Invincible

A day after two students of mine shamelessly conversed during class, sharing something on a mobile phone, I am still incesed with myself for not calling their attention in class.The other day, another student was readimg what looked like a pocketbook while I was talking about job satisfaction and organizational commitment before a class where most seemed to be as engaged as I was in the discussion. Again, I pretended not to have seen the errant act!

After many years of teaching, I still don't know how to handle these things! Do I treat them like impolite children and scold them in front of everyone? Maybe if they were rambunctious or insolent, it would be so easy to take this step. But if they were not and they were just showing disinterest in what is transpiring in the classroom? Do I tolerate this form of disrespect, not only for me, but for their classmates who patiently sit through whatever I have to offer in class?

The latter option, maybe. Not because I am intimidated by these silent bullies. But because it is not them who really matter to me but those students who keep their ears open and their eyes glued to me,
distilling knowledge from what comes forth from my mouth.

True, teen-agers can be a handful! They can be noisy and unruly. They can be unmindful of their responsibilities as students. But I have learned that if you treat them like adults, then they think of themselves as mature individuals who will not shirk from work hard in order to reach their goals.

Yes, I have survived the last 20 years in the university because I have learned not to dwell on the non-essentials and instead revel in the jovial spirit of the students, delight in their refreshing creativity and thirst for learning, and stand in awe of the sparks of brilliance that I see in them everyday!