... to ignore the syllabus?
Laptop and Battery (Arrest)
Professors trade stories about seizing the cell phones of students who text during class or whose tones sound during a lecture.
Frank J. Rybicki, assistant professor of mass media at Valdosta State University, did the equivalent last week when he shut the laptop of a student who was allegedly web surfing as opposed to taking notes. She filed a complaint (reportedly about a finger or fingers that were hurt when he shut the laptop) and the university's police arrested him on a charge of battery. The Georgia institution suspended his teaching duties there, although not his pay.
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The involved professor, witness students, and university administration all have declined to comment further.
So, remember when we griped about students mouthing off when confronted with syllabus stated behavior expectations?
Apparently, now they can have us arrested for enforcing them!
Jeepers!
ReplyDeleteI disagree with Aware's implication that unwanted physical contact with a student or a student's personal items is an appropriate way to go about "enforcing [stated behavior expectations]."
ReplyDeleteSmoking right outside the building's entrance violates campus policy, but I don't snatch the cigarettes out of people's hands.
The appropriate way of enforcing expectations is to demand that the student close his laptop or leave the room. If he refuses, then call campus security to remove him.
Captain, first, YOU are assuming that security will come to remove a student who refuses to turn off a laptop.
ReplyDeleteFirst dirty lesson of classroom management is that student compliance is required for a teacher to maintain order but students are not obligated to provide it! This student upped the ante and won.
I would be most interested in seeing how things played out in a scenario where the instructor was calling campus security to instill class decorum.
And your smoking outside example is apples and oranges as instructors are not obligated (or even empowered, in most cases) to enforce rules OUTSIDE of the building. But, you are SOLELY responsible for doing so in YOUR classroom!
Do you call security to enforce your assignment deadlines too?
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ReplyDeleteWow ... seem to only be attracting comments from people who believe only by the grace of good student behavior provides authority in their own classrooms.
ReplyDeleteThe instructor only CLOSED the student's laptop.
We aren't talking a beating with a stick or even touching the student's hands.
Seem to be putting a lot of faith in the college to step up and remove an annoying student.
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ReplyDeleteI find this story to be fascinating! The comments here may be minimal, but the comments on the Inside Higher Ed site are worth reading.
ReplyDelete@ Wylodmayer, nothing in the story indicates that the laptop was TAKEN.
For what it's worth, there are 2 misdemeanor battery charges in Georgia:
§ 16-5-23. Simple battery
(a) A person commits the offense of simple battery when he or she either:
(1) Intentionally makes physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature with the person of another; or
(2) Intentionally causes physical harm to another.
§ 16-5-23.1. Battery
(a) A person commits the offense of battery when he or she intentionally causes substantial physical harm or visible bodily harm to another.
I don't see where the actions of the professor warrant either charge. The State will not be able to prove intent in this case.
Unfortunately, my experience with campus police is that reading statutes and understanding the law are entirely option.
My bad - I only read the account hastily and missed an important detail. I'm properly abashed.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you do if you don't have campus police?
ReplyDelete"I would be most interested in seeing how things played out in a scenario where the instructor was calling campus security to instill class decorum."
ReplyDeleteYou mean like this?
Wow. What a video. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDelete