[englishteacher]

I have a student in a developmental college class who has learning disabilities (no details here because I don't know them either). I am making the accomodations that are required for the student, but he is very belligerent and angry. Today he was 45 minutes late and disrupted the entire class. He is very loud when he speaks and he is angry. Although I can understand his frustration and anger, I have offered to help him during office hours. He complains that I didn't SHOW him where my office is located. He complains that I embarrass him by asking him to participate in the same activities the other students are doing. He implies that I am not doing my job and that he will tell my boss. I have tried to help him, but he doesn't seem to understand the simplest of instructions, no matter how many different ways I explain it to him. Today he really upset the class and I had to pull him out in the hallway to discuss the problem for 20 minutes. I feel that his disturbances are starting to effect the rest of my class, which is not fair to the rest of the students. I'm going to go speak to the chair of my department (my boss) this afternoon, but I am actually getting scared of this student. He's a really big guy and I'm just a little 5 foot tall woman. Other students, how would you like the teacher to handle this if it was your class?

[serafim_etal]

Originally Posted by englishteacher

I have a student in a developmental college class who has learning disabilities (no details here because I don't know them either). I am making the accomodations that are required for the student, but he is very belligerent and angry. Today he was 45 minutes late and disrupted the entire class. He is very loud when he speaks and he is angry. Although I can understand his frustration and anger, I have offered to help him during office hours. He complains that I didn't SHOW him where my office is located. He complains that I embarrass him by asking him to participate in the same activities the other students are doing. He implies that I am not doing my job and that he will tell my boss. I have tried to help him, but he doesn't seem to understand the simplest of instructions, no matter how many different ways I explain it to him. Today he really upset the class and I had to pull him out in the hallway to discuss the problem for 20 minutes. I feel that his disturbances are starting to effect the rest of my class, which is not fair to the rest of the students. I'm going to go speak to the chair of my department (my boss) this afternoon, but I am actually getting scared of this student. He's a really big guy and I'm just a little 5 foot tall woman. Other students, how would you like the teacher to handle this if it was your class?

Do you teach freshman? The transition from high school accommodations for disabilities, to university is dramatic, and confusing! In high school its "how can we help you succeed", whereas in university its "how can we make things equal so you can succeed". A lot of students have a very hard time with this. Your university's DSS office can help you with this. You can request a meeting with the students adviser and student together...to find out exactly what each of you needs to do to accommodate the student, and vice versa...student can not come late and disrupt class, he must also accommodate you!

I actually have experience with this issue as I am a disabled student myself, was on the DSS advisory committee last school year, and was the President of Delta Alpha Pi Honor Society (for disabled students that excel academically) last school year as well. It's very touchy, because of confidentiality, but DSS can help.

[Fresia]

I know as a student with a disability, the school's disability office acts as a liaison for any issues going on with the students registered with their office, not just for me but for the professors too about me. I would contact them. I know if there is a specific difficult issue with a professor I am to talk to the director, as they have advised, and confidentiality goes both ways. As this is an issue with accommodating the student and behavioral, this too would warrant bringing to their attention. Something may be going on with the student that they would more be in a position to help. You never know the reasons behind someone's behavior and having taught myself, the disruption and concern are too significant to ignore. I too would talk to the department head as well to make sure he/she is aware, for any additional protocols, support, and recommendations.

It isn't easy to sort through an issue like this as teaching can be difficult enough. Sending wishes for a swift resolution, much patience, and well wishes.

[Christina86]

I'm a student with learning disabilities, and regardless of their "issues" they should be working to help themselves because the "real world" won't. Plain and simple. I have found that the transition to post-secondary can be drastic, which could impact things but if they're disrupting your class, then that's not good.

If they're getting accomodations, then that means someone knows what exactly their issues are. They can't break confidentiality unless the student allows it, but talking to whomever signs off on disability accomodations is a very good idea.

Otherwise, to be honest, as a daughter of a teacher - I'd turf them (throw them out of your class). Bad attitudes are controllable to at least some degree.

[englishteacher]

I have spoken to the student's counselor many times. I have documented each conversation. I get very mixed signals from the disability office. On one hand, they tell me that the student must self-advocate and reiterate that accomodations are to give the student equal access to education. Then I have the student telling me that his counselor says he should speak to my boss. The student claims that he hasn't done so because he doesn't want to get me in trouble because I'm a nice lady. Since I'm making the accommodations, I don't see what I could get in trouble for. There is a confidentiality issue, but he brings up the disability loudly in front of the entire class pretty regularly. Again, I don't wee what I could get in trouble for here.

I took copies of all my documentation to my boss yesterday and explained the situation. He said he would speak to someone at the disability office. He seemed horrified by the student's behavior, so I think I'm covered.

Christina, I would LOVE to kick him out, but I need more solid evidence. If he continues to disrupt class, that may be his ticket out the door.

Actually, I feel bad for the student AND for the rest of my class who is having to endure his problems. The student has told me that he has brain damage. It's very obvious that he is not mentally capable of completing the course work. I'm sure that must be very frustrating for him. As for the other students, I feel bad that they are losing some of their class time because I have to stop and deal with this guy.

[salukigirl]

I really hate to think that it's for the good of others than one person be "kicked out" but when it comes to your education, you're right, that's really not fair. Everyone is paying to be there (presumably) and I would be pretty upset if that were in a class of mine.

Actually I get pretty upset when someone is talking or being disruptive in my class because I'm not paying thousands and thousands of dollars to listen to their gossip. Have you talked to the chair yet? Is there some way to do a kind of probation where he understands that if he continues this behavior he won't be allowed to attend anymore? Why is he there if he can't comprehend the subject or simple manners? I understand equal opportunities for people with learning disabilities, but for HIM. Why does HE even want to be there if he isn't getting anything out of it?

Like my chair told me and the other new grad students "You don't have to pay attention or go to class if you don't want to. Just let me know and I'll stop paying your tuition." because we are all on graduate assistantships.

[englishteacher]

I have no idea why he is taking the class. His counselor told me the first time I met with him that the student is working on an automotive certificate and doesn't need my class for his certificate.

It's unfortunate that our current education system (K-12) has basically taught students with disabilities that they can do anything. Someone who can't read or write or comprehend is never going to make it through college, but some of the students I have had with disabilities truly think they are going to go to medical school after they graduate college. It seems cruel to me to raise their expectations beyond what they are actually capable of achieving. I'm not trying to be mean here, just realistic. I realize that many students with disabilities are quite capable of succeeding. I have helped many of them achieve their goals. However, I do not understand the mentality of the public schools where everyone gets a certificate or a ribbon and everyone is a winner. Those expectations are false. What good is building up their self-esteem only to send them out into the real world so they can be knocked back down. The real world does not allow everyone to be a winner. Realistically, for there to be a winner, there also has to be a loser. Unfortunately, the public schools are teaching kids that showing up for class is enough to pass (or succeed).

Also, what kind of message is this sending to kids who do work hard to achieve their goals? What motivation do they have to strive for improvement when the person sitting next to them is getting the same grades and doing nothing to earn them?

It's no wonder our education system is in such a mess.

[salukigirl]

Totally agree with you and actually kind of saw it last night at my study group.

This kid doesn't have a disability, he is just friggen lazy as the day is long. He sits there during class messing around on the computer not paying attention. Then shows up to the study session wanting us to teach him basically everything we have gone over so far. So the rest of us have been done with a question for 5 minutes and he still doesn't comprehend what is going on. So after 3 hours we got done with maybe 1.5 hours of actual work. So I just left. I don't have patience to deal with someone who feels like they are entitled to education without putting forth the work. And I bet you the other mentally disabled kids do just fine with a little extra help. I bet none of them throw tantrums and actually WANT to get an education.

This may sound a little mean also but I do feel like sometimes when people are raised with a disability, people baby them. So they have this feeling like they are just too special for everyone else. Like I know this kid with epilepsy and his parents knew since he was little and babied him and he throws tantrums and things like what you describe. I just found out after 23 years that I have epilepsy and don't do any of that what so ever. Just seems a little off to me and I think some of this falls on the teachers AND the parents.

[Perna]

I would maybe interview a couple of your better students about how they feel and see if they won't say something to him about his behavior, peer-to-peer and/or complain to their advisers/authorities that they're not getting their money's worth because of his disruption (rather than your "failure" to manage his disruptions) and/or raise the problem as a discussion in class (since it affects the class) and use their negatives (and his anger/refusal to take heed) as reason to have him removed from your class.

[englishteacher]

Perna,

That would be a good idea, but I'm concerned about confidentiality. Although he has repeatedly blurted out in front of the class his issues, I do not want to be accused of breaching his privacy.

[googley]

I wouldn't ask other students to make comments to the admin if they do not think of it on their own. If they are asked why they are saying these things, it could end up looking very bad for you. It is not the responsibility of the students in the class to manage it. That is something for you, the student, his support staff, and the administration to figure out.

I wanted to add, that if students were complaining to you about the class, then that is a different situation and you should direct them to your department head or whoever else is in authority and dealing with this situation.