Response to Amy Burger’s comments on Rudeness
Greetings,
As I was reading Amy Burger’s comments on this article about today’s youth becoming increasingly rude, I couldn’t help but agree on most of the points that both Amy and the article made.
I would agree, wholeheartedly, that answering a cellular phone call while in lecture is an incredibly rude action on part of the student. I would also like to note that a Kinesiology instructor of mine stated that because it was so rude, if your cellular phone rang during class, you would have to do pushups until you collapsed. I would not be heavily opposed to having a similar rule imposed to students in a lecture.
Computers, however, have more grey area. Just as with cell phones, they have some use, as I use my computer to take notes (which I find to be much easier than using paper), and if I have internet connection, to do on-the-spot research on topics that I am unfamiliar with. I am, however, more abashed at the fact that I have used my computer for less wholesome activities during class, by which I mean playing games (although not in my TE class, which I find interesting). Should the lecture be boring or covering material I have already mastered, and my attendance is forced, I feel that I have no real duty to focus myself wholly on the lecture which I do not feel is required.
In regards to 8th graders, it seems to me that such rude comments happen for the same reasons. If they do not deem the material required for their life, they won’t study it, but rather make up excuses. These students are also at the age of rebellion against authority, as some see it as being ‘cool’. These facts are exasperated by a lack of discipline instilled into the students, both at home and at the classroom. When I was in 6th grade, I once brought home a poor grade because I didn’t find the material worthwhile. My mother gave me a huge harangue about how spelling is important and I do need to pay attention to it. By doing so, my mother helped instill some discipline into me about working hard towards classes I don’t feel are useful at the time (even in the classes that I play games in, outside of class I spend a great deal of time mastering the material). I feel as if students often do not receive lectures like this while they are young and malleable, thus the rudeness that the article, Amy, and I have commented on.
Websites:
Amy Burger. “Personal Response to College Rudeness.” Amy Burger’s education blog. March 20, 2006. http://burgera2.edublogs.org/2006/03/18/personal-response-to-college-rudeness/>
“Campuses of Ids.” Inside Higher ed. March 20, 2006. http://insidehighered.com/news/2006/03/14/civility>
