It's funny that this is the only place I can come to to vent about the issues that occur as a college instructor. Today is no exception.
So to explain the scenario that occurred tonight I have to take you back to when I first accepted this student into the massage therapy program. As some of you know I am a person that will give someone the benefit of the doubt, this was one of those exceptions. Said student has had a history of convictions, including several with drugs and selling them. Said student has been going through rehab and had recommendations from a social worker and parole officer. Ok, again I am a person who will give the benefit of the doubt despite everyone around me telling me not to accept the student in my program.
Fast forward, Student has been stellar, with great grades, and then within the last couple of weeks has fallen as other students took notice and were concerned and told me what they had seen and their concerns. Spoke to student today to understand what was going on (mother has been very sick), Ok I get that so I told her to go speak with a counselor at main campus to talk about the things bothering her because as an instructor, I went through training to look out for mental health signs.
Weeks ago a student came forward and said that this student was wearing air pods in her ears. Fast forward to tonight, It was test day and I like to give my students an extra half hour to study for a test. Class starts at 5pm so they go take the test at 5:30. This student had asked me what time the test ended (this is what got the red flags going), so I decided to check on this, and of course there she had air pods in, not saying the student was cheating, but the only thing you can have for testing is ear plugs and a blank sheet of paper. So then I look at the students screen and see that the powerpoint for the subjects that was just covered on the screen and that the student was not taking the test unlike the rest of class that was. Student said I was being unfair because I had said that testing ended at 7:30pm (2hrs, it was a 75 question test) that she was trying to study for the test and I repeated to the student that they needed to be taking the test like the rest of the class, not studying the powerpoint. Studne tbecame agry and was disrupting the rest of the class still taking their test, one of the other students left still taking the test said to be quiet not once but twice and then finally got tired and told the other student to shut the F up. I dismissed the student from the testing room.
Then things got out of control in the classroom with the student being threatening because I said I was going to speak to the Dean about what happened during testing, and the student said "It won't end well" I took this as a threat and called security. All the rest of the students wanted was to go over the test but this student kept going on and on, and I finally had it and the military person in me kicked in. I didn't scream at the student but my voice carried as I was trying to explain why I didn't allow them to take their test. One of my students recorded it as evidence should the need occur. Finally, security arrived and de-escalated the situation, and told the student to go home.
Now when I go to work tomorrow morning, I have to write a disruptive student report on this student. This was not the paperwork I wanted to do.
Thank you to those who took the time to read my rant. I try not to, but this is the only place that I can go to to vent and not lose my job.
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