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!
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