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After class yesterday, in which the Zippo King spun his lighter but never lit it, and during which he left 4 times again, I asked to see him after class.
He had not said a word in class, and I suspected he was still in a bad mood for being shut down on Tuesday.
"If you're going to have to leave class so often, could you sit more toward the door?"
"Why?" he asked.
"Because it would be less of a disruption."
He didn't answer right away, and then he said, "Anything else?"
"Well, I appreciate you not lighting your lighter today, because, seriously, an open flame in class must not be acceptable in any of your other classes either, but I'd also like to ask that you don't spin it around during class. It does catch my eye, and probably others, and it can be a distraction."
Again, he didn't answer right away.
Students from the next class started to come in, and Zippo got up, turned, and headed out of the class.
"Thank you," I said. "See you next week."
He never turned around. I went home feeling about the same as I did the class before.
Well-handled, Naveen. I'm not sure the conversation will solve the problem, but at least you've been clear and assertive in a very reasonable way.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I'm intrigued to learn that "Naveen" is a pseudonym for a male. I was assuming (on the basis of a couple of students I've had with the name) that you were female. I think this could be a case where gender plays a role, and, if anything I suspect that being male might help you (but it might also depend on the Zippo King's prior relationships with other male authority figures).
Administrative withdrawal.
ReplyDeleteSorry to be picky, but I hate seeing those in academia making such an elementary level error. It's bad enough to see it all over the web.
ReplyDeleteThe term is "reining in." I know it doesn't look right, but it is. "Rein" is part of a horse's bridle. "Reign" is the exercise of sovereign power. The term comes from making a horse do what you want it to, not asserting your authority (deserved) as the instructor.
@Gary,
ReplyDeleteIs it not a pun? "Reigning in of the King"?
At least that's how I read it. But you are right, for sure. Nobody can take that away from you. You are right. That other guy...wrong.
1-nil.
Naveen, document it all. Write it all down, and if you can, discuss it with someone higher up--even if there's no action taken about the student. Cover your ass. I know of which I speak.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the follow-up. And to ditto what Greta said, two words...PAPER TRAIL.
ReplyDelete...and don't throw away the paper or delete that email. I had something pop up from 5 years ago - I guess there's no statute of limitations on filing an academic petition or complaint. So, pretend that paperwork is like your tax paperwork.
ReplyDeleteProf Poopiehead, that is alarming! Good advice.
ReplyDeleteWell it doesn't sound like Naveen has a vet, so the guy turned out to be Joe Cool. Those guys never last; school gets to be a hassle and they walk away. If Naveen writes back in a fortnight, we'll discover that Joe went the way of the Dodo.
ReplyDelete