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How to handle students' disrespectfulness?

Academia Asked on December 21, 2021

Related with this problem:
How to deal with unruly, unengaged students who complain about me?

After the chairman spoke to me, I started talking to my students softly (more than needed). I tried many other ways to engage them. But the problem is that they think the subject is of no use. I have told them of many applications, but I think they won’t realize it now.

But one student is insulting me from day one. He has issue on everything, on assignment.
He is one of the special students of the chairman. He even misbehaved with me during viva. I told the students to not do rattafication (rote memorization) for viva, and to clear their concepts. On the day of viva, when I asked a question about process, I was replied with "I didn’t do rattafication".

It was an open book paper and he didn’t solve problem correctly.
Instead of accepting his mistake, he was fighting with me that I didn’t formulate the question correctly. So I sent that question to my assistant professor. He verified and said that the question is clear.

Now, how should I handle this behaviour of students? Should I talk to the chairman about it, knowing that he is a buddy of the whole class?
Help me, this class is giving me depression.

Edit:
Before exam the students were saying me to decrease the course or consider only the presentation topic as the Oral examination. Which was against the University Policy. And I rejected their request.

should I complain to the HOD of the department about that student? What will be the conseaquences?

One Answer

For depression, seek professional help.

Otherwise,

Few things look alarming to me. The whole of the issue also seems like a conflict and we are only presented with your side which does not include factual statements rather your interpretation of events. (i.e. they are being disrespectful) Some alarming things on your side:

After the chairman spoke to me, I started talking to my students softly (more than needed)

demeaning attitude towards your students.

I tried many other ways to engage them. But the problem is that they think the subject is of no use. I have told them of many applications, but I think they won't realize it now.

I personally think they have the right to be uninterested if the course is mandatory. You can't force-teach people. If you find people's non-engagement distracting, you can try to provide outside of class resources, class videos etc. and make attendance optional.

But one student is insulting me from day one. He has issue on everything, on assignment.

criticism is not disrespect. He has the right to voice his concern if he thinks there is a problem with the assignment.

Instead of accepting his mistake, he was fighting with me that I didn't formulate the question correctly.

There is nothing wrong with contesting a grade given. Some, if not most, schools even mandate that there is a session in which students can dispute their exam grades or ask for an independent evaluation.

So I sent that question to my assistant professor. He verified and said that the question is clear.

Not enough to reach a conclusion.

Overall, your text leave me with the impression that you might very well be at fault here. I can't also say with certainty that your attitude described above is respectful towards your students, at least not on a fundamental level.

About that one student, you might demand a disciplinary hearing in which you get to present your side and he gets to present his side (hopefully). Eventually, an impartial body of staff decides if he needs to be punished. I don't think with what you have stated here anyone can reach a clear cut conclusion. However, as Bryan Krause pointed out, this might have negative consequences for you if your claims and interpretation of events are not within a reasonable range of the factual events.

Answered by Boaty Mcboatface on December 21, 2021

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