, or successes you may have had dealing with classroom behavior.

We realize that there are many activities vying for your time. We hope you will make this one a priority. See you there!

The staff and students of the LIGHT Center would like to extend their thanks to students Mj Goble and Charlotte Peters for their generous contribution of a TV and VCR to the Center. If you see either of them on campus, give them "two thumbs up"!

Comments or questions? mailto:trish-blair@redwoods.edu