ABSTRACT
A colleague recently recounted an instance in which a student was talking during a lecture. When she asked the student to stop, the student ignored the request and continued her conversation. Disruptive, unruly student behaviors and general student disobedience are experiences none of us want to encounter in our classrooms. From displays of rudeness and outbursts to incidences of inattentiveness and tardiness, student misbehaviors can dominate instructional time and undermine our objectives. Whether rooted in reality or not, teachers may come to believe that students are becoming more demanding, aggressive, and ill-mannered. College students may insist on higher grades or bargain with teachers to cancel tests or
postpone assignments. Although instances of student disrespect and disregard for learning might only represent a small portion of classroom experiences, the effects of these behaviors are powerful. The constant demands to manage even a few uncivil students can make teaching challenging, frustrating, and unpleasant.
