COLUMN: Respecting our teachers

From David Brown's, "How It Works," Fall '97 From David Brown's, "How It Works," Fall '97 Just another Whartonite? a clean-cut, skinny, five foot some male struttin' up the Steinberg-Dietrich stairs, in a three-piece suit. Some onlookers think he is just trying to intimidate others, trying to gain that "competitive advantage." Perhaps he has a job either before or after class or a more likely case is he has an interview. In my time at Penn, I have only witnessed a handful of professors who have received applause on the last day of class. And most of these came as a result of someone snipping, "Hey, it'll make the old dude feel good." Not recognition for a job well-done, not because of the hours laboring to prepare each lecture, nor the consistency in showing up for every class on-time. But out of pity. Last year in Marketing 101, students didn't even stay after the last class to fill-out the Undergraduate Course Guide surveys. The professor pleaded for students to stay, but she had already made the fatal mistake of assuming students would prefer for her not to waste fifteen minutes of lecture completing the stupid forms. She figured since students were already being financially tortured -- paying more than one tuition dollar per lecture minute, and dishing out about seven cents for every single handout in Wharton classes -- students would not want any more of their money going to waste. She was wrong, and that is a shame as only about half the class heeded her pleas. Some professors deserve little respect from students. They are tied up in their lives or research they don't even have the decency to show up to their one required office hour each week. Some assign problem sets on material that is not covered. And there are others who demand punctuality to their classes, but then consistently run late. But teachers are humans, too. There are many professors who are committed to their classes, making themselves available, and responding to e-mail. And there are some who are good instructors, successfully conveying material to their students. The outstanding are annually recognized by the University with the Lindback Award Winners for Distinguished Teaching -- including Political Science Professor Daniel Deudney, Art History Professor Elizabeth Johns, Mechanical Engineering Professor Vijay Kumar and Classical Studies Professor James O'Donnell in 1996. But, it seems Penn students just don't have the decency to respect professors. The standard cry is we have already forked over tens of thousands of dollars to the Trustees, so we can do whatever we want with regards to classes. We often come to class late, disrupting class and coming through the front when a back door is available. It is also not essential during class to read a newspaper, eat a smelly hoagie or drop an empty Snapple bottle on the floor --letting it freely bounce and roll down the stairs of the lecture hall. More commonplace is the constant chatter which is disrespectful to the professor and prevents others from fully hearing the lecture. Everyone here knows someone who just loves to talk and always has something to say about nothing. It is likely the only reason some talk is because they feel superior defying authority -- untouchable since the professor does not know their names. However, in classes where students are called on and class participation counts, students don't even whisper. While not all of us are serious students, we should try to respect professors and those concentrating during class. Failure to do so leads us to be habitually inconsiderate. At a future business meeting or presentation, it will not be favorably looked upon by your colleagues if the speaker does not have your undivided attention. Respecting yourself and others today is necessary for social development. And professors, feel free to stop lecture and make a fool of the individual who consistently bothers you or diverts the attention of others. It is your class and you deserve a decent amount of respect.