In the spring of 2006, over 500 students were verbally surveyed during classroom presentations. They along with
252 other students were encouraged to complete a web survey to which 55 responded. The following items,
suggested by the students, should be considered.
Teachers – Showing respect for the students …
- start on time
- speak clearly and loudly
- establish an atmosphere where everyone is equally respected and given a chance to contribute, where
everyone’s opinions are welcomed and considered, and where ideas, not individuals, are respectfully
challenged and discussed
- show interest by actually listening to a question or comment regardless of the content
- react in a positive way to wrong answers given – encouraging continued participation
- share guidelines for any actions you particularly find disrespectful
- adapt for varying learning rates and styles
Students – Showing respect for the teacher …
- be prepared for the class and arrive before class begins
- actively listen – focus on what is being presented; avoid sleeping or working on other non-related tasks
during the class
- wait until the class is over before “packing up” to leave
- wait to be acknowledged before speaking or at least allow another to finish speaking before you start; let
those who haven’t spoken, speak at least once before speaking a second time
Everyone – Showing respect for each other …
- remember it is all right to question or disagree with anything said – just question what is being said, not
the person saying it; respect the opinions of others
- make it easy for others to hear what is being said – avoid rustling papers, talking, passing notes, sorting
through a backpack, using a cell phone or ipod, eating, etc.
- be aware of differences among people and be polite and courteous while adapting to others’ needs
- address one another appropriately
In responding to the question on how civil behavior could be demonstrated in the living environment, students
mentioned that one should show respect for another’s …
- personal property
- need to sleep
- personal space
- personal beliefs
- need for a clean living environment
- diverse opinions
- need to study
- culture
- need for a clean laundry room and available washer/dryer (i.e., remove your laundry)
On the survey, students were asked to identify statements they believed described an example of rudeness or
incivility. The numbers, in descending order, of those identifying the statements as examples of rudeness or
incivility are:
55 – Talking on a cell phone in class
53 – Listening to an ipod in class
49 – Reading a newspaper during a performance event
48 – Text messaging another person during a meeting
47 – Reading a newspaper during class
47 – Sleeping in class
47 – Text messaging another person during class
46 – Interrupting a conversation
46 – Letting a door close on someone if the person is more than two steps behind you
44 – Packing up class materials early
41 – Casually using terms like ‘that is retarded’ or ‘that is so gay’
39 – Arriving late to class
39 – Leaving a performance before the end of the performance
39 – Speaking out without waiting to be recognized by the facilitator of a meeting
36 – Using your roommate’s things when he or she is not around
35 – Attending class in dirty or smelly clothing or skimpy clothing
32 – Letting a cell phone turned on ‘silent’ continue to vibrate when in class
30 – Yelling at the referee during an athletic event
28 – Studying for a different class during lectures
26 – Eating during a (non-athletic) performance event
26 – Playing loud music in a residence hall
26 – Recharging an ipod in class
25 – Talking to another person in the hallway outside of a class in session
24 – Addressing an instructor by his or her first name during class
23 – Attending class unprepared
23 – Talking on a cell phone near others involved in a conversation
23 – Walking by trash on campus without stopping to pick it up
21 – Yelling at the other team during an athletic event
20 – Telephoning an instructor at home in the evening to ask a question about class
19 – Walking across the street in non-designated areas during a busy traffic time
17 – Addressing an instructor by his or her first name outside of class, but on campus
15 – Filling a water bottle between classes when people are in line behind you for a drink
14 – Addressing an instructor by his or her first name outside of class, but off campus
12 – Eating during class
Some other examples of rudeness or incivility shared included:
- acting too busy to help you in an office
- being called “dude” or “man” or “gay” or “Jewish” when that is not your sexual or cultural orientation
- blocking a shorter person’s view of the board by sitting directly in front of the person in class
- borrowing money and not paying it back promptly
- exhaling smoke in the face of others or in the pathway of others
- expecting professors to always being available to students
- large groups walking together blocking the way of those walking in the opposite direction
- leaving garbage on cafeteria tables
- not acknowledging people when they acknowledge you
- not looking at someone when the person is addressing you
- not saying thank you when a person holds a door open for you
- not thanking a professor for getting back on an email or giving help with homework
- not using turn signals
- playing computer games during class (lab) or in the library
- talking loud during quiet hours
- talking to others during class about things unrelated to school
- treating others as though they are not beneficial to the community
- using general access computers to check “Facebook” when others need access for homework