Super Frustrated...

[Issy]

Hi all, so I recently went back to school and despite being mildly anxious due to PTSD I love learning. In one of my classes I have been having a hard time enjoying the class and learning process cause of three extra disruptive students. The professor seems intimated by them they have disrespected him in class, and he plays a blind eye. If its an important topic he is talking about you could barely hear what he says cause they are laughing loudly and talking nonsense outloud. After 2nd week in class they began targeting me when he calls on me to answer a question. They say crap under breath but I still hear them. Then it worsened to them saying when I enter class, I dont like her, why do I have to see her. Just constantly disrespecting me. Then one night while walking to bus they followed me and said mean stuff about me so I could hear them. I ignored them but told professor next week. He inisted on talking to the main girl out the three who kept picking with me. This just lead to more crap talk to annoy/irritate me in class. I feel dissapointed in professor failure to command respect. Whenever I speak up to stand up for myself he is eager to tell me oh enough. But fail to do it with them. It just seems unfair. There is only a few weeks left before class ends but I dont do well with bullies and troublemakers. However it is disheartening when someone in a position of authority fail to be effectively authorative if necessary as in this case.

 

[Freedomfighter]

It is not easy for a professor in todays world. That professor may get attacked and is aware that he might get hurt. I work in a place where high schoolers stop by after school. They are loud, brash, hurtful, and show no empathy towards others, they band together in groups and I would not communicate with any of them, lots of them steal, abuse their own parents and grandparents. These are not the good old days anymore.

 

[joeylittle]

However it is disheartening when someone in a position of authority fail to be effectively authorative if necessary as in this case.

It is really disappointing when this happens. The professor does have back-up, and it's his responsibility to maintain his class environment.

Have you tried talking to the Dean of Students? There may be nothing to be done about this group, now, but you might feel a little more empowered from saying something.

 

[Issy]

@Freedomfighter my mom said the same thing you are saying. I believe he is intimidated by their group mentality and their blatant lack of respect for people with authority. However I still feel his ineffectiveness contributes to more harm being done by these troublesome three students.

 

[Issy]

@joeylittle I had considered speaking with the Dean however felt since they had not physically hurt me maybe it would not be taken seriously that they are constantly insulting me. However you're right I am considering following through with talking to her now.

 

[LadyZane]

You (and the other students whose learning these people are disrupting) are paying to be there, and these disruptive students are literally burning your money. If it were any other kind of "product" like a show in a movie theater, they'd be thrown out. It's so unfair when this happens--I think the school administration should do something!

 

[Issy]

@LadyZane I totally agree with you, thats one of the reasons that has me annoyed because I do feel like the class dynamic is now dramatic and chaotic and usually centered on some crap they do in class.

 

[joeylittle]

since they had not physically hurt me maybe it would not be taken seriously that they are constantly insulting me

Actually, they seriously disrupt the class - which is equal to (in some ways greater than) personal harm they might cause.

They disrupt the class, the professor doesn't stop them, and now they are also lashing out at fellow students, further disrupting the educational process.

That is all 100% legit, as a complaint.

The school should have, somewhere, a code of ethics. Sometimes they are buried on the school website. But it's usually where they list that plagiarism is not allowed, etc. and often there is a clause about every student having the right to a safe and conducive learning environment. Sometimes, there's also stuff about student respect. I don't know your school, but these things are things that matter to colleges, big or small.

So I say, go for it.

 

[Issy]

Thank you @joeylittle I have sent an email to student affairs and hopefully that will lead to meeting with the Dean. This is unnaceptable behavior. I would like to bring about a positive change not only for the enjoyment of my learning but others.