The missteps of a young and flustered professor in the face of a challenging graduate student: the story of Z

Abstract

ABSTRACT In this article, I offer a story, rendered in creative nonfiction, of my experience as a young and flustered college professor challenged by a defiant and disruptive graduate student. The story is followed by a critical reflection of the experience where I examine the role of communication and culture in regard to classroom disruptions and assess how I could have handled the situation differently, namely how I could have practiced preventive measures and responded more constructively to the disruption when it occurred. As a whole, disruptive student behavior is increasing in college classrooms, yet many instructors are not adequately trained to manage it. Further, many instructors may be reluctant or embarrassed to admit that, at times, they lose control of their classrooms. Overall, I join others in championing education research that utilizes narrative and story because research of this kind not only can uncover phenomenological and hermeneutic insights, but also can disseminate them in a memorable and relatable form.