DEAR ABBY: I am a 35-year-old woman who is returning to community college after a 10-year absence. I'm disturbed by the lack of respect that some of my classmates show. Many times they show up 30 to 45 minutes late. (The classes are only an hour and 15 minutes long.) Also, some of them constantly talk during the lectures, forcing the teachers to talk over them.
When I was in college the first time, teachers were allowed to deny a student entry to class if they arrived late and to kick students out if they were causing a disturbance. These students are robbing us of our class time because the teacher must make time to let them in, wait for them to stop talking, etc. Is this just me being too serious, or is this a generational problem of parents not raising children to respect others? -- CRANKY COLLEGE LADY
DEAR CRANKY: Neither one. It's a case of a teacher not being in control of his/her classroom. Talk to the teacher about how you feel, and to the head of the department if you think new rules should be put in place. Your point is valid.
That's not always an option. The courses are offered when they are offered. I can understand the frustration. When you are paying for your education as adult, you often take it more seriously than some of the young students who are being financed by mom and dad.
Coming in late shouldn't be a big deal. Late students should just slip in. The teacher shouldnt' be paying any attention to them at all. And, they shouldn't be talking over the teacher either. That is up to the professor to put a stop to that.
I do agree with that. It's been a few years since I was in school, well, 22 to be exact, but I couldn't imagine any student getting away with acting the way the LW is describing.
Well, good luck complaining. The colleges don't care. They do whatever they please. My son is at a Penn State Branch and I came home one day and he was home. Oh they "cancelled classes" today. I am like what? And, they just do that whenever they darn well please. And, you can go in and complain about it and the tuition but it doesn't matter.
Well, good luck complaining. The colleges don't care. They do whatever they please. My son is at a Penn State Branch and I came home one day and he was home. Oh they "cancelled classes" today. I am like what? And, they just do that whenever they darn well please. And, you can go in and complain about it and the tuition but it doesn't matter.
That would PMO, LGS. If I was paying tuition and classes were canceled for no good reason you better believe I would go that office and demand an explanation.
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Sometimes you're the windshield, and sometimes you're the bug.
There is a problem with parents raising disrespectful kids.
Yes.
The professor needs to take control of the class.
Yes.
LW needs to expect more and should ask the right people the right questions.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
