The Fundamental Reasons for the Problem of Student Incivility in Classroom - Essay Example

Introduction One of the most notable affairs that characterize college education is room incivility often evidenced on the students. Indeed, the concept of student misbehavior is almost as old as college education. In the United States, college student misconduct in classroom has been raising a lot of concerns to the extent that educational policy makers are always in the constant search for definitive solutions to address the problem. Classroom incivility refers to the behaviors and actions that interfere with the smooth and harmonious atmosphere that should characterize the classrooms (Cuseo 25). Various forms of misconduct are common amongst college students in classroom. They include, causing disruption in class, making a lot of unnecessary noise, causing physical or emotional pain to others and being drunk while in classroom. The fundamental concern in this respect regards misbehavior in classroom and why certain students have the propensity to continuously misbehave. More still, several arguments abound on why students normally misbehave in college classrooms. In order to address the problem of student incivility in classroom, the fundamental reasons behind such weird characters must be understood. Reasons for Classroom Incivility College students normally misbehave for various reasons. Naturally, certain students misbehave due to behavioral disorders in them. In this regard, the problem is a big challenge that cannot merely be addressed by conventional means. It is a psychological disorder that conditions such students to behave contrary to conventional norms (Shariff 88). Similarly other students normally display uncivil behavior due to the lack of love and care directed to them at home. Students should always be nurtured, loved and cared for in order to make them respect and understand themselves and their environments. In most cases, college students are driven by the need for independence and will always strive and push for that. Guiding such students in the classroom normally becomes quite difficult as they always inculcate a sense of antipathy to proper social conduct. In many families across the United States, parents are never keen enough to instill certain fundamental ideals in the conduct of their children. Most children grow up totally oblivious of the importance of some basic social skill like interpersonal relations. Upon being left alone in college, it is realized that such students begin to display their lack of social skills given the manner they behave in classrooms and interact with fellow students and teachers. In most cases, students of college age often seek any form of attention they can receive. Since getting attention on the positive respect normally appears difficult, most students opt to engage in funny behaviors for the mere reason of getting attention from their mates. In case they fail to receive the attention they seek, misbehaviors normally become the order of the day. At the early years of college, most students are still not mindful of their future lives and are not really concerned about building a proper foundation for themselves. Students who subscribe to such mindsets are normally very critical of the social order and discipline expected of them in institutions such as schools. As such, they often behave in uncivil manner that only disrupt the process of learning or affect their fellow students. Most college students are normally driven by the need for power and control. This provides the motivation for misbehavior in such students. Such students are normally very disruptive in classrooms and will never be afraid to do anything that would make them achieve their goal. They often provoke, challenge and even threaten teachers in the classroom. They tend to disrespect other students and talk back while disrupting the peace of the class. It is argued that the present educational systems piles much pressure on college students to work extra hard in order to succeed. Millennial students normally multitask as they feel much pressured as “consumers of education” (Dannells 45). Such students normally find it difficult to effectively apportion their time depending on the particular activity they undertake. For instance, they can read emails while in classroom or walk in and out of the lectures without regard to the lecturer. Encouraging Classroom Civility Well, in order to effectively address the challenge of classroom incivility and reduce cases of misconduct amongst college students, it is imperative to begin addressing the problem from its roots. In this respect, effective solutions calls for measures to ensure that such behavior are prevented from occurring in the first place. In instances where the challenge is already realized, effective and definitive solutions must be sought which can wholly provide the much needed solutions to this growing concern. The first step normally involves outlining the expectations and making the students understand them. Clear expectations on the part of the students are quite important in making them understand what is really expected of them and knowing the consequences of any contrary behaviors. Such communication should always be done in the most positive manner possible (Tobin 45). Most importantly, the students should be made to understand the importance of civil behavior so that their conduct is not merely driven by the fear of repression or reprimand but by a conscious understanding of the imperatives of social conformity. Achieving civil behavior on the part of the students can only be realized through joint and supportive participation from all the relevant parties. Most importantly, respect is normally a double edged affair that operates in exchange. In this regard, parents and teachers should always learn to treat their children with a lot of respect and learn to empathize with them in various situations. Sarcastic behavior, dismissing students’ abilities, and making college students feel like children are some of the treatments that teachers should always avoid at all costs. Lecturers should make the students feel they are valued and regarded as persons. As a way of avoiding the buildup of stress and bad feelings, colleges should always establish mean and avenues that enable the students to air out their grievances. Through specific forums or channels, students can effectively air their grievances and thoughts on some of the fundamental issues that affect them. Another important aspect on reducing student incivility in classrooms regards the reduction of anonymity in the classrooms (Wright 89). Most college classes are normally very large and this reduces the one to one interaction between the students and the lecturers and between the students themselves. Educators must always be aware of the fact that students are very different and, in one way or another, differences in conduct become inevitable. Controlling uncivil behavior transcends more than mere punishment. It creates the need for aggressive efforts from all the quarters of concern so that the students understand the society’s expectations become totally accountable for their actions. The knowledge on conflict management becomes quite necessary as a way of addressing the issues that often arise in college classrooms. In conclusion, joint efforts become necessary in the bid to mitigate misconduct amongst college students. Works Cited "Classroom Incivility -- Welcome!." Classroom Incivility -- Welcome!. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2012. . Cuseo, Joseph B.. Igniting student involvement, peer interaction, and teamwork: a taxonomy of specific cooperative learning structures and collaborative learning strategies. Stillwater, OK: New Forums Press, Inc, 2009. Print. Dannells, Michael. From discipline to development: rethinking student conduct in higher education. Washington, DC: George Washington University, Graduate School of Education and Human Development, 1997. Print. Shariff, Shaheen. Confronting cyber-bullying: what schools need to know to control misconduct and avoid legal consequences. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2009. Print. Tobin, Gary. The uncivil university: intolerance on college campuses. Rev. ed. Lanham, Md.: Lexington Books, 2009. Print. "UC Santa Cruz - Teaching Tips." Index of /. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2012. . Wright, W. Alan. Teaching improvement practices: successful strategies for higher education. Bolton, MA: Anker, 1995. Print. Read More