Preventing Disruptive Behavior in Colleges

Abstract

Over 50 percent of KD12 teachers leave the profession in four years due to classroom discipline problems. Unfortunately, with pressure to pass these students on, with colleges' dire needs for admissions and financial pressures, and with the often rough culture of adolescence, higher education teachers/professors are now finding disruptive behaviors in their college classrooms. This book helps college instructors not just handle but also prevent these real-life disruptions in higher education so as to not lower learning standards. Seeman provides guidelines for preventive skills that respect the teaching style of the instructor/professor. Included are concrete examples of problems and their preventions/solutions; help for creating a course syllabus that curtails discipline problems; and training exercises to practice these skills. The best time to solve a problem is before it starts. The book addresses how to prevent/handle things like absence; binge drinking; weapons in the classroom; use of cell phones; cheating; constant questions; cursing; digressions; dress codes; drugs; student excuses; student fighting; freedom of speech; grading arguments; harassment; inappropriate demands; interruptions; lateness; learning disabilities; plagiarism; profanity; seating arrangements; threats; verbal abuse; etc. Seeman also provides ways to deal with students who leave class early; challenge you; listen to iPods; accuse you of being unfair, racist, or sexist; monopolize discussion; bring children to class; don't pay attention; do other work in class; eat in class; call out; sleep in class; talk while you are teaching; tap pencils/pens; send text messages; are withdrawn; etc.