https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/education/article/UTSA-professor-to-remain-out-of-class-while-13388272.php
https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/UTSA-investigating-why-prof-called-cops-to-oust-13389728.php
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2018/11/14/ut-san-antonio-investigates-whether-student-escorted-out-class-having-feet-propped
In the video, the classroom looks like a lecture hall type of room with theater-like seating that is nowhere near full.
Does the student have any entitlement to put her feet up in the classroom?
I wonder what happened between the student putting her feet on the desk and being removed by campus cops.
Update:
https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/education/article/UTSA-report-student-s-ousting-wasn-t-13393490.php
https://www.mysanantonio.com/file/360/5/3605-Memo_ClassroomManagementBIO2053.pdf
The article notes that putting feet up on the chair was a pet peeve to Moss (the senior lecturer). Moss previously sent an email to the student telling her not to return to class until she discussed the matter, but used the incorrect email address, so she interpreted the student showing up to class as deliberate defiance.
Two people being unreasonable to each other escalates into a “police matter.” Student needs to respect the furniture. Teacher needs to address the matter appropriately, and preferably in person so she is sure she got the email. Just nuts.
And this makes national news?!
Well, it made the San Antonio news because it was in San Antonio. Not exactly national news.
No, but luckily we have an opportunity on a daily basis to be informed of an outrageous and vile situation and thus be virtuous before finishing the first cup of coffee.
We don’t allow our high school students to put their feet up on desktops - or chairs in our auditorium. We’ve never had a student escalate that into a police matter. They merely get in trouble at school (detention or whatever) if they don’t follow directions to put their feet down (a warning is always before actual punishment). Punishment rarely happens - very, very rarely. I’d say never, but there probably has been once or twice that I’m not thinking about with a really defiant youngster.
Now I wonder if we’re going to have to change to let students do whatever they wish. I hope not. There really do need to be certain standards and life lessons we teach (that may not be learned at home). If their later employer allows such things, great, but if not, they could get fired if they don’t learn basic “manners” somewhere.
At home families and perhaps individuals can choose what they like. When in groups esp in other peoples’ places, seems common etiquette should prevail.
I might hire the professor involved - pending why the police were called over other ways this could have been addressed. Chances are I’d be willing to forgive knowing how annoying of a situation this must have been. There’s no way I’d hire the student who escalated it to that level over this - or the one who put it on social media thinking this is an incident worthy of “fighting for rights” over.
My DD16 attends UTSA and is very visible in the video that has been circulated. The issue with the student that was walked out has been brewing for some time. Prior to the incident, the instructor was giving the entire class a lesson on civility. My child has told me the instructor is quite rude in her words and actions with the students and has caused the strained relations in class. Unfortunately, my child has faced misguided backlash for unfair perceptions of her in class. She was doing what thousands of college kids do daily and many mean spirited people wanted to single her out as a problem as well.
@zarsmom I feel for your D if she’s being linked in with something/someone she’s not involved with, but overall, learning to deal with rude people is a life skill that humans need to learn.
In an ideal world, no one would be rude, but in the real world almost all of us have our moments. Humans need to learn to effectively deal with things without escalating the problem. Otherwise… one gets lost customers, fired, road rage, or worse pending the actual situation.
In this case, the prof is “boss” in her class. If students don’t like it, drop the class or learn to deal with it venting to each other or whatever - things that have been done since the beginning of time because humans haven’t really changed over time. If it crosses a bad line (as with harassment), then bring it up to school Powers That Be.
There’s definitely no way I would hire a student involved who chose to escalate things so much over something so minor. They’ve missed a huge life lesson they just might need at my job - and that could cause me problems as soon as they meet someone who rubs them wrong. The latter is going to happen sooner or later. We live in the real world, not the ideal one.
@creekland, I’m not defending anyone and my child knows how to behave and that her feet belong on the ground. There are more things at play other than a rude instructor and students who are disrespectful. I’m sure all involved learned some valuable lessons, my child included. I do hope that their future interviewers and managers don’t hold this isolated incident against them.
@Creekland - I’m confused about what two people you wouldn’t hire. As I read the stories, it appears that the instructor escalated it by calling the police, and another student publicized it by putting the video on social media, but I don’t see any indication that the student who put her feet up did anything to “escalate” anything. I can understand your reluctance about the student who posted the video, but to whom were you referring when you wrote “there’s no way I’d hire the student who escalated it to that level”?
I wouldn’t hire someone who put their feet on the chair knowing the “boss” didn’t like it - causing the boss to get really riled - or the person who put the video out there for all to see.
I’d be on the fence regarding the professor. I’d want more background info as to why she felt the police were needed for it. If she’s as bad overall as a pp proposes, then she’s probably not a good hire either.
There are plenty of folks out there who do know how to play nicely with each other in public.
I’ll never come in contact with the particular people, but with my position at school I often get asked about potential future employees/kids I know. Their behavior in school counts a ton - more than their grades for high school jobs. I rarely have trouble with any kid myself, but I can assess how well a kid is likely to do with others based upon their overall school interactions (peers and teachers).
The paper today said they exchanged apologies. Prof said she was sorry for her classroom reaction and student said she was sorry the prof thought her behavior was disrespectful. https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/education/article/UTSA-student-says-she-exchanged-apologies-with-13398937.php
Prof has to take classroom management classes. Student did not think it was racially motivated.
Prof had been upset by students sitting in class with their feet up, using phones, and talking during lectures. She sent an email to this student and told her not to come to class until they had talked. Prof sent it to the wrong email address and student didn’t get the email. Student came to class, prof blew up. The student and the rest of the class were bewildered by the strong reaction.
A misunderstanding? Maybe. I think it sounds like this prof does need some guidance in how to handle adult students in a college class. I’ll tip my hand a bit and say I have taken classes at this uni and can tell you it is a diverse population of multi aged students. Many older students putting themselves through school, many vets. Students are generally respectful. This was not a public safety issue.
Sorry but I think this professor doesn’t belong in a classroom if she let this situation blow up to this extent. This person is in the wrong career if she’s this incapable of handling such trivial problems
This is the main issue, not necessarily putting up one’s feet in class:
“Prof had been upset by students sitting in class with their feet up, using phones, and talking during lectures. She sent an email to this student and told her not to come to class until they had talked. Prof sent it to the wrong email address and student didn’t get the email. Student came to class, prof blew up.”
@Creekland - I’m surprised you’d err against the student for trying to get an education (and being confused with what was happening) and not the professor who sent an email to the wrong email address and couldn’t calmly handle the situation.