Civility in the Classroom:

Changing a Culture

Barbara A. Frey, D.Ed.

Penn State Schuylkill

August 18, 2010

Classroom Incivility

Common courtesy is

anything

but common.

Incivility in Congress

• Name calling

• Vulgarity

• Hyperbole

• Lying

Classroom Incivility

Academic Preparedness

Trading Schools

Classroom Incivility

Step Forward – Step Back• Take one step forward if there were more

than 50 books in your house.

• Take one step back in you were raised by

someone other than one of your parents.

• Take one step forward …

Classroom Incivility

Shouldn’t students

learn appropriate

classroom behavior

in their home,

school, or

community?

Consumerism

Most Frequent Disruptive

Behaviors at IUP

1. Arriving late and leaving early

2. Talking to others at inappropriate times

3. Text messaging

4. Packing or unpacking backpack

5. Eating

6. Letting phone ring

7. Sleeping

8. Using laptops for unrelated tasks

Disruptive Student Behavior

Relationship

Frequency Seriousness

Disruptive Student Behavior

Relationship

Amount of

Training

Frequency of

Behaviors

Classroom Incivility

1. Know the literature

2. Know your students

3. Know yourself and your institution

Who has more problems with

disruptive students?

• Men or Women?

• Adjunct or Assistant Professors?

• Minority or Caucasian Professors?

• Professors who teach Electives or

Required courses?

• Professors who teach primarily

freshman/sophomores or juniors/seniors?

Syllabus Policies

Classroom Disruptions

“I can’t

think when

you are

talking!”

Out of the mouths of

students…..

Teacher Behaviors

• Learn names

• Treat students with

respect

• Move around the

room

• Use appropriate

humor

• Use enthusiastic

delivery style

• Use positive body

language

• Answer questions

• Use visuals, stories,

and examples

• Stay after class

• Invite guest

speakers

Know Your StudentsHighlands School District

Know Your StudentsFresno School District

Classroom IncivilityLessons Learned

1. Know your students

2. Move around the classroom

3. Plan a structure lesson

4. Use the resources available to you

Know YourselfRate My Professor

Reflect on Your Experiences

• What?

• When?

• Why?

• How?

Classroom IncivilityHave a Plan

1. Don’t yell

2. Don’t lose control

3. Don’t touch

4. Don’t make sarcastic remarks

Keep your standards high!

You’re all in this together!

Know Your InstitutionPenn State Principles

1. I will respect the dignity of all individuals

within the Penn State community.

2. I will practice academic integrity.

3. I will demonstrate social and personal

responsibility.

4. I will be responsible for my own academic

progress and agree to comply with all

University policies.

Changing a Culture

Classroom IncivilityConclusion

“I’ve come to the frightening conclusion that I

am the decisive element in the classroom.

It’s my daily mood that makes the weather. I

can be a tool of torture or an instrument of

inspiration….. In all situations, it is my

response that decides whether a crisis will be

escalated or de-escalated.”

-- Haim Ginott

Psychologist and teacher

Classroom incivility is

too damaging to ignore

and too important to

give up.

Thank you!