Case-in-Point #1: With scarcely 10 minutes remaining in lastThursday’s economics lecture, the classroom door swung open,and a somewhat confused student entered. All attentionshifted from the professor to the apparently 70-minute-latestudent, and the section watched in disbelief as she slowly ambledto a seat in the far corner of the classroom.
“Are you in this class?” the befuddled professorasked, not recognizing the intruder. She was not late. She was early.
“I’ll be out of here in a sec,” she muttered,and after setting her backpack and cup underneath a desk, exitedthe room. The class, fighting valiantly to suppress itslaughter until the student departed, erupted in pandemonium as thedoor clicked shut.
Case-in-Point #2: Amidst a provocative discussion onNietzsche’s Genealogy of Morals, a dispassionate studentnoisily rose to his feet and walked out of the classroom, rudelypassing in front of the professor in a most disruptivefashion. Fifteen minutes later, he returned with a combo mealfrom Chick-Fil-A.
Case-in-Point #3 to # 1,000,000: A professor’s train ofthought is derailed by the melodious beeping of the Sprint PCSrendition of “Ice, Ice, Baby.” Alternatively, astudent’s attention is stolen by a neighbor’s”silent” cell phone vibrating loud enough for half theclassroom to discern.
Most students are conscientious enough not to wander in and outof a classroom during lectures, especially for reasons as dubiousas purchasing chicken nuggets mid-lecture. However, everysection seemingly includes at least one memberwho is in dire needof a lesson in proper classroom etiquette.
Remembering to turn off or silence one’s phone is not animpossibly unreasonable request. For the truly absentminded,employ a reminder system. Associate pulling a spiral out ofone’s backpack with “cell-phone turnofftime.”. Tie a yellow ribbon around your pen. Leaveit at home. Do something to avoid disrupting the class.
By now, a bladder should be sufficiently developed to last for50 or 80 minutes. No thirst is so stifling as to require atrip to the Coke machine during class. Ten minutes is anample duration to satisfy any of these needs. Wait until thebreak, and don’t begin packing your materials until theprofessor has finished speaking. If a professor repeatedlyfinishes lectures late, approach him or her politely about theissue.
These suggestions are merely common sense manners, but alas,they are probably groundbreaking concepts to a few inconsiderateclassmates. Both students and professors are extremelydisrespected anytime an educational atmosphere is needlesslydisrupted.
